Column

No.

The DenkaWay WinterGunbai10

Dr. Tsuneichi Fujiyama
Japan, paving the way for industrial production. He is an indispensable figure in
Denka’s history.
Advances in chemical technology, expansion of agricultural production due topopulation growth, and increasing demand for nitrogen-based fertilizers. In 1901,
Dr. Fujiyama, who was a chief engineer at time, began researching the production of carbide using surplus electricity produced from the Sankyozawa Power
Plant at night. Working day and night, he managed to produce the first carbide inJapan in 1902. This laid the foundation for Japan’s carbide industry.
Afterwards, he moved to Hokkaido and set his sights on the surplus electricity
produced by Daio Seishi’s Tomakomai Plant. Gathering together a group of juniorcolleagues, he established the Hokkai Carbide Plant with funding from Mitsui.
In 1912, the plant started to manufacture carbide, lime nitrogen, and modified
ammonium sulfate, and he invented a unique method to efficiently manufacture
lime nitrogen. In 1915, Denkikagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. (now, Denka Company
Limited.) was born from the Hokkai Carbide Plant.
Dr. Tsuneichi Fujiyama came up with the name “Denkikagaku Kogyo,” whichtranslates to “electrochemical industries.” Although fertilizer was their main

Until he passed away in 1936, he continued producing carbide and training
engineers all over Japan. Denka’s new recruits visit Sankyozawa to see his bustas part of training sessions. This energetic inventor left the following words: “Ifdone before.” Though his body rests in Aoyama Cemetery, I am sure he is stillwatching over future generations from Heaven.
*Carbide: Calcium carbide (CaC2). It is made by reacting quicklime, which is obtained byheating limestone, with coke. Denka has been manufacturing carbide for over 100 years
since its establishment to produce fertilizers and rubber materials.

Cover photo
The constructionof the Otokorogawa Power Plant
The Otokorogawa Power Plant started operationin December 1923. It has the second longest
history among Denka’s hydroelectric power
plants, including those jointly owned. Even in
the days before heavy machinery, predecessors
worked steadily to build power plants for thedevelopment of the nation.

Unauthorized
reproduction prohibited

there’s a reference book, then I’m not interested. I only do what hasn’t been

10

Vol.

Published: January 1, 2022/ Publisher: Corporate Communications Dept., Denka Co., Ltd. / Editor-in-chief: Satoshi Fukuoka /Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, 2-1-1 Nihonbashi-muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0022

Dr. Tsuneichi Fujiyama succeeded in producing carbide* for the first time indevelop the company into a general chemical producer.

2022

Vol.10The energetic inventor
who established the foundation of Denka

product at the time, he didn’t include it in the name, since he strongly wanted toWinter2022

Tsuneichi Fujiyama
Born in Saga Prefecture in 1872. After
studying electrical engineering at theCollege of Engineering, Tokyo Imperial
University, he was invited to work at
Miyagi Bouseki Dento’s Sankyozawa
Power Plant at the age of 30. During
this time, he succeeded in producing
carbide for the first time in Japan. A bustof him, erected by his fellows and local
volunteers after his death, still remains
in Sankyozawa.

The DenkaWay

Omi Plant

Coexistence with the Environment and Community
Contents
2 Amazing the World with Innovation

11 Challengers for Denka Value-Up
On the Frontline of the Threefold Value-Up

Omi Plant - Coexistence with the Environment and Community

10 Think INNOVATION
Toward a Future Where People Contribute to Society Through “Avatars”
by Ory Yoshifuji, Robot Communicator/CEO of Ory Laboratory Inc.

16
17
18
20

A Specialist’s Perspective
DENKA TOPICS
LINK GLOBALLY, LINK FUTURE
Gunbai Column

2019 October | The Denka Way

2

Omi Plant

Coexistence with
the Environment and Co mmunity
It all started with
Mt. Kurohime
Mt. Kurohime is 1221.5 meters high. Located to the south of the plant, it is one of
the 300 Famous Mountains of Japan andis registered as a UNESCO Global Geopark.
It is unique in that it is made entirely out oflimestone. It was originally created about
300 million years ago as a basalt volcanicisland near the equator. Later, the island
sank into the sea and coral reefs grew overit, creating a limestone seamount. Re-

peated tectonic plate movements pushed
it upwards, forming the present-day Mt.
Kurohime. It is said to share its roots with
Mt. Akiyoshidai in Yamaguchi Prefecture,

caves are all concentrated around Mt.
Kurohime.
You can see Mt. Kurohime from Itoigawa
City. It is a symbol of the area and holds awhich is one of the largest karst formationsin Japan and has many exposed limestone
surfaces.
Limestone caves are often formed where
the limestone is eroded. They do not extend
horizontally but rather vertically from thesurface down into the earth. Mt. Kurohime
has many caves, including Byakuren Cave,the deepest cave in Japan at 513 m. This
area is unique in that the four deepest

special significance for Denka. Originally,
Denka established the plant in this area
to utilize the rich water and limestone
resources to produce carbide. While manyother chemical companies import their raw
materials, Denka’s Omi Plant uses homegrown materials from this mountain.
Denka has a claim to at least five billion
tons of limestone from Mt. Kurohime, so
it is estimated that the company could

continue mining for the next 1,000 years
and still not run out. About 70% of the Omi
Plant’s products, including fertilizers, special
cement additives, and chloroprene rubber,
are made from limestone. Since Denka has
benefited enormously from this mountain,
it holds ceremonies to express its gratitude
to the mountain and pray for continuous
operations without accidents twice a year.
Mt. Kurohime is the mother mountain.
It has been watching over the Omi Plant
for 100 years. Moving forward into the
future, Mt. Kurohime will continue to play animportant role.

