The Japan Times announces winners of the Sustainable Japan Award 2026
The Japan Times Cube Inc. has announced the winners of the Sustainable Japan Award 2026, recognizing companies and organizations advancing innovative initiatives toward a sustainable society.
Grand Prize winner, ESG section: Saraya Co., Ltd
Grand Prize winner, satoyama section: The Kyoto Satoyama SDGs Meguru Project
(Bikkuri! ECO Research Institute)
TOKYO — The Japan Times Co. Ltd. has announced the winners of the Sustainable Japan Award 2026, recognizing innovative initiatives toward a sustainable society. Now in its eighth year, the award honors outstanding efforts in the ESG and Satoyama categories.
Established in 2019, the Sustainable Japan Award recognizes initiatives undertaken by companies, organizations, local governments and individuals, as well as long-standing efforts that have contributed to addressing social and environmental challenges.
The Japan Times invites nominations from both organizations and individuals. Winners are selected following a rigorous review by advisers and the secretariat of the Sustainable Japan Network.
This year, the award received a wide range of initiatives. These included innovative efforts by companies and organizations addressing environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, as well as initiatives that make use of local natural resources, culture, industries and communities to promote sustainable regional development.
The winning initiatives share a commitment not only to addressing challenges facing society and local communities, but also to creating new value from existing resources and systems. Through their work, the recipients are developing practical and innovative models that contribute to a more sustainable future.
Sustainable Japan Day set for Sept. 29
Sustainable Japan Day will be held on Sept. 29 at the International House of Japan in Minato Ward, Tokyo. The event will feature the Sustainable Japan Award 2026 ceremony, panel discussions with representatives of the winning companies and organizations, and a talk session with members of the judging panel.
2026 award winners
https://sustainable.japantimes.com/sjaward-company2026
| Grand Prize winner, ESG section | Saraya Co. Ltd. |
| Grand Prize winner, satoyama section | The Kyoto Satoyama SDGs Meguru Project (Bikkuri! ECO Research Institute) |
| ESG: Excellence Award winner | Earth Company |
| Morinaga Milk Industry Co. Ltd. | |
| Satoyama: Excellence Award winner | Nasu Machizukuri Hiroba (Nasu Community Development Co. Ltd.) |
| Suma Universal Beach Project | |
| ESG: Special Award winner | Association of Co-development of Women’s Business Succession of Japan |
| Satoyama: Special Award winner | Benibana Promotion Council (secretariat: Ogaru Inc.) |
＜Sustainable Japan Award judges＞
ESG category
Michiyo Morisawa: board member, Japan Sustainable Investment Forum
Ken Shibusawa: chairman, Commons Investment Trust
Naonori Kimura: managing director, Industrial Growth Platform Co.
Takeshi Kimura: executive officer, Nippon Life Insurance Co.
Satoyama Category
Kosuke Motani: senior researcher, the Japan Research Institute
Takashi Mitachi: visiting professor, Graduate School of Management, Kyoto University
Kyosuke Inoue: founder, Suke Juku; TV producer, writer
Event Overview
Date and time: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2 p.m.–5 p.m.
Venue: International House of Japan
5-11-16 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
About The Japan Times
Founded in 1897, The Japan Times is Japan’s oldest English-language newspaper. It launched its website in 1996 and today delivers news and perspectives on Japan’s present and future through its print edition, website and social media platforms to audiences in Japan and around the world.
The Japan Times is widely used as a trusted source of information about Japan by foreign residents in Japan, as well as government officials, think tanks, research institutions and media organizations around the world.
Its extensive archive, accumulated through nearly 130 years of reporting, is also held by universities and public libraries overseas, where it serves as a valuable resource for research into the history and societies of Japan and Asia.
Media contacts
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Tel: 090-8001-7861
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