Award "VGP2026 SUMMER" Results Announced, Selecting Superior Audio-Visual Equipment from a Professional Perspective

Ongen Shuppan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yusuke Kazama) has announced the award results for "VGP2026 SUMMER," an award that selects superior audio-visual equipment from a professional perspective. A special website for "VGP2026 SUMMER," comprehensively covering the outstanding merits of the award-winning products, was launched on June 25, 2026 (Thu).

Logo mark for the "VGP2026 SUMMER" award

"VGP2026 SUMMER" Special Website

https://vgp.phileweb.com/

About the "VGP" Award

● Overview

"VGP (Visual Grand Prix)" is an award established by Ongen Shuppan Co., Ltd. with the aim of contributing to the constructive development of the audio-visual industry, and it began in 1987. The selection process is based on the votes of 10 professional critics and approximately 30 retail stores, and it is characterized by evaluating not only product quality but also marketability. It is held twice a year, in summer and winter, as one of Japan's largest audio-visual events, with approximately 300 brands and 3,000 items entered.

The product categories are diverse, ranging from "Video and Audio Products" such as 4K OLED/LCD TVs and Blu-ray recorders, to "Pure Audio Products" such as speaker systems and audio players, and "Lifestyle Products" such as earphones/headphones, wireless speakers, soundbars, smartphones, PCs, gaming items, and wearable devices. These are judged comprehensively, and only items selected by professionals that are sure to be bestsellers can win the honor of an award.

● Judging Committees and Target Categories

<Video and Audio Division>

This division judges all visual equipment that displays, plays, and records video, as well as all surround-related equipment and related accessories. The selection criteria are "product quality," such as picture and sound quality.

- Target Categories:

Displays, Projectors/Screens, Players/Recorders, AV Amplifiers/Surround-related Products, Speaker Systems - Video & Audio, Cables, Power-related Products, Media

- Judges: Shintaro Ohashi (Chairman), Kenzo Konoike (Vice Chairman), Takashi Iwai, Shinobu Kaijo, Kazuya Orihara *Titles omitted, 5 in total

<Pure Audio Division>

This division judges audio products mainly for stereo playback and related accessories. The selection criterion is "product quality," i.e., sound quality. A characteristic feature is that an upper limit is set for the price range to select models that are easily available at mass retailers and online stores.

- Target Categories:

Speaker Systems - Pure, Active Speakers, Audio Amplifiers, Audio Players, D/A Converters, Analog Record Players, Phono Equalizers, Cartridges, Microphones/PCM Recorders, Other Accessories

- Judges: Shintaro Ohashi (Chairman), Kenzo Konoike (Vice Chairman), Takashi Iwai, Saburo Ubukata, Masayoshi Hayashi *Titles omitted, 5 in total

<Lifestyle Subcommittee>

This subcommittee broadly judges products ranging from home theater systems such as soundbars, portable audio products such as earphones/headphones, to PC/smartphone-related products. The selection criterion is "the power to enrich lifestyles," and in addition to quality, design and functionality are also verified.

- Target Categories:

Soundbars/Home Theater Systems, Wireless Speakers, Hi-Component Systems, Desktop Audio/Living Audio, Earphones/Headphones, Headphone Amplifiers, DACs, Headphone-related Accessories, Portable Music Players, Visual-related Products, PC/Smartphone/Tablet-related Products, Gaming Devices, Smart Home-related Products

- Judges: Kenzo Konoike (Chair), Takashi Iwai (Vice Chair), Kazuya Orihara (Vice Chair), Shinobu Kaijo, Atsushi Takahashi, Kenji Nomura, Atsushi Yamamoto *Titles omitted, 7 in total

● Judging Cooperating Stores

Leading retailers nationwide, knowledgeable about product trends, participate in the judging.