Amazingthewith Innovation

History

In 1921, Denka established the Omi Plant and started manufacturing carbide.
In other words, Denka has been operating in the Itoigawa area for 100 years.
The plant conti nues to thrive thanks to the abundant resources from Mt. Kurohime, theelectricity generated by hydroelectric power plants, and the support of the local community.
In this issue, we will look back on the history of the Omi Plant and shine a spotlight on its
three treasures – the mountain, the water, and the local people.

What is carbide?
Limestone mining when
the Omi Plant was
foundedCalcium carbide (CaC2). It is
made by reacting quicklime,
which is obtained by heating
limestone, with coke. Denka has
been manufacturing carbide forover 100 years since its establishment to produce fertilizers
and rubber materials.

Since there was no heavymachinery back then, Denka
relied on human labor. Workers
loaded limestone from mountain onto trams by hand andtransported it back to the plant.

A ceremony to express Denka’s gratitude to the mountain

Together with
the Mountains
The Omi Plant is surrounded by mountains on three sides. Denka has benefited enormously from these mountains (Mr. Kurohime is on the left at the back)2

The Denka Way | 2022 Winter2022 Winter | The Denka Way

3

Together with
the Water

It is no exaggeration to say that hydroelectricity has played a crucial role in Denka’s
history. Denka has been producing carbide
since its establishment. The founders
wished to make fertilizers from this productto contribute to solving food shortages
during the Meiji and Taisho Periods anddeveloping the country. However, there
was one big problem. A lack of electricity.
The production of carbide requires a lotof power. Denka, which started operations
in Omuta City, Fukuoka Prefecture, initiallyoperated solely on purchased electricity,
but the unstable power supply affected its
carbide production. Realizing that it wasnecessary to produce its own electricity,
Denka built a hydroelectric power plant near
Omuta Plant.
Later in 1921, Denka established the
Omi Plant in Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture. In addition to having an abundant
supply of limestone, the area was also
suitable for hydroelectric power generation.

In the same year, Kotakigawa Power Plant
also began operations.
One hundred years later, Denka now
owns 16 hydroelectric power plants,
including those jointly owned, and theShin-Himekawa No. 6 Power Plant, its
17th, is scheduled to start operation thisyear. Over the past one hundred years,
Denka has continuously been implementing new technologies in the construction
and maintenance of hydroelectric power
plants. At the Shin-Omigawa Power Plant,
which began operations in 2021, the water
turbines and other parts that used to becontrolled hydraulically have been converted to electric power, and Denka has taken
precautions to prevent oil spills in the eventof an emergency.
Some of Denka’s power plants are located in mountainous areas with heavy snow,
so inspection work can be dangerous in thewinter. This is where drones come in. Denka
uses them to inspect power lines at highelevations to improve efficiency and ensure
the safety of workers. Denka is also looking

into automating the monitoring process byintroducing digital technology. The amountof water taken from the river is determinedby experienced workers based on information such as weather forecasts, water levels,and how muddy the water is. By quantifying
and visualizing their instincts, the knowledgeof these veterans can be passed onto future
generations.
Hydroelectricity accounts for about 40%of the electricity used by Denka (FY2020
results). There is no doubt that owning its
own hydroelectric power plants has led tosignificant cost reductions and improved
competitiveness. The proactive use ofrenewable energy has also led to increased
corporate value.
Denka’s goal is to reduce greenhousegas emissions to 50% of the FY2013
level by FY2030, and to achieve carbon
neutrality by FY2050. To that purpose, Denka is currently considering building morehydroelectric power plants. Moving forward
into the future, hydroelectricity will continue
to play an important role.

Amazingthewith Innovation

History

100 years of hydroelectricity

Kotakigawa Power Plant celebrates
100 years of operation
Kotakigawa Power Plant began operation in 1921, the same
year that the Omi Plant was established. The generator was
made in the U.S. and the waterwheel in Switzerland. The
original wooden building has been preserved to this day.

A water channel inside theShin-Omigawa Power Plant. A
road used for construction andmaintenance runs alongside it.

What is run-of-river hydroelectricity?
There are two main types of hydroelectric power
generation: run-of-river and dam types. Denka’s
power plants are all run-of-river types. Compared
to dam types, which are large, expensive, and lessenvironmentally friendly, run-of-river types can beconstructed at lower costs by taking advantage ofsteep terrain.
Water intake

Channel

Tank

Hydraulic steel pipes
Power plant
OutletOami Power Plant, which began operations in 1938. It boasts the largest output and power generation among all 16 of Denka’s hydroelectric power plants, including those jointly owned.

4

The Denka Way | 2022 Winter2022 Winter | The Denka Way

5

History

Together with
the Community

Company housing for
1,000 families
Until the end of the 1970s, the current
tented warehouse area of the Omi
Plant was used as company housing
for employees. At its peak, it could
house 1,000 families and even had
a daycare facility and a swimming
pool, which was quite rare at the time.
Currently, the plant has the Denka
Omi Residence (for families), Denka
Century Heights (for single transferees),
and Seiwa Dorms (for singles).

