KYOSAN DENSO MANUFACTURING KENTUCKY Celebrates Mt. Sterling Grand Opening

Bluegrass Music, Sake-Barrel Ceremony Kick Off New Facility Start

MT. STERLING, Ky., Oct. 13 -- Kentucky traditions combined with an ancient Japanese ceremony gave a decidedly international flair to today's grand opening of Japan-based KYOSAN DENSO MANUFACTURING KENTUCKY, LLC (KDMK).

In addition to speeches, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours of the manufacturing facility, guests were treated to a Japanese sake-barrel breaking ceremony -- called kagami wari -- which signifies the beginning of a new business venture. Japanese people believe that the splashing forth of the sake, a rice wine, from the barrel brings good luck and blessing to all in the community. During lunch, Don Rigsby and the Midnight Call entertained guests with authentic Kentucky bluegrass music. Rigsby is director of the Kentucky Center for Traditional Music.

Guests attending the grand opening celebration, in addition to Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher, included Consulate General of Japan Masamichi Ishikawa, KYOSAN DENKI President and CEO Masami Manabe and DENSO International America President and CEO Matt Matsushita.

"We are off to a strong start," said KDMK President Katsumi Urano. "A start-up requires extra energy and hard work and our employees have certainly come through for us. That's the primary reason we've been able to expand so soon after forming the company. We especially thank the State of Kentucky and the City of Mt. Sterling for their excellent support and welcome to the community that has made our initial success possible."

When the new company was announced last year, it was expected to employ 230 people by 2008. KDMK currently employs 150 people, and expects further expansion to achieve its plan.

Montgomery County Judge-Executive B.D. Wilson said, "We in Montgomery County are so proud to have KDMK as a part of our corporate community. We want to continue to have a mutually beneficial relationship and help them grow and prosper here and continue to employ our citizens. They are known as a wonderful employer by the employees they now have. So if you are looking for employment you would be lucky to be hired by KDMK."

About KDMK

KDMK, a new joint venture between KYOSAN DENKI AMERICA, Inc. and DENSO International America, Inc., manufactures automotive components such as automotive fuel systems, on-board refueling vapor recovery valves and fuel pump modules for North American manufacturers. KYOSAN DENKI owns 70 percent of the limited liability partnership and DENSO, 30 percent.

About KYOSAN DENKI

KYOSAN DENKI AMERICA is a subsidiary of KYOSAN DENKI Co., Ltd., which is headquartered in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan. The company, which produces components for fuel supply systems, fuel filtration systems and fuel control systems for the automotive industry, employs 1,515 people worldwide. Its consolidated net sales for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004 totaled US$341 million.

About DENSO

DENSO International America is the North American headquarters for DENSO Corporation, a leading global automotive supplier of advanced technology, systems and components. Headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, DENSO employs 95,000 people worldwide in 31 countries, including Japan. Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004 totaled US$24.2 billion. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya stock exchanges in Japan. In the Americas, DENSO employs 14,000 people at 33 companies with consolidated sales for the above fiscal year of US$5.3 billion.