1 Million Yen Grant for Award Winners - The 13th Maruwa Social Business Award Recruitment Begins!

The Maruwa Ikushikai Public Interest Incorporated Foundation (Suginami-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Tadao Hashimoto) will begin recruiting for the "13th Maruwa Social Business Award" from Wednesday, April 1, 2026, to Sunday, May 31, 2026. The Maruwa Social Business Award aims to support and nurture entrepreneurs who seek to achieve a "balance between aspiration and wealth = social contribution and the necessary profit for it." It provides intellectual support for business plan development to applicants and grants 1 million yen to each of the five award winners.

Recruitment requirements can be found here: https://maruwa-ikushi.org/socialbusiness/recruitment-requirements/

## What is the Maruwa Social Business Award?

Maruwa Ikushikai promotes its social business support program according to the following policies:

1) To provide intellectual and financial support to individuals who plan and conceive social businesses that contribute to society, aiming for sustainable growth through impactful entrepreneurship and management, and the strengthening and development of their own aspirations.

2) To deepen the understanding of the relationships between individuals, organizations, society, and the world through actions of thinking for oneself, building networks, and putting ideas into practice, thereby fostering deeper human and organizational connections centered on 'practical wisdom,' 'holistic knowledge,' and 'human capabilities.'

The Maruwa Social Business Award, which started in 2014, has been granted to 60 aspiring entrepreneurs over the past 12 years.

Under Maruwa Ikushikai's guiding principle of "Think for yourself, build networks, and put into practice," we encourage applications from those who actively utilize opportunities such as individual consultations with intellectual supporters to re-examine new projects and refine them with bold concepts.

## Eligibility

Applicants must meet all of the following conditions:

- Individuals who agree with the purpose of the recruitment, the philosophy of Maruwa Ikushikai, and the concept of social business, and who intend to actually launch a new project.
Maruwa Ikushikai Philosophy: https://maruwa-ikushi.org/profile/philosophy/
Social Business Concept: https://maruwa-ikushi.org/socialbusiness/concept/
- ELPASO members (membership fee & annual fee are free)
What is ELPASO-kai: https://maruwa-ikushi.org/elpaso/outline/
Membership procedures: https://maruwa-ikushi.org/elpaso/membership/

## Application Overview

Application period: From April 1, 2026 (Wed) to May 31, 2026 (Sun) until 5:00 PM
Number of planned recipients: 5 individuals
Grant amount: 1 million yen per person
Selection criteria: Aspiration, intellect, human capabilities
Originality, persuasiveness, concreteness
Schedule: First selection on June 13, 2026 (Sat) online
Final selection on October 17, 2026 (Sat) online
Award ceremony: Scheduled for December 5, 2026 (Sat) from 1:00 PM at a hotel in Tokyo
Recruitment requirements: https://maruwa-ikushi.org/socialbusiness/recruitment-requirements/

## 13th Maruwa Social Business Award Winners (FY2025)

- Shunya Sano: Realizing connected healthcare through MRI sharing services
Seamr Inc. https://www.seamr.co.jp/
- Yu Shinagawa: Practical D&I Human Resource Development Program "Intercultural Mentoring MILE"
An-Nahal Inc. https://an-nahal.com/mile
- Yoko Takasaki: "Doboku Sensei" realizing a new mechanism for infrastructure maintenance and management
Co-Creative Inc. https://www.co-creative.co.jp/services-2
- Kenshin Nakano: Historical audio content map "GURURI"
Gururi Inc. https://www.gururi-inc.com/
- Ryuichi Nishikawa: Cancer treatment diary sharing app "ribbons"
Ribbons Base Inc. https://ribbonsbase.com/
- Koichiro Miyake: Fostering the culture of "Jochu," a third type of Japanese sake, aiming for the revitalization of sake breweries
Naorai Inc. https://naorai.co/

A list of past Maruwa Social Business Award winners can be viewed here:
https://maruwa-ikushi.org/socialbusiness/award-winners/

## What is Social Business?

Social business is said to be "business aimed at solving social issues." When you think of businesses that solve various social issues such as "environmental problems," "discrimination," and "poverty," you might imagine non-profit organizations like "NPOs" and "NGOs."

However, the social businesses we support are significantly different from these.

Instead of relying on donations, generating business revenue independently is an absolute condition. In other words, we define it as "a business that earns money as a business, while the business itself continuously contributes to solving social issues."

Is such a thing possible? Maruwa Ikushikai is exploring the answer to that question with you through its social business support program.

## What is Maruwa Ikushikai's concept of Social Business?

We introduce Maruwa Ikushikai's definition of social business, including a video.
https://maruwa-ikushi.org/socialbusiness/concept/

## About Maruwa Ikushikai Public Interest Incorporated Foundation

Maruwa Ikushikai is a public interest incorporated foundation that started its scholarship grant program in 1975. Since then, it has added a social business support program and plans to continue both of these activities in the future. The ultimate goal of both programs is for everyone to strive for self-growth throughout their lives, centered on intellect and human capabilities, to put social business ventures on track, and to realize a rich life and a prosperous society. In 2025, it celebrated its 50th anniversary. ELPASO-kai is a free individual membership organization that supports these activities. Please visit our website to see the basic policies of our two programs.

## What is Maruwa Ikushikai?

Our Guiding Principle: Think for yourself, build networks, and put into practice
Location: Naito Building 202, 3-33-18 Hamadayama, Suginami-ku, Tokyo
Chairman: Tadao Hashimoto
Established: December 1974
Website: https://maruwa-ikushi.org/

## Contact for this matter

Maruwa Ikushikai Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Secretariat
e-mail: info@elpaso.or.jp