Denka Big Swan Stadium

Soccer lessons at Denka Big Swan Stadium
Denka holds the naming rights for Niigata Stadium, the home stadium of the Albirex Niigata in the J2 league. Until 2019,
the Omi Plant was hosting the Denka Big Swan Junior Soccer Festival, which was attended by approximately 400 elementary school students and their parents from Niigata Prefecture, and Albirex Niigata players gave soccer lessons and played
friendly games. Afterwards, it got a lot of positive feedback from children and parents, including “I was so happy to be able
to stand on that field!” and “Please do this again next year!”

Comments on the 100th Anniversary Celebration

A dump truck for transporting mined limestone. With amaximum capacity of 218 tons, it is one of the largest
in Japan. (Photo taken in 2018)

Moving forward with
the Itoigawa community

From left: Akiyama, Shimada, Ogawa. Members of the Omi Plant’s General Affairs
Department who are dedicated to contributing to the local community.

6

The Denka Way | 2022 Winter“To the north lies the rough Sea of Japan.
To the south is our treasure Mt. Kurohime.
The products of the Denka Plant will crossthe ocean and go out into the world!”
These are lyrics from the Omi Yumemachi Marching Song, which is played at theOmi Festival every year. Denka’s Omi Plant
is so well-known in this region that it evenappears in the song’s lyrics.
In addition to limestone from Mt.
Kurohime and hydroelectricity, there is one
other essential element. Denka would nothave been able to continue operating the
Omi Plant for so long without the supportof the local community. The history of the
Omi Plant is a history of coexistence andco-prosperity with the community. Abouthalf of the plant’s land is leased from about
450 local landowners. In addition, the land
where Denka built the electricity towers
belongs to 350 people, and the 70 km
stretch where the transmission lines run
belong to over 2,500 people.
The understanding of the community isalso essential for the operation of hydroelectric power plants, which requires regular
maintenance including cutting down trees.
Furthermore, dialogue with residents isimportant for chemical manufacturing, abusiness that involves a certain degree ofrisk. The community is naturally interested
in the Omi Plant’s products and whether
they have any impact on the environment.
Denka regularly takes into account theiropinions at liaison meetings and roundtablediscussions and continue to operate while
maintaining safety and security.
To fulfill its responsibility as a memberof the local community, the Omi Plant isengaged in a number of activities. About
1,500 people visit the Omi Plant every year.
Local children are also invited to tour theplant, where they cheer at the rare sight of
the heavy machinery and carbide furnaces

Amazingthewith Innovationin operation. Denka also actively participatesin local events such as the annual Omanta
Festival, the biggest event in Itoigawa City.
Denka even received the Omanta Award in
2019, when a large group of 150 employees participated in the festival.
Although many events have beencanceled since 2020 and opportunities forinteraction are decreasing, Denka is confident that the days of local residents andDenka employees interacting with smiles on
their faces will return in the not-too-distantfuture. Moving forward into the future, theItoigawa community will continue to play animportant role.

Satoko Ito

Born in Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture. She
studied sociology in the U.S. in 2002 and has
worked as an anchor and commentator. She isvery interested in international contribution activities
and is currently covering Cambodia and Nepal
through JICA. Since 2010, she has served as
a visiting professor at the Graduate Institute for
Entrepreneurial Studies in Niigata, and she is also
the ambassador for Itoigawa Geopark. She has
covered a number of companies and has publishedarticles on topics such as regional development
and corporate management. She is also a memberof the National Advisory Committee and a board
member of a company.

The Omi Plant is the pride of the community
Please continue providing a breath of fresh air
Denka’s Omi Plant has long been a symbol of this region, and it isburned into my memories as a part of the scenery of my hometown.
My grandparents lived in Kotaki, so the retro appearance of Kotaki
River Hydroelectric Power Station is one of my fondest memories.
Since its establishment, the citizens of Itoigawa have been proudof the company’s attitude of constantly taking on new challenges
and expanding into new fields that reflect the times. In the wakeof the COVID-19 pandemic, people are asking how companies
should contribute to the SDGs. I believe that Denka has contributed
to people’s lives, health, and the creation of a sustainable society
by developing its own innovative materials and technologies andgenerating its own clean energy at the Omi Plant. I hope that you willcontinue moving forward together with Itoigawa and breathe new life
into the world from the Omi Plant.

2022 Winter | The Denka Way

7

awa

Sta.

7

Omi Topics

iv.

Riv.

eka

Him
St
wa

Sta.

a.

Omi

Haya RUmi

The History of Omi

Itoig

.

i Sta

ashik

Kajiy

Supporting the development of Denka
Omi
Riv.

Sta.

1

Omi Plant

carbide begins

Sasakura No. 2 PP ★

iono

2

.

u Sta

hiraz

Oyas

4

Umikawa No. 4 PPeHim

1921 Omi Plant established; production of

Tsugami Shindo
trailheadik
Kub

Events at the Omi Plant

6

Power Plant

Riv.

Kotakigawa Power Plant completed

1922 Production of calcium cyanamide

Omigawa PP

Umikawa No. 2 PP
Nec
hi S
t

1938 Oami Power Plant completed

Umikawa No. 1 PP

1954 Elkem electric furnace completed

fully developed; production of Denka
Chloroprene begins

1967 Production of special cement
additive Denka CSA begins

1982 Production of alumina fiber Denka
Alcen begins

1983 Cement carriers Kurohimemaru and Omimaru completed
and launchedPower generation facilities using cement waste heatcompleted

Omi Map
Toward national prosperity

★

Ko

tak

Displaying steel pipes and dioramas

Hydroelectric Power Plant
MuseumiSta.

Kotakigawa PP

Shin-Omigawa PP

5This museum, which
opened in 2018, preserves historical records
related to hydropower
generation in Denka,
passing on the memoriesof the people involved.

