Onward Holdings Wins Excellence Award at the Career Ownership Management AWARD 2026 for Second Consecutive Year

Onward Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Michinobu Yasumoto) has won the Excellence Award at the Career Ownership Management AWARD 2026 for the second consecutive year, following its win last year.

The company has been implementing initiatives where employees voluntarily change their work styles, aiming to improve productivity through operational efficiency and work-life balance. This award recognizes these company-wide efforts.

■ About the Career Ownership Management AWARD

The Career Ownership Management AWARD honors companies that practice the three perspectives of career ownership management (visualizing, increasing, and connecting career-ownership human resources) to achieve sustainable growth for both individuals and organizations, promoting the creation of new relationships between individuals and companies.

For the 2026 fiscal year, companies with 1,000 or more employees were evaluated in the 'Large Enterprise' category, those with fewer than 1,000 employees in the 'Mid-sized and SME' category, and practical and exploratory communities of companies and individuals in the 'Cross-Border Community' category. A total of 68 companies and organizations were recognized.

Special page for the Career Ownership Management AWARD 2026: https://co-consortium.persol-career.co.jp/com-award/index.html

■ Judge's Comments

The judges highly evaluated the company's evolution towards 'customer-centric management that leverages the diverse individuality of employees' and its support for career development through diverse work styles and challenging opportunities.

Through mentor-mentee, side business, and master systems, the company has established growth opportunities for a wide range of personnel, from young to senior employees and sales staff, supporting career continuity and expansion. Additionally, the cultivation of a culture of learning and sharing knowledge and success stories led by the front lines was also praised. Achievements such as an increased ratio of female executives, longer average years of service, and a reduced turnover rate were also noted, deeming the company worthy of the Excellence Award.

The judges expressed hope that these diverse career support initiatives will further connect to business transformation and customer value creation, leading to an organization where unique talents can thrive even more.

■ About the Onward Group's 'Work Style Design'

This is the company's work style reform project aimed at improving productivity through operational efficiency and work-life balance, where employees voluntarily take initiative and change their work styles. Started in August 2019, the project includes weekly meetings (commonly known as 'Kaeru Kaigi' or 'Change Meetings') where teams discuss what they should do to achieve better work styles, as well as creating an environment that supports diverse work styles.

■ Company's Past Initiatives for 'Work Style Design'

July 2021: Announced the initiatives and results of the Onward work style reform project 'Work Style Design'

August 2021: Held a dialogue event on the 'Work Style Design' reform, with approximately 180 participants

March 2022: Established a 'Guidebook' to inform about systems and leave related to childbirth and childcare

August 2022: Published numerical data for FY2021 for the Onward work style reform project 'Work Style Design'

May 2023: Published numerical data for FY2022 for the Onward work style reform project 'Work Style Design'

February 2024: Revised the personnel system to strengthen human capital investment

August 2024: Average years of service increased by approximately 4 years due to successful efforts to create a comfortable work environment

October 2025: Ratio of female managers exceeded 30%, turnover rate decreased by approximately 50%

■ Comment from Onward Holdings Co., Ltd. Human Resources Div. on Receiving the Award

We are truly grateful to receive the Excellence Award at the Career Ownership Management AWARD 2026.

Our company values creating an environment where each diverse employee can design their own career and continue to grow. Through mentor, side business, and master systems, we have provided diverse experiences and learning opportunities, supporting employees' proactive challenges.

We will continue to aim for an organization where each employee can maximize their potential and achieve sustainable growth in an ever-changing environment.

■ What is 'Career Ownership'?

Career ownership refers to the awareness and actions of an individual taking initiative (ownership) over their own 'career'.

In the report by the 'Study Group for Strengthening Human Resource Capabilities in Japanese Industry' (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, 2018), career ownership is explained as 'each individual being aware of how they want their career to be and how they want to realize themselves, and taking actions to build a satisfying career.'

Furthermore, the 'Report of the Study Group on Sustainable Corporate Value Improvement and Human Capital ~ Human Resources Version Ito Report ~' (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, 2020) points out that 'companies are required not to provide uniform career paths but to enable diverse work styles and support workers' autonomous career development, skill-up, and skill-shift,' and also reports that 'individuals are required not to entrust their careers to companies but to have career ownership and choose companies to work for based on their own volition.'

Reference: Career Ownership Living Lab 'What is Career Ownership?' https://co-livinglab.persol-career.co.jp/knowledge.html

■ Overview of Onward Holdings Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1927 as 'Kashiyama Shoten', the company promotes business in three areas: fashion, wellness, and corporate design, both domestically and internationally. Leveraging the expertise of each business company, it is engaged in creating diverse value for consumers.

Under its mission statement 'Enriching People and the Planet', the company continues to move forward as a 'lifestyle culture creation company' that contributes to creating a life of 'enrichment and color' in harmony with the planet, through 'customer-centric management that leverages the diverse individuality of employees.'

Representative: Michinobu Yasumoto, President and Representative Director

Headquarters: Onward Park Building, 3-10-5 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8239

URL: https://www.onward-hd.co.jp/