"General Affairs Award 2026" for General Affairs Departments Announced, Turning Challenges into Visible Value

Gekkan Soumu Co., Ltd. (Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Hiroko Usui), which publishes Japan's only professional magazine for general affairs, 'Gekkan Soumu,' will hold the "General Affairs Award 2026" to recognize advanced initiatives by general affairs departments. This award is a system aimed at evaluating activities led by general affairs departments that create management value, broadly communicating them to society, and promoting the evolution of general affairs and corporate transformation by sharing each company's initiatives.

Starting this fiscal year, we will conduct judging in two application categories based on company size: a "Large-scale division" and a "Small/Medium-scale division." This will allow for evaluations that are tailored to the actual conditions of each company and appropriately honor a more diverse range of general affairs initiatives.

Additionally, an online event for applicants will be held on June 1, when entries open. It will be full of tips for applying, including presentations of measures by companies that won special awards last time and talk sessions with judges. We encourage you to participate.

Special Website: https://award.g-soumu.com/

Application Guidelines ＜Application Content＞ Measures taken (or being taken), led by the general affairs department, to improve the company.

＜Eligible Applicants＞ ・General affairs departments or equivalent departments ・Projects led by general affairs

＜Application Categories＞ ① Large-scale division (1,000 or more employees) ② Small/Medium-scale division (999 or fewer employees)

＜How to Apply＞ To be announced soon

＜Application Fee＞ Free

Schedule & Judging Process Entry Period: June 1 (Mon) - July 31 (Fri), 2026 1st Screening (document review by the secretariat): Mid to late August 2nd Screening (document review by judges): Early to late September 3rd Screening (document review by judging committee / selection of finalist companies): Early to late October Final Judging & Award Ceremony (presentations by finalist companies and final judging): December 2 (Wed), 2026 at KANDA SQUARE HALL

Awards & Benefits ＜Awards＞ ・Gold ・Silver ・Bronze *Special awards may also be established separately.

＜Benefits＞ ▼ Finalist Companies *Companies that pass the 3rd screening ・Trophy and certificate presentation ・Use of the award logo on company websites, business cards, etc. ・Case study feature in 'Gekkan Soumu' magazine, Gekkan Soumu Online, events, etc.

▼ Winning Companies *Companies that pass the 2nd screening ・Certificate presentation ・Use of the award logo on company websites, business cards, etc. ・Company name listed on the special website

▼ Applicant Companies *Companies that pass the 1st screening ・Feedback from the judges

About the Judges ＜Judges＞ ・Kenichi Toyota, Director, Strategic General Affairs Research Institute ・Hiroko Usui, President and Representative Director, Gekkan Soumu Co., Ltd. / Editor-in-Chief, 'Gekkan Soumu' ・Mr. Young-beom Kim, President and CEO, Hite & Co., Ltd. ・Mr. Mitsunori Daijo, President and CEO, Zeroin, Inc. ・Ms. Mika Miyamoto, President, MC Branding Inc.

Comment from a Judge (Kenichi Toyota, Director, Strategic General Affairs Research Institute) Recently, attention on general affairs has been increasing more and more. However, as we have entered an era of unpredictable turmoil, it has become difficult to find solutions to issues arising within companies, and I feel that we are increasingly learning from the precedents of other companies. There are no competitors among general affairs professionals. Let's work together to face this difficult situation and share success stories through the General Affairs Award. If general affairs changes, the company will surely change. We look forward to your applications.

Organizer, Sponsors, Supporters Organizer: Gekkan Soumu Co., Ltd. Sponsor: Bondish Co., Ltd. Supporters: Foundation of Strategic Total-office-management & Consulting (FOSC), IT Komonka Association, Japan Omni-Channel Association

General Affairs Award 2025 LIVE Event Archive

Profile of Kenichi Toyota, Director, Strategic General Affairs Research Institute

Graduated from Waseda University, Faculty of Political Science and Economics. Experienced accounting, sales, and general affairs at Recruit Co., Ltd., and served as general affairs manager at UORIKI CO.,LTD. Former editor-in-chief of 'Gekkan Soumu,' Japan's only professional magazine for general affairs departments. Previously served as President and Representative Director of Gekkan Soumu Co., Ltd. Currently engaged in lectures, writing, and consulting as an expert in strategic general affairs. Author of 'Strategic General Affairs to Strengthen Management' (Japan Management Association Center) and other books.

*Interviews are also available on topics such as 'work styles,' 'remote work/telework,' and 'general affairs in general.' *'Strategic General Affairs' is a registered trademark of Gekkan Soumu Co., Ltd.

▼ Click here for media achievements https://www.g-soumu.com/company/laboratory

About 'Gekkan Soumu' Japan's only professional magazine for general affairs, with a 62-year history. With the catchphrase 'Ignite the hearts of all general affairs professionals,' it provides articles that are useful for a wide range of business people, centered on those working in general affairs departments. It is subscribed to by companies of various sizes, including listed companies, major corporations, and small and medium-sized enterprises. (First issue: June 1963 / Circulation: 12,000 copies / Price: 1,100 yen)

Gekkan Soumu Co., Ltd. Company Profile Company Name: Gekkan Soumu Co., Ltd. Representative: Hiroko Usui, Representative Director Address: KANDA SQUARE 11F, 2-2-1 Kanda Nishikicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0054 Established: August 2018 Business Content: ・Publication of 'Gekkan Soumu,' Japan's only professional magazine for general affairs and HR departments ・Operation of 'Gekkan Soumu Online' to solve 'troubles' in back-office operations ・Hosting of 'General Affairs Seminars' and 'General Affairs Salons' ・Work style reform-related consulting, etc. URL: https://www.g-soumu.com/