★

Shin-Himekawa No. 6 PP
3The Efforts of

Takigami PP ★

Predecessors

Nagatsuga PP ★

Oami PP

Yokokawa No. 1 PP

Otokorogawa PP

3

Hir
aiw
aS

During the pre-war and post-war years when
supplies were scarce, Denka employees
worked day and night for the development of
the nation and the company.

ta.

Yokokawa No. 2 PP

A railroad in a plant?
Move freely in the air and underwater!

1996 Production of polymer hyaluronic

Kita-Otari PP ★

The Cement Line!
4

5

Kita-Otari Sacid preparations begins

Utilization of Dronesta.

1962 Special synthetic rubbers success-Himekawa No. 6 PP

Items marked with ★ are jointly owned.

Starting with the Kotakigawa Power Plant in 1921, Denka now
has 16 hydroelectric power plants, including those jointly owned.
The Shin-Himekawa No. 6 Power Plant, its 17th power plant, isscheduled to start operation in 2022.

a.

beginsEntry into cement market; production of Denka Cement
beginsUmikawa No. 3 PP

16 HydroelectricPower Plants

2002 Boilers for biomass KPS completed
Large capacity 218 ton-trucks introduced

2014 Denka Omi Residence (for families) completed
The railroad used for delivering limestone from Mt. Kurohime runs through the plant. There was also a time when it
was directly connected to Japanese National Railways’ Omi
Station (disconnected in 2009).

2015 Kotakigawa Power Plant renovated to improve efficiency
Denka Century Heights (for single transferees) completed

2018 Omi Innovation Hub completed
2019 Production of new special elastomer
Evolmer begins

2020 Decision to resume® production of diethyl malonate, a raw
material for Avigan . Restarted production facilities andshipped the required amount for two million people over
five weeks (between April and June).
Seiwa Dorm (a dormitory for singles)
completed

Growing up in Omi

Protecting nature in the region

Denka’s Children

Development of
Tsugami Shindo

Denka Nursery School opened in 1929
(authority transferred to Omi Town in 1961).
When it opened, 130 employee children wereenrolled. Denka and Omi Plant keep close ties
with employee families. In some cases, three
generations of the same family have worked forthe company.
1

2021

Tsugami Shindo is a mountain trail that leads from the sea
to the Hida Mountains. The trail ranges from 0 m to 2,500m above sea level and displays a wide range of topography
found at different altitudes. The late Ken Ono, who worked
at Omi Plant, carved out the trail through the mountains
step by step because he wanted to protect the abundantnature. It was completed in 1971.

Enjoying the unique nature of the region

Registered as a UNESCO
Global Geopark
Itoigawa City became the first city in Japan to be registered as a UNESCO Global Geopark. This was due to theinternational recognition of the region’s unique geology,
topography, and culture, including Oyashirazu, a precipitous cliff facing the Sea of Japan, and the Kotakigawa
Jade Valley, the first jade production area in Japan.
6

Shin-Omigawa Power Plant starts operation
Omi Sustainability Promotion Division established with theaim of realizing carbon neutrality

Denka Nursery School

The Denka Way | 2022 WinterThe largest production area
in Japan

The largest event in Itoigawa

Omanta Festival
The Omanta Festival is the largest event in Itoigawa (Omanta means “you guys” in the local dialect). At this event,thousands of people form a parade and dance in the areaaround Itoigawa Station. Of course, Denka’s employees
also participate!

Let’s dance toge

ther!

7

Itoigawa is a major jade production area in Japan.
The Jade Valley in Kotakigawa and Omigawa isdesignated as a natural treasure. You are welcome tovisit Itoigawa for some treasure hunting!

Shin-Himekawa 6th Power Plant to start operation(2022)

8

Drones are actively used for measurement andobservation in mines and for inspection of powerlines at hydroelectric power plants. Underwater
drones have also been introduced to inspect therivers connected to the plants.

Jade, a Specialty of
Itoigawa

2

100th anniversary of Omi Plant

Shin-Omigawa Power Plant (Started operation in 2021)

Oyashirazu

Photo provided by Fossa Magna Museum

2022 Winter | The Denka Way

9Think INNOVATION
Introducing articles that provide hints for innovation

No. 10

Toward a Future Where People Contribute to Society Through “Avatars”
Robot Communicator/
CEO of Ory Laboratory Inc.

of the Threefold

Ory Yoshifuji

Born in 1987 in Nara prefecture. He develops robots, electric wheelchairs, and other tools to help eliminate loneliness from the human race.
“OriHime,” an avatar robot that has been continuously improved upon since its invention in 2010, enables those who are unable to leave home due to disabilities to enjoy free movement andconversation through remote operation. In June 2021, he opened a permanent robot café called “Avatar Robot Café DAWN ver. β,”
where OriHime robots serve customers, in Nihonbashi. The café won the GOOD DESIGN GRAND AWARD in 2021.

Modern society makes people lonely

On the Frontline

Prior to that, we had been developing a computer that could be operated by eye movement alone and the Orihime, an avatar robot that users

Value-UpNo.

