SHO-SAN Co., Ltd. Receives Encouragement Award at 'Career Ownership Management AWARD 2026' in the SME Category

## SHO-SAN Co., Ltd. Receives Encouragement Award at 'Career Ownership Management AWARD 2026' in the SME Category

SHO-SAN Co., Ltd. (Suginami-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kazuki Takaya) is pleased to announce that it has received the Encouragement Award in the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) category at the 'Career Ownership Management AWARD 2026,' organized by the Career Ownership Management AWARD Executive Committee (Secretariat: Persol Career Co., Ltd.).

### About 'Career Ownership Management AWARD 2026'
This award recognizes initiatives that achieve continuous improvement in corporate value through the autonomous growth of individuals. The screening was conducted by experts led by Kunio Ito, Director of the CFO Education and Research Center at Hitotsubashi University.

### Background: Integrating 'Career Ownership' into Organizational Strategy
In recent years, initiatives linking individual career autonomy (career ownership) with organizational growth have attracted attention for strengthening sustainable corporate competitiveness. Since its founding, SHO-SAN has worked to foster an organizational culture where every employee can take on challenges, regardless of age, employment status, or department, based on the belief that 'people who enjoy what they do change society.' This award specifically highlights 'NEW WAVE,' a bottom-up business creation program open to all employees.

### Evaluated Initiative: New Business Creation Contest 'NEW WAVE'
'NEW WAVE' is a business creation contest open to all employees and interns, regardless of employment status, department, or position. It is designed not just as an ideathon, but as a series of practical processes: Concept -> Business Planning -> Support -> Presentation to Management. This system allows participants to seize growth opportunities as business owners themselves. The first round attracted 35 applications, and the second round expanded to all departments. Cases of young employees and interns voluntarily proposing and promoting business ideas are emerging, showing that a culture of challenge is permeating the entire organization.

### Judge's Comment (Award Committee)
'We highly evaluate the opening of challenge opportunities to all employees, regardless of employment status or department, through bottom-up business creation. The design of practical processes—from concept to presentation—leads to young employees and interns creating their own growth opportunities. The expansion from 35 applications in the first round to all departments in the second clearly demonstrates the spread of this culture. We look forward to the further commercialization and implementation of the winning projects.'

### Comment from Yuho Tanno, Marketing Div Manager
'We are honored to receive the Encouragement Award. Under our credos "Jump when in doubt" and "Rampage with your strengths," we have prioritized creating a flat organization where anyone with will and ability can take on important roles from an early stage. "NEW WAVE" is part of this effort, designed as a place where all members can directly link their challenges to management. We will accelerate the commercialization of winning projects to turn individual challenges into the company's growth engine.'

### Future Outlook
SHO-SAN views this award as a stepping stone. We will continue to provide growth opportunities to all members and promote an organization that maximizes individual strengths.

### Award Overview
- **Name:** Career Ownership Management AWARD 2026
- **Organizer:** Executive Committee (Secretariat: Persol Career Co., Ltd.)
- **Chief Judge:** Kunio Ito (Hitotsubashi University)
- **Category:** SME Category, Encouragement Award

### SHO-SAN Services
1. **Marketing Support for Home Builders:** Comprehensive support from strategy to creative production and advertising for the housing industry.
2. **AI Utilization Support:** Step-by-step support from AI lectures to workflow design and tool development, focusing on practical use in the field.

### Company Profile
- **Company:** SHO-SAN Co., Ltd.
- **Location:** 7th Sky Bldg 301, 1-18-6 Asagaya Minami, Suginami-ku, Tokyo
- **Representative:** CEO Kazuki Takaya
- **Employees:** 176