The " sustainable growth Company Award 2026" ceremony was held, with winners selected from approximately 12,000 companies (the grand prize went to Imuraya Group).

Funai Soken Holdings Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and Group CEO : Takayuki Nakatani) held the " sustainable growth Growth Company Award 2026" awards ceremony (operated by Funai Consulting Inc. ) on Thursday, August 20th at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa. From approximately 12,000 companies selected from our business partners and general entries from outside the company, 45 companies that serve as industry models were nominated based on the judging criteria. From the 28 finalist companies that advanced to the final judging, 12 particularly outstanding companies were selected to receive awards. The Grand Prize for Best sustainable growth Company was awarded to Imuraya Group Co., Ltd.
This award defines and recognizes companies as sustainable growth Companies" that achieve sustainable growth while aiming to transform their communities and industries and have a positive impact on Society and the nation. Through the award Initiatives , we aim to support the healthy development of corporations, organizations, and individuals that are expected to make a significant contribution to Society , and to contribute to the progress of Society .

  (Photo) Imuraya Group Co., Ltd., winner of the " sustainable growth Company Award"
The award ceremony for Imuraya Group Co., Ltd. (Tsu City, Mie Prefecture), which won the Grand Prize.

(Photo) Representatives and related parties of the 12 companies that received the " sustainable growth Growth Company Award 2026," selected from approximately 12,000 companies nationwide.

The 12 companies that received the " sustainable growth Company Award 2026," and the reasons for their awards.

" sustainable growth Company Award"
Imuraya Group Co., Ltd. (Head office: Tsu City, Mie Prefecture; President : Yasuki Onishi)
Founded in 1896 in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture, and now headquartered in Tsu City, Imuraya is a long-established comprehensive food manufacturer known for numerous long-selling products such as "Azuki Bar" and "Nikuman/Anman." With a history spanning 130 years and 11 business successions, the company has accurately grasped Society needs such as health consciousness and Environment impact reduction, and has continued to create new food cultures and categories while updating its flagship products to suit the times, achieving sustainable growth with group Net sales 51.1 billion yen (as of March 2025).
Based on the principles of "unchanging principles and ever-changing trends"—preserving tradition while embracing change—and "distinctive management"—pursuing unique strengths, the company operates globally through three bases in the United States, China, and Malaysia, as well as exports from Japan. Through a "team-oriented" approach to digital transformation and the use of AI, productivity per person has greatly improved, and the company has built a sustainable management system that values its people, upholding its founding principle of "people are our greatest asset."

'10 Billion Enterprise Award'
Chikusuikanicom Co., Ltd. (Head office: Ukiha City, Fukuoka Prefecture; President : Yoshiyuki Kaneyuki)
Chikusuikanicom Co., Ltd., based in Ukiha City, Fukuoka Prefecture, has been manufacturing transport vehicles and grass cutting machines for agriculture, civil engineering, and forestry since its founding in 1948. The company saw an opportunity in the United States with crawler-type transport vehicles for concrete, and has since developed, manufactured, and sold products that directly address and solve the "problems" that large companies don't tackle. They employ a unique and approachable naming strategy, exemplified by products like "Kusakariki Masao" (Grass Cutting Machine Masao) and "Arafo Ichikei-ko" (Arafo Ichikei-ko), which has allowed them to escape price competition. From a regional city with a population of approximately 26,000, they have expanded into 56 countries and regions worldwide, with overseas sales accounting for 57%. With a second generation of unique naming-based marketing and a third generation of global expansion, they have inherited a unique management style across three generations, becoming a cutting-edge industrial machinery manufacturer with sales exceeding 10 billion yen.

"DX/AI Impact Award"
SHOP Nakajitsu Co., Ltd. (Head office: Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture; President: Kazuki Ochizawa)
SHOP Nakajitsu Co., Ltd., a comprehensive real estate company originating in Aichi Prefecture, provides one-stop services from real estate sales to new construction and renovations. Aiming to solve the problems of "lack of transparency," "inequality," and "lack of objectivity" that plague the real estate industry, they have built a unique system that centrally manages information from sales, design, construction, and after-sales service. They are committed to improving customer satisfaction with their living environment.
Another key characteristic is that the use of AI is driven by on-site staff rather than being top-down. Based on ideas from on-site employees, they utilize a variety of tools, including "AI appraisal" to reduce fluctuations in real estate prices, "Osoji-kun," an AI that edits interior images to make them easier to view, and AI that enables sales role-playing regardless of time or location. As a result, they have achieved a reduction of approximately 116 hours of work time per employee per year. While increasing productivity by approximately 1.2 times, sales have grown approximately 120 times over the past 17 years and approximately 2.5 times in the last 7 years. They continue to challenge industry norms and provide customers with better value in housing.