02

Omi Plant“Eliminate loneliness from the human race.” This is the issue I have

could use to interact with people far away. After repeatedly improving

been working on for more than 10 years. As a child, I was always un-on these devices, we launched a pop-up robot café in November 2018easy because I had a hard time remembering people’s names and fac-

as the first public experiment. Three years have passed since then, andes. I was unable to attend school for three and a half years and suffered

we were able to open a permanent café thanks to the support of manyIn this segment,from a sense of helplessness and loneliness that no one needed me. At

people, including our staff, company employees, intern students, vol-we focus on the worksites that are striving to realize the threefold growth visionthat time, I relied on origami for emotional support.

unteers, and sponsors. The number of OriHime pilots*2, which initially“Denka Value-Up.” In this second edition,

I was so happy when people praised my origami creations that I decid-

numbered 10, has now grown to 70.

ed to pursue a career in manufacturing

I think people support us not onlyand entered a technical high school. In

because they sympathize with our ef-

my third year of high school, the elec-

forts to “eliminate loneliness,” but also

tric wheelchair I developed won a prize

because of how exciting it is. Here at

at ISEF*1, which made me famous in

DAWN, it is possible to fully exercise

my hometown overnight. Since then,one’s abilities to solve problems while

I’ve been getting such requests fromimagining an exciting new future. It

various people to make things for them.

is also possible to make connections

What I remember most is an oldthat lead to new business opportuni-

woman who said, “I feel lonely livingties. Some of the pilots working at ourby myself, but I don’t want to bothercafé have been scouted by custom-

my daughter.” That reminded me ofers who want them to work for their

my old self, and I recognized again

Pilots can remotely control the avatar robot OriHime to serve customers.

that many people suffer from thecompanies, creating an employment
support service that matches disabledstress of loneliness. The same goes for people with disabilities. Theypeople with employers. As such, the avatar robot café’s possibilities arewant to take care of themselves and be helpful to others, but if they

expanding beyond what we initially imagined.

can’t move freely, then they are unable to work. That is why I started todevelop tools to help them “do something for others.”

The possibilities of the robot café are beyond
what I initially imagined“It would be nice to have a café where people can work even if they

we will introduce the Omi Plant.

I think everyone feels lonely at some point in their lives. There are manyreasons why people become housebound, not just disabilities or illnesses.
However, even if you can’t go out, you can still find new friends and jobs
to participate in society and enrich your life. Avatar robots can serve asa tool for that purpose. While seeking to expand the use of our robots,
we hope to encourage the creation of new relationships between people.

are bedridden,” said a friend who suffered cervical spine injuries froma car accident at the age of four. The avatar robot café was born fromthis concept.
10

The Denka Way | 2022 Winter*1 ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair): Known as “Olympics of science,” wherehigh school students from all over the world showcase their independent research.
*2 The people who control the OriHime robots via computers from home or hospital.
AVATAR ROBOT CAFE DAWN ver. β’s official homepage: https://dawn2021.orylab.com/

2022 Winter | The Denka Way

11

Taking advantage of rich limestone resources andhydroelectric power to produce a wide range of products
The Omi Plant is a major production base of Denka

prene, cement that contributes to building nationalthat began operations in 1921. Taking advantage ofresilience against natural disasters, special cement

the 5-billion-ton limestone deposits of Mt. Kurohime

additives, and lime nitrogen fertilizers.

and the 126,000-kW generation capacity of Denka’s

Spot Light

Omi Plant

The plant also produces macromolecular sodium

privately owned hydroelectric power plants, it pro-hyaluronate preparations for use as joint function

duces about 90% of all the calcium carbide used in

improvers. Going forward, it will support safe and se-Japan. The Omi Plant takes advantage of this calcium

cure lives through a wide range of technologies fromcarbide chain to produce a wide range of products.

organic to inorganic types and even life sciences.

Its diverse range of products include polychloro-

Omi Plant, Denka Co., Ltd.

Calcium carbide chain and main products

A calcium carbide chain maintained

Pelletsfor 100 years

Business

Value-Up

Aiming towards further specialization andprocess reforms as “Team Omi.”

Under a policy of “Each and every member
playing his or her role and uniting asTeam Omi to achieve Value-Up,” the Omi Plant
has been striving to realize the management
plan Denka Value-Up in 2021. In terms ofBusiness Value-Up, it is focusing on further promotion of specialization and process reforms.
For specialization, the plant is accelerating
development of new products to focus on
businesses in which it can outperform others.
In polychloroprene, of which Denka enjoys aleading market share globally, it is developing
medical application products that are lessaffected by market conditions, and in special
cement additives, it is developing eco-friendly
products. The calcium carbide chain, which
utilizes all the by-products generated during the
manufacturing process, is one of the strengthsof the Omi Plant. On the other hand, since theproduction line consists of multiple departments,

12

The Denka Way | 2022 Winter

Cement/Special cement
additives

if even one of them were to stop, the entire
plant would be affected. Therefore, the plant israising awareness of the “the next process is thecustomer” principle by increasing opportunities
for education and training. As Team Omi, theplant has firmly established a system where allprocesses fully cooperate with each other.
As for process reforms, the plant is tackling
optimization and productivity improvements ofoperations and quality control through digitization. In addition to digitalizing plant monitoring
operations, it collects opinions from workplaces
and promote labor savings in operations. The
plant has also eliminated 3D (dangerous, dirty,
demanding) jobs, promoting a more friendly
working environment. With the introduction of
cutting-edge technologies, full-scale implementation of operational data utilization, environment compatibility, etc., it is striving to becomea next-generation plant.

Slaked lime

VOICE

Taking pride in being partof the calcium carbide
chain

Medium/Large chunks

Calcium
carbideLimestone

All employees at the Omi Plant areproud to work at Denka, as they feel thatthey are contributing to society throughWater

Acetylene gas

Reaction inelectric furnace

the production of polychloroprene

Hydrochloricacid

Nitrogenand Denka’s special cement additives.
Another reason is that they are aware ofbeing part of the calcium carbide chain,
which cannot be realized without all the
production lines. We will strive to have

Clean energy

every employee play his or her role andDenka Value-Up as Team Omi.

