The H1N1 virus may scare many, but definitely not Katsuichi Shimizu.

As the chief executive of Canon's Inkjet Products Operations, the 62-year-old flew to Chengdu on May 9, the same day as the mainland's first confirmed H1N1 patient arrived in the western Chinese city.

Three days later, when the second H1N1 flu case was confirmed in Shandong province, Shimizu continued his trip to Xi'an to meet local partners, with no thought of retreat.