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Japanese auto suppliers join in the Grand Bargain

DIA

The Detroit Institute of Arts is $1.6 million closer to its $100 million goal for its share of the Grand Bargain.

And it's also closer to having a new gallery to display its extensive collection of Japanese art.

Nineteen Japanese auto suppliers that operate in Michigan, and three Japanese trading companies, are donating a total $2,167,000.

75% of that money will go towards the DIA's Grand Bargain contribution, and 25%  will help the DIA establish a new Japanese art gallery.

Sho Ueda is head of the Japan Business Society of Detroit. 

He says the donation is a way for Japanese companies, many of which have done business in Michigan for forty years, give back to the local communities where their employees work and live.

He says the more than $500,000 contribution towards the new gallery will meet an artistic need.

"46,000 people came to see the DIA's Samarai (Beyond the Sword) exhibit last spring," says Ueda, "which means lots of Americans are very interested in Japanese art."

The DIA says it has raised nearly $87 million towards the $100 million fundraising goal for the Grand Bargain.

Earlier this year, Toyota announced a $1,000,000 contribution to the Detroit Grand Bargain.

Japanese companies participating in today's announcement:

DENSO International of America

AISIN Group

Toyoda Gosei

Toyota Tsusho

Hino Motors Manufacturing USA Inc and Hino Motors Sales USA Inc

JTEKT

Yazaki North America

Toyota Boshoku

N.S. International

Mitsuhishi Electric

Tram

Panasonic Automotive

Akebono Brake

American Mitsuba

Hitachi Metals

Hitotec

Sunitomo Corporation

Mitsui & Co.

Hitachi Automotive

Hayashi Telempu

ISUZU

Tracy Samilton covers energy and transportation, including the auto industry and the business response to climate change for Michigan Public. She began her career at Michigan Public as an intern, where she was promptly “bitten by the radio bug,” and never recovered.