Chapter 4 　Birth of Setsuden-mushi (a profitmaking device) 　4.3 Received the Energy Conservation Grand Prize 4.3.4 I did it!

　Thus, I applied for the Energy Conservation Vanguard 21 on September 7, 1996, and contrary to my expectations, I passed the first round of screening by the documents and was able to proceed to the second round of hearing screening on November 14, 1996.　

　On December 25, about 40 days after this second round of screening, Setsuden-mushi was recommended for the final selection for the award by the screening committee and we received a fax from the Energy Conservation Center, Japan, informing us that there was a very high possibility to receive some kind of award. This was truly a wonderful and the best Christmas present I have ever received.

　The reason why we were contacted in advance before the award was officially confirmed was that the Energy Conservation Center, Japan needed about a month's time to prepare a PR pamphlet of the Energy Conservation Vanguard 21 award-winning devices and systems for the ENEX '97 exhibition to be held in Tokyo from January 29, 1997.

　Each company that applied for the Energy Conservation Vanguard 21 that received an offer to receive some kind of award at Christmas 1996 had about a month to prepare the printouts for the PR brochures of the award-winning devices and systems and send them to the Energy Conservation Center, Japan.

　The following year, on January 23, 1997, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) officially announced the list of award-winning devices for the 1996 (7th) "21st Century Energy Conservation Equipment and System Awards" (Energy Conservation Vanguard 21) in the form of a press release.

　Immediately after the press announcement, the Energy Conservation Center, Japan (ECC) sent a fax to me at 3:50 p.m. on January 23, 1997, as a matter of notice. In addition, the details of the award and the list of award-winning companies were mailed to me on the next day, January 24, in the form of an official written notice.

　At last, the Energy Conservation Center, Japan Chairman's Award for Setsuden-mushi was confirmed. It was our first time to apply. It was a gift to us for our solitary effort in the absence of materials, money, and people for development. It was an application from a different industry. It was a selfless award. I couldn't have been happier to receive public recognition. I finally did it!

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