Hydroelectric
power plants*

Calcium
cyanamide
fertilizer

ChloroprenerubberHirohisa Otake
Assistant Manager,
Omi Plant*Hydroelectricity accounts for about 40% of the electricity used by Denka (FY2020 results).

2022 Winter | The Denka Way

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A

Environment

Value-Up
Environmentally friendly product LEAF

Reducing CO2 emissions with special cement additive technology

T

he Omi Plant manufactures cement andchemical products from limestone. During thesemanufacturing processes, the generation of CO2 isunavoidable, which poses a major challenge in termsof reducing emission volumes. Thus far, it has taken
numerous measures to conserve energy and reduce
the environmental burden. As a new measure, carbon
recycling technologies such as CCU*1 that separates,
collects, and effectively uses the CO2 generated during
manufacturing will be essential. The Omi Plant is also
currently examining technologies for converting theCO2 in exhaust gases into inorganic chemicals andother products to utilize it.
At the same time, the reduction of environmental
burdens is a challenge for all of society. Denka is striving to develop environmentally friendly products thatwill reduce GHGs. One such product is the carbonization agent LEAF. This product was developed using
calcium waste from the plant as a raw material basedon the cement and special cement additive technologies that Denka has cultivated over the years. During
the hardening process of concrete, LEAF reacts(carbonizes) with CO2 and theoretically absorbs andstores about half its weight. This is a truly groundbreaking product that compensates for CO2 emissions

14

The Denka Way | 2022 Winterduring the manufacturing process, while increasing thestrength of concrete at the same time.
LEAF is mainly used to produce the environmentallyfriendly concrete CO2-SUICOM.*2 After mixing cementwith industrial waste such as blast furnace slag andcoal ash, LEAF is added for hardening. The mixture
is then left in a carbonization curing unit filled with ahighly concentrated exhaust gas for the next week or
two, during which it absorbs a large amount of CO2.
Another point is that since half of the cement normallyused is substituted with blast furnace slag and coalash, less cement needs to be manufactured, and thus
less original CO2 is emitted. As a result, CO2 emissions
when manufacturing CO2-SUICOM are reduced tozero or less.*3 In this way, Denka’s special cement
additive technologies supports the commercializationof unique carbon negative concrete.
CO2-SUICOM and LEAF are currently used to makeboundary blocks for roads, foundations for fences,and solar panel foundation blocks, but the number ofapplications is expected to increase in the future.
*1 Carbon Capture and Utilization*2 CO2-SUICOM is jointly developed by Chugoku Electric Power,
Kajima, Landes and Denka.
*3 The amount of actual CO2 emissions may differ, depending on
conditions.

VOICE

Contributing to a recycling society,while working with communities
and overseas sites

bout 1,300 employees work at the Omi Plant
in the city of Itoigawa, Niigata Prefecture in
Japan. This plant is very close to the community,
and including subcontractors, the number is over
1,600. Since a diverse range of people work at theOmi Plant, its philosophy is to create an environment
where everyone can play an active role. Rather thangrouping employees by gender, age, or nationality,
the plant believes that respecting them as individuals
and supplementing their weaknesses will lead to
Human Resources Value-Up.
The foundation of human resource development
at the Omi Plant is safety education, which is carriedout at the Safety Training Center. This center consistsof three facilities: the Ikumai-kan to raise awarenessand knowledge of safety, the Anzen-dojo to simulatedisasters and learn basic safety actions, and the
Yaromai-kan to learn skills to maintain facilities andequipment. With a motto of “Not only awarenessand understanding, but also conviction and empathy lead to behavior change,” the Omi Plant aims
towards education where participants individually
think and change their own behaviors.
The Omi Plant’s ideal for human resources is“safety-minded.” That is to say, human resources
who assume responsibility for their own safety

and the safety of their colleagues, thus avoiding
accidents and disasters. The Six Principles of Safety
define six conditions, including a sense of ethics, theability to detect danger, and communication skills.
Through technical education to cultivate specialized
knowledge and judgment, non-technical education
to raise awareness of safety, and training by rank
based on year of entry, the plant strives to develop
safety-minded people.
The Safety Training Center performs a wide
range of operations, including managing internal
education for 20 departments, external education
for partner companies (which can sometimes
exceed 100 participants per day), online training,
COVID-19 pandemic responses, and establishmentof management systems. Ms. Sonoda, who serves
as a lecturer, and Ms. Takagi, who provides support
for lectures, were assigned to completely different
workplaces in the past. Ms. Sonoda was in chargeof product analysis for many years after joining thecompany, while Ms. Takagi was responsible forshipments in the manufacturing department. Having
assumed responsibility for this wide range of operations, Ms. Sonoda looks back and comments, “It isnecessary to have a broad knowledge of individual
departments. By visiting individual worksites andexchanging opinions in addition to watching videos,
I was able to better comprehend their characteristics
and risks. I also used online training to improve mypublic speaking skills.” Ms. Takagi says, “Throughmy work at the Safety Training Center, I would like tocontinue expanding my range of skills and challenge
myself to become more of a specialist.” Their activities are also linked to the implementation of Human
Resources Value-Up.
In recent years, the Omi Plant has also been trying
to increase the number of opportunities for female
and senior employees to play more active roles,
while at the same time proceeding with labor-saving in operations and the improvement of facilities.
Mr. Ishibashi, Safety Officer (SO) who promotes
safety education says, “As the name implies, humanresources are assets. People who can think and act
independently are valued both inside and outside
the company. To develop such human resources, we
aim to improve the effectiveness of safety education,
thereby contributing to Denka Value-Up.”

