Call for Entries Opens for "2nd Matex Social Award," a Social Design Idea Contest for University and Graduate Students

Matex Co., Ltd. (Toshima Ward, Tokyo; President and CEO: Hiroshi Matsumoto; hereinafter "Matex"), a wholesale distributor of sash products, is launching the "2nd Matex Social Award," a social design idea contest for university and graduate students.

Logo for the 2nd Matex Social Award

Following last year's great response, we are holding the award for university and graduate students again this year!

The Matex Social Award is a social design idea contest for students that Matex began hosting last year. Despite being the first year, the contest received 73 applications, from which 6 finalists were selected. The winners were decided through a final presentation-based judging. The theme for this year's contest continues from last year: "Social Design Ideas to Support the Lives of Residents." For Matex, which has been involved in creating homes and local communities in collaboration with regional companies as a wholesale dealer of windows, "home building" is one of its business domains. By deliberately using the term "living" (住まう - sumau) instead of just "living" (住む - sumu), we aim to encourage participants to imagine people who intentionally continue to live in a particular region or place and to think of ideas for homes and local communities. We welcome applications not only from students interested in housing, communities, regional revitalization, social design, life design, and social entrepreneurship, but also from all fields and perspectives.

A Social Entrepreneur Active in Disaster-Stricken Areas Joins the Judging Panel!

A Social Design Award with No Genre Restrictions, Shining a Light on All Ideas

The judges will continue to be Yoichi Nakamura, Professor Emeritus at Rikkyo University and Representative Director of the General Incorporated Association Social Design Business Lab; Takato Fukui, Creative Director/Art Director; and Hiroshi Matsumoto, President and CEO of Matex Co., Ltd. This year, we are also pleased to welcome Sae Ito as a judge. Ms. Ito is a social entrepreneur active in disaster-stricken areas, working in Suzu City and Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, which were affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake. She operates a glass accessory workshop to support new ways of working for women, supports entrepreneurship for young people and new residents, and works to revitalize shopping streets. The four judges, with their diverse backgrounds, will evaluate the applications from multiple perspectives.

This Year, an "Application Information Session" Will Be Held In Person! The Venue is HIRAKU 01 IKEBUKURO -SOCIAL DESIGN LIBRARY-

This year, the second year of the award, we will also hold an application information session for the first time. You can ask questions directly to the secretariat staff at HIRAKU 01 IKEBUKURO (Toshima Ward, Tokyo), which is also the venue for the final judging. We look forward to your applications.

Application URL: https://forms.gle/dHeBJp5wbViiS8Sr8

2nd Matex Social Award

A social design idea contest for university and graduate students newly launched by Matex Co., Ltd., a wholesale dealer of sash products. Applications can be submitted as a single A3-sized PDF. The final judging will be a presentation-based evaluation held at HIRAKU 01 IKEBUKURO, an open innovation facility operated by Matex, to determine the winners.

【Application Deadline】 September 30 (Wed), 23:59

【Official Website】 www.matex-award.jp

【Application Theme】 "Social Design Ideas to Support the Lives of Residents"

"Living" (住まう - sumau) refers to intentionally continuing to live in a particular region or place. Compared to the expression "to live" (住む - sumu), "living" (住まう - sumau) implies a subjectivity of choosing and acting based on one's own values. "Supporting lives" (いきるを支える - ikiru o sasaeru) is understood as support for people to lead more vibrant lives throughout their lives. We are seeking ideas related to "things" such as buildings, food, and interiors. We are also seeking ideas related to "actions" such as problem-solving to make communities more livable, and events, experiences, and communities that enrich daily life. Ideas related to "moments" that can only be experienced here and now. It doesn't matter if it can lead to business or not at this time. We are looking for social design ideas that depict "supporting the lives of residents" with free thinking! Matex Co., Ltd., the organizer of this award, has the corporate message "Together, we support the lives of residents." From our position as a wholesale dealer of windows, we will collaborate with the supply chain to jointly support the "lives" of "residents" who intentionally continue to live in their communities.

【Secondary Judging & Awards Ceremony】 December 5, 2026 (Sat)

【Inquiries】 Matex Social Award Secretariat award@matex-glass.co.jp

Matex Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1928. We are a "specialist trading company for windows" engaged in the wholesale business of housing materials, primarily windows, with the Kanto region as our market. With the vision of "Changing Japan Through Windows," we are working to solve issues related to people's lives, communities, and society through windows. We value opening up the future of society together with the next generation and regions, and undertake initiatives such as the "Matex Social Award." Furthermore, our management approach, which emphasizes social and environmental impact, has been recognized with the international certification "B Corp."

https://www.matex-glass.co.jp

Venue for Final Judging: HIRAKU 01 IKEBUKURO -SOCIAL DESIGN LIBRARY-

(2-2-15 Kami-ikebukuro, Toshima Ward, Tokyo 170-0012) https://www.hiraku.community

HIRAKU 01 IKEBUKURO is an open innovation facility themed "Encountering Knowledge and Co-creating," where lectures, exhibitions, and events are held utilizing its library. It serves as a place where people from diverse backgrounds, including local residents, companies, and students, gather and engage in dialogue and exchange, leading to new insights and growth.