This year, the Copper Club’s Ankh Award ceremony was held during the Copper Club Annual Dinner on the final day of the General Assembly/Joint Meeting. In past years, the annual award ceremony was held in June in New York.

　Last year, I received the prestigious Ankh Award, or the Copper Man of the Year Award. The Ankh Award 2012 was presented to past and present workers in the copper mining industry in the state of Arizona, the center of the U.S. copper industry. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Arizona, the 48th state of the United States. In the ceremony, the Award was accepted by Ms. Jan Brewer, Governor of Arizona, on behalf of the men and women of Arizona’s copper industry. I was invited to the dinner as the 2011 award recipient and sat with her. She is quite a valiant woman.

The state of Arizona is known for its five C’s: Climate, Cotton, Citrus, Cattle and Copper. Arizona is the largest copper producing state in the country. The copper and other mining industries have played a very important part in the state economy.

At the IWCC General Assembly I was chosen to serve as the organization’s Chairman for two years from October 1, 2012 to the end of September, 2014. Asked to deliver a speech on the spot, I stated: I have engaged in IWCC activities for over 25 years since my expatriate days in London. I would like to return the favors I have received from the Council. Next year, the General Assembly will be held in Japan. I look forward to welcoming you all in my country.