Brother Expands “Brother Communication Space” - Introduction of Brother’s "spirit of manufacturing" carried out 100 years - Brother Industries, Ltd.

April 3, 2008 – Brother Industries Ltd. (President, Toshikazu Koike) announces that the Company expands its exhibition facility called “Brother Communication Space (BCS)” (Mizuho-Ward, Nagoya) in commemoration of its 100^th anniversary, and showcases the world’s first sewing machine for the first time in Japan from April 7, 2008, along with a wide range of exhibitions on sewing machines.

Floor space	:421.03 m²
Structure of the building	:Two-storied reinforced concrete building
Construction cost	:Approx. 200 million yen

For the first time in Japan, a replica of the world’s first sewing machine, called “Thomas Saint’s Sewing Machine” will be on exhibit. There is also a display of early sewing machines and visitors will learn about the history of the sewing machine and how it has evolved through the years. There’s even a dress called “Crinoline Style” from the 1860s and a quilt made in the 1880s, which help visitors see how the development of the sewing machine brought about significant changes. The exhibit also shows how sewing machines were first brought to Japan from across the sea.

The display carries various sewing machines of the period where Brother was devoted exclusively to sewing machine production, including the chain-stitch sewing machine for straw hats called “Sho-San-Shiki Sewing Machine” created by Yasui brothers who founded Brother. With episodes about them, visitors understand how Brother came to get involved in sewing machine production.

Visitors can experience a foot-operated sewing machine to know its actual speed. A sewing machine with see-through windows and visual images show the structural mechanism of sewing machines and the process of how stitches are created.

In the enhanced "History and Theme Zone" that has obtained new exhibition space, the IC tag system using Brother’s on-demand IC Tag Label Printer, P-touch R “RL-700S”, allows visitors any time to start descriptions about the history and structure of sewing machines.

Since the opening in March 2005 as an exhibition facility to introduce Brother’s history, present and future, BCS has been attracting many visitors including customers and local school students on their field trips, etc.

With this enhancement of exhibitions, Brother hopes to continue to introduce visitors not only Brother’s "spirit of manufacturing" but also a variety of knowledge about sewing machines.

Before visiting, it is recommended that reservations be made in advance on the Company’s website, at (http://www.brother.co.jp/bcs/) . Admission is free.

Location	: 5-15, Shioiri-Cho, Mizuho-Ku, Nagoya 467-0851
Site Area	: Approx. 2,644.38 m²
Total floor space	: Approx. 1,330.41 m²
Newly built space	: Approx. 421.03 m²
Structure of the building	: Reinforced concrete
Visitors per tour limited to	: Approx 75 people
Hours	: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Last Admission at 4:30 p.m.) Visitors with reservation given priority
Closed	:Saturdays, Sundays, National Holidays and Company holidays
For reservation	:Visitors are kindly requested to make advance reservation on the Company’s website shown below.
Other exhibitions	:

Brother Communication Space
TEL : (052)824-2227 FAX : (052)824-2069
URL : http://www.brother.co.jp/bcs/index.htm