Employee Success Award
Mother's Industry Co., Ltd. (Head office: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Representative Director: Nobuaki Sasano)
Established in 2003, Mother's Industry Co., Ltd. is a Japanese fashion company that develops brands including "mizuiro ind." Under the credo of "making people smile through fashion," the company pursues simple and timeless manufacturing that is not influenced by trends and is close to the sensibilities and lifestyles of the wearer. Through long-term repair and maintenance, the company has not discarded any products since its founding. While valuing sustainable manufacturing and a commitment to nurturing brands over the long term, the company is refining its value to be accepted both domestically and internationally. Even after the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has continued to grow at an average annual rate of over 10% thanks to the support of its loyal fans and the expansion of online sales, and currently operates approximately 80 stores mainly in Japan and Asia. It is aiming for Net sales 10 billion yen. As a result of building an organization that supports the growth of each and every employee, the company scored 98 points for "empathy with philosophy" and 94 points for "pride in work" in the "Management and Organizational Strength Diagnosis" provided by Funai Consulting Inc. Research Institute.

" rising stars Award"
Tokai Society Insurance and Labor Consultant Corporation (Head office: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, Representative Partner: Katsuya Kuno)
Tokai Society Insurance and Labor Consultant Corporation, located in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, is Professional Services (Legal, Tax & Accounting) firm aiming to become the number one social insurance and labor consultant group in Japan, with the vision of "creating a country where people who want to grow can grow." In addition to basic services such as labor consultations and payroll calculations, they streamline cumbersome labor matters to support proactive management. Furthermore, they focus on supporting the introduction and operation of defined contribution pension plans (DC) for companies, actively supporting asset formation to "make a 100-year life enjoyable." In just seven years since their full-scale entry into the market, they have achieved a cumulative domestic market share of 8.3%, and in the past year alone, they have supported 23.4% of new companies in Japan. They also conduct financial education in schools and provide ongoing support through a network of over 190 experts nationwide. This professional group is projected to achieve sales of 930 million yen and Operating income of 120 million yen by 2025.

Global Award
Sasaki Seicha Co., Ltd. (Head office: Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture; President : Hiroki Sasaki)
Sasaki Seicha Co., Ltd. is a long-established company that began making tea in 1921 and has been engaged in overseas export since 2004. In the domestic tea industry, which is feared to be in decline, it is an innovative company that has established a "vertically integrated business model" in which it handles everything from tea cultivation and manufacturing to sales and export in-house. With its strength in high quality, which has earned it the Emperor's Cup and the most Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Awards in the prefecture, it has accurately grasped the need for the rapidly increasing global demand for matcha and is now aiming to create the future of the entire industry by spreading sencha overseas. It also contributes to Environment and Society by using tea leaf residue as fertilizer to eliminate waste from the factory and by providing food education to local children. It has achieved high profitability and growth through its unique supply chain that sells tea directly to customers in more than 30 countries and regions around the world without going through trading companies. It is a global brand of Japanese tea that is pioneering the future of a traditional industry and soaring from Shizuoka to the world.

'100th Anniversary Corporate Award'
Okamotoya Co., Ltd. (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Mikiko Suzuki)
Founded in 1912 as a stationery store, Okamotoya Co., Ltd. has redefined itself as "an ally of working people," evolving from a mere stationery trading company into a comprehensive trading company that provides end-to-end services from office design to digitalization support. While managing business succession, the company has actively challenged itself in new fields, brilliantly linking the resolution of social issues with corporate growth through social contribution activities such as the opening of "palette," a live office where people can experience the company's work social challenges reforms; "Fellne," a business that supports women's health and ease of work; the nationwide tour of "Young-go," Society 's first mobile stationery store; and supporting children in impoverished countries using discarded stationery. The company has doubled its sales to approximately 10.6 billion yen and has achieved a sustainable growth Score of 20.5 over the past three years. For 114 years, it has supported the office Environment in Japan, and is a company that continues to transform and grow while always looking to the future.

M&A /Business Succession Award
Yabushita Holdings Co., Ltd. (Head office: Sapporo City, Hokkaido; Representative Director: Tadahiro Mori)
Founded in 1963 as a trading company in Hakodate, Yabushita Holdings Co., Ltd., now based in Sapporo, Hokkaido, manufactures and installs air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. To deliver products that meet the demands of the times, the company has ventured into design and manufacturing itself. Although it experienced a period of declining performance, it achieved a remarkable V-shaped recovery through non-family succession, and has promoted diversification through M&A and new establishments, promoting Business Portfolio in various sectors such as construction, Energy , and services. Currently, it has evolved into a regional conglomerate in Hokkaido with sales of 11 billion yen and a total of 19 companies. Based on the philosophy that "human capital is the foundation of long-term management," the company continuously produces tough leaders with a strong management perspective who can adapt to change through its unique job rotation program that allows employees to experience different fields and roles. By increasing the reproducibility of business succession to non-family members, the company continues to grow strongly, driven by human resource development .

