Tran Ngoc Phuc, the founder of the medical equipment company, Metran, based in Japan, checks up on the ventilators. (Photo: VNA)
Tokyo (VNA) – Tran Ngoc Phuc, Chairman of theOverseas Vietnamese Association in Japan, has been awarded Japan’s Order of theRising Sun, Silver Rays.
The decoration is made in recognition of Phuc’s contributions to Japan and the relationsbetween Japan Vietnam.
Phuc, born in 1947, left Vietnam to study industrialchemistry in Tokai University, Japan, from 1968.
In 1984, 10 years after his graduation, Phuc established theMetran Co Ltd, based in Saitama prefecture’s Kawaguchi City (about 30km from thecapital city of Tokyo), to develop a high frequency oscillatory ventilator(HFO), named Hummingbird. Metran’s HFO, aiming to help increase the flow ofoxygen for premature babies, would allow for diffusion of air supply at a ratethousands of times faster than machines available at that time.
It was reported that 90 percent of Japanese hospitals andmedical facilities employed machines made by Phuc’s company. The paediatricventilator is also present at hospitals in other countries, including Germany,the UK, Switzerland and Thailand.
The story of the Vietnamese-made machine, which helped savethe lives of thousands of premature newborns in Japan, caught the attention ofthe Japanese Emperor. In July 2012, Metran received the rare honour of a visit byEmperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.
In December 2017, Metran was recognised by the Japanesegovernment as one of enterprises playing role as a drive force in the futureregional growth. Phuc’s company received research funding of more than 300,000 USDfrom automaker Suzuki and Tokyo University.
In May 2017, Phuc, named Nitta Kazufuku inJapanese, was elected as chairman of the Overseas Vietnamese Association inJapan for the 2017-2020 term. He has since dedicated himself to mobilisingVietnamese youth in Japan to support those struggling to adapt to the local wayof life.-VNA
