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Actia

SAWIB08 Winner

Company: Actia Inc., Osaka Japan
Company Description: Atsuko Matsumura established Actia in 2005. Actia is the company to sell original cap for cancer patient who become bald because of chemotherapy 's side effection.The trigger of my business is my experience of nursing my mum.Now my original cap aere selled at most of department store and major hospital in Japan.
Nomination Category: Individual Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Asian Entrepreneur

Nomination Title: Atsuko Matsumura, President, Actia Inc.

1. Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated entrepreneur during the eligibility period (up to 500 words):

The role of an entrepreneur had never entered my mind. A Home Economics
major, I taught at a middle school. After marriage, I joined my husband’s
household as a housewife. When my husband embarked upon his own business, I
joined him as his office assistant.Then years ago, my mother-in-law was
diagnosed with cancer. This was the turning point in my life. Having a close
relationship, it was almost unbearable to watch her deteriorate. I struggled to
find a way to help—chemotherapy had made her bald. Being adept at sewing, I took
her scarf and created a cap for her head. A smile returned to her face.

At this particular time, an International Modern Hospital Show was being held and I
was invited to participate creating pajamas and accessories. I concentrated on
functional but fashionable designs and included the cap. The popularity of the cap
far exceeded my expectations. Realizing the need and demand, I assembled a
team of capable help to make them. For me, the cap became a symbol of help. A
commercial or profit making venture had not entered my thoughts. Seeking advice
from hospital staff, I continued to improve upon the caps.My dream is to provide
and convey to women of the world suffering from cancer, my “attakai kokoro”
or “warm spirit” with “akko’s Bandana cap”. My heartfelt desire is that
future research will annihilate cancer. It may diminish the need for my caps but
that would be a wonderful goal.

2. List the URLs (web addresses) of any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that you would like the judges to see that support your entry. IMPORTANT: List each URL on a separate line, begin each URL with http://, and enclose each URL in square brackets. For example, [http://www.yourcompany.com/pressrelease.html]:

(URL)
http://www.actia.jp

A variety of documents are available at
http://thestevies.com/SAWIB08Attachments/Actia/

3. Provide a brief biography of the nominated entrepreneur (up to 100 words):

On October 1960, Atsuko was born to Michiko and Masayuki Uekita in Nara
Japan.She graduated from Kyoto Women’s University as a Home Economics
Major taught for one year. She has traveled extensively throught out Europe and
Asia. Settling into marriage, a daughter was born—now a graphic artist.Living in a
three generation household, she became acutely aware of the need and welfare of
aging individuals and less fortunate. These concerns led her to embark upon
creating comfortable, functional and fashionable attire—pajamas, vests and
particularly caps. She is currently working on new designs for her popular caps.