FORM 6-K
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                        REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

                    THE ACQUISITION OF SHARES OF VALEPAR S.A.
                      (THE CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER OF CVRD)

                        PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the month of September 3, 2003
                 -----------------

Commission File Number 09929
                       -----


                               MITSUI & CO., LTD.
                               ------------------
                 (Translation of registrant's name into English)

             2-1, OHTEMACHI 1-CHOME CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 100-0004 JAPAN
             -------------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:


                        Form 20-F [X] Form 40-F [ ]


Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ____


Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a
Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security
holders.


Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ____


Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a
Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant
foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the
jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally
organized (the registrant's "home country"), or under the rules of the home
country exchange on which the registrant's securities are traded, as long as the
report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has
not been distributed to the registrant's security holders, and, if discussing a
material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other
Commission filing on EDGAR.


Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this
Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.


                               Yes [ ] No [X]


If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- _________



                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


Date: September 3, 2003

                                             MITSUI & CO., LTD.


                                             By: /s/ Osamu Mori
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                 Name:  Osamu Mori
                                                 Title: Senior Managing Officer
                                                        General Manager

                                                               September 3, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                                              Mitsui & Co., Ltd.



                  Re: The acquisition of shares of Valepar S.A.
                      (the controlling shareholder of CVRD)

         Mitsui & Co., Ltd. ("Mitsui"), a company organized under the laws of
Japan, with headquarters in 2-1, Ohtemachi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan,
hereby informs that, on September 2, 2003, upon satisfaction of all contractual
and legal conditions, Mitsui acquired from Bradesplan Participacoes S.A.
19,607,357 ordinary shares of Valepar S.A., the controlling company of Companhia
Vale do Rio Doce ("CVRD"), corresponding to 5.05% of CVRD's total equity and
7.84% of CVRD's voting capital stock, at US$830 million. As a result of such
acquisition, Mitsui adhered to the shareholders' agreement entered into by the
shareholders of Valepar, by which Mitsui will have it's representative(s) in the
board of directors of CVRD.


         For further information, please contact:

         Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
         Corporate Communications Division
         Person in charge: A. Kimura
         Telephone:       81-3-3285-7596
         Facsimile:       81-3-3285-9819
         Electronic Mail: A.Kimura@mitsui.com