Canon Inc. resolved at the meeting of its Board of Directors held today that it will propose the acquisition of its own shares pursuant to Article 210 of the Commercial Code at the upcoming 102 ^nd Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Canon Inc. scheduled to be held on March 28, 2003.

In accordance with the creation of the system for buying additional shares of less-than-one-unit shares pursuant to "The Law to Revise Part of the Commercial Code, etc." effective as of April 1, 2003 (Law No. 44, 2002), Canon Inc. has decided to propose partial amendment to its Articles of Incorporation at the upcoming 102 ^nd Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held on March 28, 2003 and adopt such system, thus, in order to respond to sales requests from less-than-one-unit shareholders, Canon Inc. needs to become capable of acquiring its own shares when necessary.

(To be acquired through the end of the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders to be held for the first business term after the abovementioned resolution of the shareholders meeting)