Avac, Audio Union, Audio Core, Cabin Osaka-ya, Glanz, K's Denki, Call Tokushima, Sound Create, Sound Tech, Sendai no-da-ya, Tomtec, Nojima Audio Square, no-da-ya, Bic Camera, Fujiya Avic, Home Theater Kobo, Yamada Denki, Yodobashi Camera, Royal Audio, AC2, e-earphone, Lavi Style, Onsite Audio, etc. (in Japanese alphabetical order)

● About Announcement Media

- Free Magazine "VGP Award-Winning Products Shopping Guide"

"VGP Award-Winning Products Shopping Guide" 2026 SUMMER Edition

A free magazine distributed at the stores of home electronics mass retailers and specialty stores nationwide. It is the latest guide that covers the award-winning models of "VGP," Japan's largest comprehensive award for audio-visual equipment, and serves as a guide for purchasing audio and visual equipment at stores. A4 size (H280mm x W210mm), free of charge. After the free magazine is published, it can also be downloaded as a PDF from the special website (https://vgp.phileweb.com/). (*In-store distribution of the free magazine will start sequentially from early July 2026, and PDF download will be available from early July 2026.)

Inquiries about the "VGP" Award

Ongen Shuppan Co., Ltd. VGP Executive Committee Contact: Yuki Hirano, Yuji Ida, Ryo Inaba Phone: 03-5833-5024 Email: sp@ongen.co.jp

About Ongen Shuppan

Founded in 1949. Operates a media business that publishes specialized magazines and web media for pure audio and home theater, as well as a solutions business including awards, events, and merchandise sales. ● Company Name: Ongen Shuppan Co., Ltd. ● President and CEO: Yusuke Kazama ● Location: 4F, Itopia Iwamotocho ANNEX, 2-14-2 Iwamotocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0032

● Corporate Website: https://www.ongen.co.jp

<Web Media> ● PHILE WEB: Japan's largest information site for AV/audio/mobile

(Monthly Unique Users: 5 million UU, Monthly Page Views: 20 million PV) ● PHILE WEB Audio: An information channel delving deep into pure audio with meticulous detail.

● Premium Headphone Guide WEB: An information channel conveying the appeal of earphones, headphones, and portable audio. ● Home Theater Channel: An information channel for realizing "a life with a home theater." ● DigiCam Channel: A channel packed with in-depth information for photography and camera fans. ● PHILE WEB Business: A channel covering various information on the home electronics business. ● Gadget Gate: An information site introducing the latest tech/gadget-related topics from a unique perspective and approach.

● LWL online: An information site proposing a new lifestyle where wellness and luxury coexist.

● music score: A music review platform themed "Listen, record, connect. A place to love music more."

<Magazine Media> ● Quarterly Audio Accessory: A specialized magazine for pure audio pursuing high-quality sound reproduction. ● Quarterly Analog: Disseminates information on how to enjoy record playback, analog audio, and the latest information. ● Home Theater File: A specialized magazine for "homes with home theaters" and "audio-visual." ● Premium Headphone Guide Magazine: A specialized magazine providing in-depth portable audio information for earphone/headphone enthusiasts. ● Grand Series: A special issue that comprehensively introduces cables and accessories useful for reproducing good sound and images.

<Free Magazines> ● Premium Headphone Guide: A free magazine packed with information on earphones, headphones, and portable audio. Distributed free of charge at home electronics mass retailers and headphone specialty stores. ● VGP Award-Winning Products Shopping Guide: A free magazine that publishes the results of "VGP," Japan's largest comprehensive award for audio-visual equipment. Distributed free of charge at home electronics mass retailers, etc. ● DGP Award-Winning Products Shopping Guide: A free magazine that publishes the results of the "DGP Imaging Award," which targets digital cameras and their peripherals. Distributed free of charge at home electronics mass retailers and camera specialty stores.

● First Analog Player: A free magazine to learn about the existence of analog players, how to choose them, and how to listen to them. Distributed free of charge at record stores, home electronics mass retailers, etc.

<Awards> ● VGP Award: Japan's largest comprehensive award for audio-visual equipment. Held in summer and winter. ● DGP Imaging Award: An award targeting digital cameras and their peripherals. Held every autumn. ● DGP Mobile Award: An award targeting "smartphone cameras" and their peripherals. Held every spring. ● Audio Masterpiece Award: An award that selects true masterpieces of pure audio. Held every autumn. ● Audio Accessory Masterpiece Award: An award that selects excellent audio accessory products. Held every autumn. ● Analog Grand Prix: An award that selects audio equipment full of "analog sensibility." Held every spring.

<EC Site>

● PHILEWEB.shop: A marketplace-type EC site operated by Ongen Shuppan.