KOTONA CEO Masahisa Yamazaki Receives U.S. "Next Era Wellness Innovation Award"
KOTONA Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Osaka), an advertising agency that leverages "Desarketing"—the synergy of design and marketing—to convey corporate and brand value, is pleased to announce that its CEO, Masahisa Yamazaki, has received the "Next Era Wellness Innovation Award" at a Wall Street Journal-related awards ceremony held in New York, USA.
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- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 20:00
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KOTONA Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Osaka, Representative: Masahisa Yamazaki), an advertising agency that leverages "Desarketing"—the synergy of design and marketing—to convey corporate and brand value, is pleased to announce that its CEO, Masahisa Yamazaki, has received the "Next Era Wellness Innovation Award" at a Wall Street Journal-related awards ceremony held in New York, USA.
This award recognizes leaders who have created innovative value and social impact in the next-generation wellness sector. Yamazaki attended the awards ceremony and delivered an acceptance speech on site.
**Recognition for the Challenge of "Communicating Correctly" in a Nascent Market**
This award highly recognized KOTONA Group's advanced activities in the CBD domain.
Yamazaki has been developing the CBD skincare brand "CANNA" through its subsidiary, ATTS Co., Ltd., promoting the planning, development, and sales of products with CBD as the main ingredient.
Against the backdrop of a still nascent CBD market in Japan, KOTONA, as an advertising agency, has combined its accumulated marketing expertise with scientific evidence to work towards spreading correct understanding and improving market credibility.
Specifically, the following points were highly evaluated as pioneering efforts leading the next-generation wellness field:
- Promptly materializing the potential of CBD in the Japanese market.
- Honest product development integrating advertising/marketing and scientific evidence.
- Proposing new wellness value through the CBD skincare brand "CANNA."
- Social penetration of the new wellness value of "healing" and industry leadership through an all-employee management system.
**Participation in the Awards Ceremony Held in New York**
The awards ceremony was held in New York, USA, attended by stakeholders from the wellness, healthcare, and lifestyle sectors from around the world.
Yamazaki attended the ceremony and spoke about the potential of wellness in the Japanese market and the creation of new value through CBD.
**Comment from CEO Masahisa Yamazaki (Summary)**
Upon receiving the award, Yamazaki commented, "My journey began 9 years ago when I encountered CBD in Los Angeles and felt a desire to spread it as a new value in Japan."
He recalled that the Japanese market presented many challenges, such as legal regulations and preconceptions about the term "cannabis-derived." He stated, "Before selling products, I focused on ensuring they were correctly understood."
He also stated, "A challenge means continuing to deliver the value you believe in, even against headwinds, not just with tailwinds." He expressed gratitude, attributing the award to the support of employees and stakeholders.
**♦ About CBD Skincare Brand "CANNA"**
"CANNA" is a CBD skincare brand developed by ATTS Co., Ltd.
Focusing on the potential of CBD, it proposes a new wellness habit that incorporates "healing" into daily life.
Official Website: https://canna-ac.com/
**◆ About KOTONA Co., Ltd.**
KOTONA Co., Ltd. is a comprehensive advertising agency that, based on the philosophy of "bringing happiness and innovation to society through ideas and creativity born from a joyful spirit," develops advertising, PR, design, and digital strategies.
With its head office in JP Tower Osaka, it leverages its strengths in sports and beauty fields to support companies and brands in solving challenges through community-rooted advertising.
Official Website: https://kotona-pr.com/
**[Contact for this Release]**
KOTONA Co., Ltd. Public Relations Department
Contact: Miki Nonogami
TEL: 070-5465-8088
MAIL: koho@kotona-pr.com
This award recognizes leaders who have created innovative value and social impact in the next-generation wellness sector. Yamazaki attended the awards ceremony and delivered an acceptance speech on site.
**Recognition for the Challenge of "Communicating Correctly" in a Nascent Market**
This award highly recognized KOTONA Group's advanced activities in the CBD domain.
Yamazaki has been developing the CBD skincare brand "CANNA" through its subsidiary, ATTS Co., Ltd., promoting the planning, development, and sales of products with CBD as the main ingredient.
Against the backdrop of a still nascent CBD market in Japan, KOTONA, as an advertising agency, has combined its accumulated marketing expertise with scientific evidence to work towards spreading correct understanding and improving market credibility.
Specifically, the following points were highly evaluated as pioneering efforts leading the next-generation wellness field:
- Promptly materializing the potential of CBD in the Japanese market.
- Honest product development integrating advertising/marketing and scientific evidence.
- Proposing new wellness value through the CBD skincare brand "CANNA."
- Social penetration of the new wellness value of "healing" and industry leadership through an all-employee management system.
**Participation in the Awards Ceremony Held in New York**
The awards ceremony was held in New York, USA, attended by stakeholders from the wellness, healthcare, and lifestyle sectors from around the world.
Yamazaki attended the ceremony and spoke about the potential of wellness in the Japanese market and the creation of new value through CBD.
**Comment from CEO Masahisa Yamazaki (Summary)**
Upon receiving the award, Yamazaki commented, "My journey began 9 years ago when I encountered CBD in Los Angeles and felt a desire to spread it as a new value in Japan."
He recalled that the Japanese market presented many challenges, such as legal regulations and preconceptions about the term "cannabis-derived." He stated, "Before selling products, I focused on ensuring they were correctly understood."
He also stated, "A challenge means continuing to deliver the value you believe in, even against headwinds, not just with tailwinds." He expressed gratitude, attributing the award to the support of employees and stakeholders.
**♦ About CBD Skincare Brand "CANNA"**
"CANNA" is a CBD skincare brand developed by ATTS Co., Ltd.
Focusing on the potential of CBD, it proposes a new wellness habit that incorporates "healing" into daily life.
Official Website: https://canna-ac.com/
**◆ About KOTONA Co., Ltd.**
KOTONA Co., Ltd. is a comprehensive advertising agency that, based on the philosophy of "bringing happiness and innovation to society through ideas and creativity born from a joyful spirit," develops advertising, PR, design, and digital strategies.
With its head office in JP Tower Osaka, it leverages its strengths in sports and beauty fields to support companies and brands in solving challenges through community-rooted advertising.
Official Website: https://kotona-pr.com/
**[Contact for this Release]**
KOTONA Co., Ltd. Public Relations Department
Contact: Miki Nonogami
TEL: 070-5465-8088
MAIL: koho@kotona-pr.com