"Unique Business Model Award"
Archivision 20 Co., Ltd. (Head office: Chitose City, Hokkaido; Representative Director: Masanori Tanno)
This company is a manufacturer of "movable buildings" that has made an innovative shift from construction to Manufacturing . They have dramatically reduced the construction period, which normally takes 4-5 months, to just 2 weeks through complete factory production, and have established an innovative manufacturing line where more than half of the workers are young people in their 20s and 30s. Despite the headwinds of declining new housing construction, by focusing their business on the niche market of moving houses, they have achieved phenomenal business growth of 364% in sales and 653% Operating income in just four years. These buildings, which can be moved and reused repeatedly, function in a phase-free manner, both in normal times and during disasters, and have a significant Society impact in supporting a country prone to natural disasters. This groundbreaking track record and the potential for future market expansion have been highly praised, making them a frontrunner driving the future of Society infrastructure.

" Society Impact Award"
Fagiano Okayama Sports Club Co., Ltd. (Head office: Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture; President : Yu Morii)
Fagiano Okayama Sports Club Co., Ltd. operates the professional soccer club "Fagiano Okayama" under the philosophy of "Giving dreams to children!". At the time of the club's founding, the prefecture's spending on sports spectating was among the lowest in the country, creating a challenging external Environment . It is a prefectural and city club without a specific corporate sponsor. It also has limited personnel budgets even among J1 teams. Under these Environment , in 2024, they achieved their long-cherished dream of promotion to J1. In 2025, they generated enthusiasm with all home area tickets sold out and a stadium occupancy rate of 94%, achieving an astonishing sales figure of 3.74 billion yen. They have established a sports promotion ecosystem that involves local people, creating an annual local economic ripple effect of 5.4 billion yen in a regional city. They have successfully balanced regional revitalization through sports with independent and highly profitable management, rooting a new culture and vitality in the region.

" sustainable growth Company IPO Award"
Tamura Builds Group Co., Ltd. (Head office: Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture; Representative Director: Ikuo Tamura)
Founded in 1879 as a grocery store in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Tamura Builds Group Co., Ltd. has its headquarters in Yamaguchi and Fukuoka Prefectures. The current president, the sixth generation, has inherited the company's commitment to "adapting to change," and the company has recently reached Net sales of 9.22 billion yen. It is a long-established regional venture company that boasts high growth and profitability, with a sales growth rate of 20.2% and an Operating income margin of 4.5%. The company has established a unique circular business model through its "construction and real estate business," which handles everything from the procurement to the sale of houses, and its " Environment recycling business," which owns a final disposal site. Furthermore, the company has undertaken regional-led digital and financial reforms, such as developing its own B2B real estate map information DX service "Smo-ra" and Initiatives "Tamura Builds Crowdfunding," a real estate crowdfunding platform that circulates funds within the region. In March 2026, it achieved the remarkable feat of simultaneously listing on two professional markets in Tokyo and Fukuoka.

"Regional Conglomerate Special Jury Prize"
Marumitsu Holdings Co., Ltd. (Head office: Tamana City, Kumamoto Prefecture; Chairman: Hiroyuki Yamada)
Based in Kumamoto, the Marumitsu Group boasts annual sales of 15 billion yen in a market area with a population of only 60,000. In approximately 10 years, they have more than tripled their sales from 5 billion yen, demonstrating a model for leading regional companies in an era of population decline. Through a "regional conglomerate management" approach that integrates primary to sixth-sector industries, from rice farming and seaweed cultivation to construction, transportation, recycling, Energy , education, and healthcare, they comprehensively support the lives and industries of the region. Furthermore, they utilize franchising for entering new industries. By building their own unique know-how on top of the expertise acquired as a franchisee, they have achieved top performance in Japan, influencing franchise headquarters. Moreover, based on organizational strength that has produced seven presidents, they have built a unique vertical integration model where each business closely cooperates, achieving both a strong and stable revenue base and a sustainable cycle in the regional economy. Incorporating a philosophy of sensibility into their management philosophy, they practice well-being management and human capital management, aiming for the Marumitsu Group to last for 100 years.

(Note) The sales figures listed are generally those at the time of review, but for companies that have requested it, we have included the latest figures based on their declarations.

' sustainable growth Company Award' Special Website
https://sgca.funaisoken.co.jp/
▼Please see our website for eligibility requirements and the eligibility process.
https://sgca.funaisoken.co.jp/about/#process

[ Contact Us regarding this matter]
Funai Soken Holdings Inc. Co., Ltd.
Corporate Communications Department, Public Relations & Branding Team
Email: pub@funaisoken.co.jp