Kyocera Changes ADS Stock Ratio

Kyoto, Japan (Sept. 14, 1998) - Effective today, Kyocera Corporation (NYSE: KYO) has amended the ratio of the number of shares of its common stock to its American Depositary Share (ADS) from two common shares per Depositary Share to one common share per Depositary Share. This ratio change was effected by a 100% free distribution of Depositary Shares that Kyocera paid to ADS shareholders on Friday, September 11, 1998, thus doubling the number of Depositary Shares so held. In conjunction with this ratio change, Kyocera has made the dividend rate of its Depositary Shares equal to the dividend rate of its common shares.

Kyocera expects this ratio change to stimulate retail interest in its Depositary Shares by lowering their price. In addition, the ratio change will simplify investors' efforts to track Kyocera share prices between the NYSE and the Japanese stock exchanges on which the Company's common shares are traded.

Founded in 1959 as a manufacturer of advanced ceramics, Kyoto, Japan-based Kyocera Corporation has diversified from microelectronic packaging and components into optical and electronic systems, including cameras, laser printers and telecommunications equipment. Today, Kyocera is among the leading manufacturers of high-tech ceramics, electronic components, solar cells and PDC-based cellular handsets, with sales of 725 billion yen ($5.5 billion) and net income of 47 billion yen ($354 million) during the year ended March 31, 1998.

The Company's wireless satellite handsets for the global Iridium communications network will debut this fall.