ASUKA ALUMINIUM NEWS NO。 642 DECEMBER 2014
Comparison of year end metals prices 2013-2014
Remarkable rise of aluminum
The aluminum price rose strikingly at metals market this year. Traditionally, thealuminum market has been firm, but this year‘s aluminum market amazed us verymuch. Comparing with other metals’ market prices movements, it was unusual after
discounting of devalued yen.
We think that the reason would be an integrated imbalance between the reasonable
increase of consumption and the negative production under unprofitable conditions.
The recent growth of aluminum demand seems to be slowing down internationally, andwe’d better have a lookout for the reaction of aluminum market.
Outlook in 2005
In every country and area, the economic growth is moderate or slowing down.
Consequently, it isn’t thought that the demand of every commodity will increasefavorably in 2015.
In Japan, the devalued yen will push up the prices of all imported materials
distinctly, which will push the consumption mind down justly. During past two years,
the yen devalued really 46 per cent, which will be a great economic and social difficultyof Japan in coming year.
Notes for the table on page one(1) Primary aluminum (2) zinc diecast alloy (3) copper listed (4) lead listed(5) zinc listed (6) tin (7) nickel (8) ste4el bar (9) steel sheet (10) steel scrap(11)aluminum scrap TENSE <US cent/lb>(12) fuel oil <yen/liter>(13)
gold<yen/gram> (14) yen/US dollar
Unit: yen/ton except (11), (12), (13) and (14).
Our winter holidays
We are pleased to announce that our winter holidays are as follows.
December 27 (Saturday) ~ January 5 (Monday)
The 31st New Year Praying Meeting is held
It is recently announced that the 31st New Year Praying Meeting will be held onJanuary 16 at the Kira Kanko Hotel in Mikawa Bay National Park, where the 80 ofdelegates from scrap suppliers are invited.
Customarily, Chairman Hisashi Amano will have a talk entitled “New Year randomtalk” at the hotel, and then the all attendants are going to visit Kannon Temple on thetop of Mt. Sangane by bus.
The Praying Meeting for business prosperity and traffic safety in the New Year will
be held solemnly at the temple, and then a grand New Year party will open in
traditional Japanese fashion at the hotel.
Since it has been one of the biggest annual events of Asuka, every arrangement isgoing on powerfully.
The photo on page two is the Kira Kanko Hotel.

Yearend comments
Unexperience zone
Masanao Okada, Director
I finished reading “The death of capitalism and the crisis of history” written by Mr.
Kazuo Mizuno, and I quite agreed with him under today’s social surroundings inJapan.
The money rate has been at unusual low level, which has invited bubbles andcollapses over and over again. For overcoming such crises, more lot of money was
supplied each time, and a huge surplus money swaggers around the world seeking
benefits.
This global capitalism evolves and evolves itself, and the winners become stronger.
As a result, the polarization into the rich and the poor intensifies, and at last we are in
the age of “Exploitation from future”, which lead us to “Unexperience zone”
We are just in this very intricate world, and I think that we must have the power ofprompt reaction against changing surroundings. At the year end, we thank you foryour great support during this year, and at the same time we heartily expect that weenjoy the coming year 2015 ourselves together all our friendly business contacts.
Casino and Japanese
Hisashi Amano, Chairman
At the Lower House the 224 cross-partisan group of lawmakers proposed the liftingof casino van in November, however Prime Minister Abe suddenly dissolved the Lower
House on November 21. The proposal was postpone till next diet.
Proponents wanted to open casinos in time for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo with thestrong back up of central government, which planned that Minister of Land,
Infrastructure and transport, Mr. Ohta, takes charge of it. Some economy weakened
local governments have expressed strong bringing to get back economic glory bycasinos.
I don’t think the gambling business can support the local economy and can bringthem prosperity in Japan. A recent poll shows us 59 per cent noes and 30 per cent ayes.
Japanese have hated gambling traditionally.
An old saying tells us that poverty dulls the wit.
Company news
A large scale disaster prevention training was held on November 5 by Nishio City
as “Whole 170,000 citizen disaster prevention training”. At 9 in the morning, all alarmsystems announced all over Nishi City “A big quake occurred. Free to sanctuary”. Reacting this alarm, all staff assembled at sanctuary and were confirmed safety. (theabove photo on page four)
On November 8, a base ball game was held between two groups, and then a bigbarbecue party was held. Everyone fully relaxed and enjoyed one pleasant day ofautumn. (the below photo on page four)
Chairman Hisashi Amano’s 90 years old congratulatory party was held at the Hotel
Yamato in Kira Waikiki Beach on November 15. Staff and retired staff got together toobserve Chairman Amano’s healthy long life, and every attendant had a very pleasanttime.Customarily in Japan, such an event has been held earlier than actual age. The
photo on page three is Mr. and Mrs. Hisashi Amano and all attendants.