[Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture] A 60-year-old infrastructure company that resolves "gas outage" with a single phone call tackles the challenges of early departure of young employees and technology succession. Sanko Smile Co., Ltd. obtains "Bronze Rank".

The General Incorporated Association Japan Next Generation Enterprise Promotion Organization (common name: White Organization, Location: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Representative Director: Sho Iwamot) announced that Sanko Smile Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, President: Kaname Yamada) has newly obtained White Enterprise Certification as of June 1, 2026.

This certification was awarded in recognition of its robust young employee development system, which includes one-on-one on-site guidance by supervisors and bi-monthly meetings with senior staff and daily reports, as well as its sustainable management approach that prioritizes the happiness of employees and their families and aims to pass on regional security to the next generation. These factors were highly evaluated against the organization's strict screening criteria covering 70 items.

Company Information: Sanko Smile Co., Ltd.

About White Enterprise Certification

"White Enterprise Certification," operated by the White Organization, is the only comprehensive corporate evaluation system in Japan (※1).

(※1) Based on our own research targeting major corporate evaluation and certification systems in Japan (as of June 2026)

This certification is for companies that are "supported by their families and society, and are companies that we want to pass on to the next generation," not just companies that are "not black."

It provides a comprehensive evaluation based on strict screening criteria covering 70 items, including business model, human resource development, flexible work styles, diversity, health management, and labor law compliance. As of June 2026, a cumulative total of 676 companies have obtained this certification.

As a result of the screening, the White Organization certified Sanko Smile Co., Ltd. with the "Bronze Rank" as of June 1, 2026.

Background of Certification

The organization highly valued the company's track record of community-based services, cultivated over its 60-year history, which resolves customer issues with a single phone call, and its strength in having a "work environment where employees can work with peace of mind," along with its commitment to building a sustainable organization.

While jobs in infrastructure, which protect society's lifelines, are indispensable regardless of the era, there are also real challenges such as "individual work burdens" due to business expansion and "industry-wide labor shortages."

Sanko Smile Co., Ltd., while emphasizing thorough customer service, currently faces the challenge of "expanding its services (business scale) to deliver more peace of mind to a greater number of customers."

This certification is a comprehensive evaluation of the company's posture to improve and evolve towards its "desired state" by leveraging its strengths without shying away from these challenges.

Management Vision: "Unless employees and their families are happy, we cannot make our customers smile."

This company is not simply a supplier of infrastructure. It embodies "optimal management" where employees can work with peace of mind and genuine smiles, ensuring the happiness of employees, part-timers, and their families.

Regardless of how times change, the company aims to remain a reliable partner in the community centered around Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, being the first company that comes to mind when people have a problem. Its vision is to "pass on the pride and system that protects customer peace of mind to the next generation without interruption."

"One-on-One On-site Guidance" to Eliminate Siloed Knowledge, and Bi-Monthly Meetings and Daily Reports

To ensure this vision is not just an empty promise, the company is implementing concrete development plans. In the infrastructure industry, where technical skills can easily become siloed, new employees receive "one-on-one on-site guidance from their supervisors." This thorough culture of repeated accompaniment and instruction until they can work independently has led to young employees now being able to connect water heaters and faucets on their own.

Furthermore, through "bi-monthly meetings with senior staff and daily reports," employees are encouraged to make small changes and grow. They also hold "three-way reporting sessions" where achievements and results from each department are shared. This cultivates the ability to think and act independently and a spirit of collaboration. By creating a group that continuously learns to improve its human capital, the organization systematically embodies "exceeding expectations."

Thoughts and Challenges of Kaname Yamada, Representative of Sanko Smile Co., Ltd.

Kaname Yamada, Representative of Sanko Smile Co., Ltd.

For someone's smile, for the region's tomorrow.

In 1966, Sanko Smile was founded as a company selling LP gas to households and restaurants. The founder, my grandfather, took pride in being responsible for the region's gas infrastructure and was a "helpful person" in the community, always rushing to help customers in need, no matter how late at night or on holidays.

We continue to cherish this "effort to meet expectations" and "spirit of helpfulness" from our founding spirit. We listen to every small voice, face the challenges of our customers and the region, and evolve by honing various skills and acquiring qualifications and expertise. The accumulation of these efforts has led to the expansion of our business domains from LP gas sales to plumbing renovations, real estate sales, brokerage, and management, as well as large-scale renovations. Sanko Smile will continue to work towards realizing its management philosophy of "contributing to people's 'living smiles' with a spirit of safety, security, and helpfulness" while staying close to the community and customers. To that end, we are looking for new colleagues who have the desire to grow and always move forward.

This certification is proof that we are practicing sustainable management where the company and the region can grow together by establishing an "environment where employees can continue to work with peace of mind while growing."

White Enterprise Certification supports Sanko Smile Co., Ltd.'s aspiration of "a spirit of safety, security, and helpfulness" and its challenges.

Company Profile

Company Name: Sanko Smile Co., Ltd.

Head Office Location: 77-3 Kosaka-cho Nishi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture

Representative: Kaname Yamada

Year Established: September 1966

HP: https://www.smile-sanko.com/

Business Activities:

Renovations

Water area renovations

Exterior renovations

Real Estate

Gas and Petroleum Business

Company Information (Sanko Smile Co., Ltd.)

What is White Enterprise Certification?

Creating a society where "work" is enjoyable.

White Enterprise Certification is a third-party certification system issued by the White Organization (General Incorporated Association Japan Next Generation Enterprise Promotion Organization). The "White Enterprise" defined by the White Organization is not a "company that is not a black company" as commonly understood, but rather a "company that is supported by its family and society, and is a company that we want to pass on to the next generation."

Based on the certification criteria, we certify companies where employees' families can say, "It's great that you're working for a good company." We also promote an environment where all working people can utilize their individuality and characteristics to achieve vibrant and creative work styles, aiming to realize a society where "work" is enjoyable.

Japan's Only "Comprehensive Evaluation Certification"

Through research on over 1,000 companies, we have created 70 questions for corporate "whiteness." These questions are divided into seven categories to confirm the presence of corporate initiatives and grant certification.

White Enterprise Certification is not limited to a single initiative but comprehensively evaluates and judges human resource systems and corporate initiatives. This is the only certifying organization in Japan that conducts this certification.

As of June 2026, a cumulative total of 676 companies have obtained certification.

[Screening Criteria] Business Model/Productivity, Flexible Work Styles, Health Management, Human Resource Development/Work Engagement, Diversity & Inclusion, Risk Management, Labor Law Compliance

Details of White Enterprise Certification