32nd Japan-Korea International Environment Award Now Accepting Applications

The Mainichi Newspapers is accepting applications for the 32nd Japan-Korea International Environment Award. This award recognizes outstanding initiatives by companies, organizations, individuals, and local governments that contribute to environmental conservation, the promotion of a circular economy, the prevention of global warming, and climate change countermeasures.

The Japan-Korea International Environment Award was jointly established in 1995, the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea, by The Mainichi Newspapers and The Chosun Ilbo, which were in a partnership, with the aim of protecting nature and promoting desirable economic development in the East Asian region.

The award ceremony is held alternately in Japan and South Korea. In 2026, it is scheduled to be held in Seoul, South Korea, on October 29.

Japanese Selection Committee Members (titles omitted) Kiyoshi Kurisu (Associate Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo) Teppei Doke (Chairman, IUCN Japan Committee) Kaori Miyake (Managing Director, Japan Climate Leaders' Partnership; Fellow Officer, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank) Takako Momoi (Director, Tokyo Office, Kiko Network) Kohei Yabayashi (President, S-Pool Blue Dot Green) The chairperson of the selection committee is the Editor-in-Chief of The Mainichi Newspapers.

《Award Targets》 ① Selection from among individuals, organizations, companies, and local governments in the East Asian region that have made excellent contributions to global environmental conservation, including decarbonization, prevention of global warming, and climate change countermeasures. ② Recipients are not limited to Japan and South Korea; individuals, organizations, companies, inter-company collaboration projects, and public-private partnership projects from countries other than these two are also eligible.

《Recommendation and Selection Criteria》 Those that fall under any of the following: ① Innovative activities, education/research, development and provision of products/services, social infrastructure development, and public-private/inter-company collaboration projects aimed at solving environmental problems whose impacts and damage extend beyond national borders to a global scale. ② Practical activities, education, and research activities with particularly excellent ideas and methods for improving environmental problems faced by citizens and local communities, such as global warming and climate change, contributing to Green Transformation (GX) towards a decarbonized society, and building a circular economy.

《Application Method》 Download the prescribed application form from the website below, fill in the required information, and send it as an email attachment to the Japan-Korea International Environment Award Secretariat (email: jk-env@mainichi.co.jp). The application form can also be downloaded via QR code. ■ Japan-Korea International Environment Award website: https://www.mainichi.co.jp/nikkan/

《Application Deadline》 August 27 (Thursday), 6:00 PM

《Award》 Prize money of $10,000, announced in The Mainichi Newspapers in late October.

《Organizers》 Organizers: The Mainichi Newspapers, The Chosun Ilbo Supported by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan

《Inquiries and Application Submission》 The Mainichi Newspapers, Japan-Korea International Environment Award Secretariat, Email: jk-env@mainichi.co.jp

Photo from the 2025 award ceremony.