Human Resources

Value-Up

Reduction of CO2 emissions is a target
that we need to tackle as a society. CO2SUICOM is a concrete that absorbs CO2.
As a key material to produce CO2-SUICOM,LEAF is a product that can contribute tosolving the global environmental challenge
and paving a new path for CO2 utilization.
By sharing information with local companies

Safety Training Center responsible for the education of approximately 1,600 people

Safety education encouraging
all employees to play active roles

and municipalities and working together
across the supply chain including overseas
sites, we are more determined than ever tocontribute to a recycling society.

Hirotomo Sakai
Assistant Manager,
Omi Plant /Manager,Omi Sustainability
Promotion Dept.

Akitoshi Araki
Manager,
Cement/Special Mix
Research Dept.

From the left:
Takagi,Ishibashi (SO), andSonoda*Face masks were briefly removed only for the purpose of taking this photograph with thorough countermeasures against COVID-19 infections in place.

2022 Winter | The Denka Way

15

DENKA TOPICS
A Specialist’s
Perspective

Healthcare

Denka is striving to become a

Launch of DELYTACT® Oncolytic Virus G47∆
for the treatment of cancer

Specialty-Fusion Company.
What do Denka’s specialists foresee
for the future?

Steadily Carrying Out Inspections to
Deliver Safe, High-Quality Products
Denka Electronics Materials Dalian Co., Ltd.
(DEMD) manufactures ALSINK, a heat dissipationbase board for power modules used in railroad
vehicles. Cong Chunyan, who is in charge of
quality assurance and product inspection, always
has her eye on quality in order to deliver safe,
high-quality products to customers. “I feel a great
sense of responsibility, pride, and fulfillment
knowing that the products we manufacture andinspect are used in railroad vehicles carrying

Introducing Denka Group news topics from October to December 2021

Nov.

Environment/Energy

Oct.

Nov.

Complete launch of fused silica for 5G communication to market

On November 1, Daiichi Sankyo Company, Ltd. rolled out its oncolytic virus G47∆
Delytact®* (product name; generic name:teserpaturev) in Japan. Denka assumes
the role of manufacturing the product.
The commercial production technology
for G47∆ was jointly developed by Denka
and Professor Tomoki Todo, Institute ofMedical Science, the University of Tokyo. It has been approved as the first oncolytic
virus for the treatment of patients with malignant glioma.
*Delytact is a registered trademark of Daiichi Sankyo Company, Ltd.

Reagent to measure sdLDL-C risk marker of heart diseases approved
On November 16, Denka acquired approval for the production and sale of an
in-vitro diagnostic reagent, s LDL-EX “Seiken” for the first time in Japan. This
product measures sdLDL-C, which is used as a risk marker of heart diseases. It
measures risks of developing myocardial infarctions, angina pectoris, etc. in about
ten minutes by a general-purpose automatic analyzer without the need for any
special equipment.

From October, Denka started full-scale marketing of its cutting-edge functional ceramics filler,
Denka Fused Silica (DF) Low Loss Tangent Typethat contributes to high-speed, large-capacity 5G
communication.

Reinforcing next-generation highly functional spherical filler
manufacturing equipment at Omuta Plant
In October, the reinforcement of manufacturing
equipment at the Omuta Plant to strengthen production capability of high-grade spherical silica, alumina
and magnesia was concluded.

Consolidating and expanding production of heat dissipation sheetsat the Shibukawa Plant
In November, Denka decided to introduce new production equipment to the Shibukawa Plant. The production of heat dissipation sheets will be transferredto the plant from Kyusyu Plastic Industry Co., Ltd., agroup company, to increase production capability.

passengers all over the world.”
In 2020, in order to expand its business and im-

High-value-added infrastructure

Oct.

Corporate news

Oct.

Nov.

prove profitability, DEMD decided to transfer the
new inspection process for the ceramic substrate
ANP from Japan. While Japanese technicians
were unable to visit due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cong took on the challenge of educating
herself and acquiring new qualifications via theinternet. The process was successfully transferred, and the system continues to operate
stably. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with

Launch of Biostimulant Recolt™ across JapanOn October 8, Denka began marketing Recolte™ humic acidliquid compound fertilizer throughout Japan via ZEN-NOH(National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations).
This product is a biostimulant that “harnesses the natural
strengths of plants and their surrounding environment topositively impact plant health, stress tolerance, yield, andquality.” It has achieved favorable results in demonstration
experiments.

a single step. I would like to contribute to the specialization of our business and the enhancementof Group value by steadily carrying out inspections every day in pursuit of high quality.”

Cong Chunyan

Manager, Quality Assurance and Inspection Section
Quality Assurance Department
Denka Electronics Materials Dalian Co., Ltd.
Joined Denka in 2015. Involved in quality assurance
and inspections for the heat dissipation base board
ALSINK. She is focused on building a robust quality
assurance system and acquiring ISO9001 andISO14001 certifications.

16

The Denka Way | 2022 WinterDenka agrees to participate in joint research on
carbon-negative concrete
In October, Denka reached an agreement with Kajima Corporation and Takenaka
Corporation to conduct joint research on making carbon-negative concrete thatabsorbs more CO2 than it emits during the manufacturing process. With thisdevelopment, Denka will offer its LEAF technology, a carbonization additive that isa key material for CO2-SUICOM,* the only commercialized CO2-absorbing concretein the world.
*CO2-SUICOM is jointly developed by Chugoku Electric Power, Kajima, Landes and Denka.

Denka Chemicals Shanghai Co., Ltd. established to expand andbolster China business
On October 13, Denka announced the establishment of Denka Chemicals
Shanghai Co., Ltd., to which the operations of the Shanghai Representative Officeand two sales companies in Shanghai were transferred. The company will build an
optimal group management and operational system including the implementationof shared services to individual sites, thereby striving to expand the business in
China and improve governance.

Denka Group ESG Basic Policy established
On November 8, the Denka Group ESG Basic Policy, which is a set of basic policies
pertaining to ESG issues in business activities for group companies was established.

President appears in Top Interview on Nikkei CNBCOn November 17, President Imai made anappearance on an economic information andnews program on Nikkei CNBC.

*Please scan this QR code to accessYouTube and watch the video(available until November 16, 2022).

2021
2022Autumn
Winter | The Denka Way

17

Taking Small Steps for the Future!
Resource Collection

I really like muscle training and playing games!
I want to be able to effortlessly deadlift 150 kg!

I am a huge fan of Denki Groove.
Joined in March 2020. She is in charge of managing sales orders andstock as a back-office team member.

Joined in April 2016. He is in charge of sales of in vitro diagnostic reagents (mainly expanding sales of influenza diagnostic reagents in China
and some bulk products). He also does information gathering and market
research for medical equipment in China.

I used to think environmental protection was a major
undertaking, but I’ve realized that I can do a lot of activities

Joined in 1991. She is in charge of general operational support in the sales department and paperwork
and internal administration in the business administration department.

on a daily basis even without specialist knowledge. I try to

I properly separate my waste at home and at the office

walk, ride my bicycle, and use public transportation whenaccording to the rules laid out by Shanghai city. I have also

I proactively participate in a resource

possible. Also, I always bring reusable bags when shopping.

converted to an electric car. I want to contribute to reducing

collection activity held by my neighborhood

the environmental burden by reducing CO2. Currently, a

association. Members of the associationdelivery service called Waimai is popular in China. When I use

collect resources such as plastic bottles andthe service, I try to bring my own reusable chopsticks andaluminum cans and sell them to vendors.

containers whenever possible.

Japan

The funds raised here are used for holding

Yumiko Yamaguchi

government. Above all, I believe that this is a

Sales Department
Denka Consultant &Engineering Co., Ltd.

win-win activity that raises the local people’s

This year, I would like to participate in the Rhine CleanUP

Germany

I love hot springs!
I’d like to go on a trip next year.

(an activity to clear plastic waste out of the Rhine River),which I missed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

How are thingsin China,
Qilian?

China
Qilian Ren
Life Innovation
Denka Chemicals Shanghai Co., Ltd.

Eri Schrader
Back-officeDenka Chemicals G.m.b.H

How are things
in Japan,Yumiko?

How are thingsin Germany,
Eri?

LINK GL OBALLY,
LINK F UTURE

Group members around the world, working toward the future of Denka

Cui DanJapan

Joined in April 2018. She is in charge of sales of thermallyconductive products for Japan and China in the Electronic Products
Department of the Electronics & Innovative Products Division.

What do you do to protect the environment?

rechargeable batteries instead of normal single-use batteries. Second, when I go outside on
weekends, I walk or use public transportationout, I use my own reusable chopsticks and straws whenever possible. I

How are things
in Japan,Cui?

also make a point of bringing my own bags when I go shopping to mini-

How are thingsin Taiwan,
Rita?

mize use of plastic bags. At home, I am doing my best to prevent global
warming by doing things like buying energy-saving home appliances
and unplugging devices

First, I bring my own reusable bottles to avoid purchasing

when they are not in use.

reduce the use of plastic bags. Third, I avoid eating dairy

I am aware of four things every day. First, I use

I try to separate my waste properly for recycling purposes. When I eat

There are three things that I make a point of doing every day.
plastic bottles. Second, I always bring reusable bags to

Joined in January 2018. He is in charge of reviewing
bioinformatics analysis workflow, developing in-house bioinformatics analysis tools for detecting primers, and designingprobes for both Sepsis and Tropical Virus teams.

Joined in August 2019. She is in charge of operational support for the collaboration
between Advanced Diagnostics Business Development Department and PlexBio Co.,
Ltd, as well as finance operations at DCT.

I enjoy building jigsaw puzzles!
I love nature and travel!

awareness of waste reduction and recycling.

I can cook great steamed egg custard!

I am hooked on natural wine!

Electronic Products Dept.
Electronics & Innovative
Products
Denka Company Limited

which also reduces the burden on the local

How are thingsin Singapore,
Hankun?

The Denka Group has 6,000 employees around the world.
We posed the following question to members from different countries.

Theme

the association’s activities and events,

Singapore
Hankun Li

whenever possible. Third, I use reusable bags andcheck whether products are eco-friendly or not
before I buy them. Finally, I try to cook for myself to
reduce food waste.

Molecular Diagnostics Sepsis
Denka Life Innovation Research Pte. Ltd.

Taiwanproducts. Since I noticed that the livestock business has a

Rita Leenegative impact on the environment, I have been trying to

Denka Taiwan Corporation

avoid eating dairy products such as meat, milk, and cheese.

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