[33rd Skills Grand Prix] Katsuhiro Okabe, CEO of OOKABE GLASS, leader in online glass ordering, receives the Fighting Spirit Award in the 'Glass Installation' category.
Katsuhiro Okabe, CEO of OOKABE GLASS, has been awarded the Fighting Spirit Award at the Skills Grand Prix.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 28, 2026 at 00:11
- 🔍 Collected: March 28, 2026 at 21:59 (21h 47m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 01:53 (411h 53m after Collected)
Katsuhiro Okabe, CEO of OOKABE GLASS Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture), which operates one of Japan's largest online glass and mirror ordering businesses, participated as the representative for Fukui Prefecture in the 'Glass Installation' category at the 33rd Skills Grand Prix, hosted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and was awarded the 'Fighting Spirit Award'.
A CEO's personal challenge demonstrates a 'determination' for industry transformation
This award is not merely an individual achievement. It represents our firm 'determination' to redefine the value of 'skills'—which are often overlooked in a society accelerating toward digitalization—and to pass on their appeal to the next generation. By having the CEO of an online ordering business personally strive for the pinnacle of technical skill, we are refreshing the traditional image of a craftsman and creating a new industry standard that transcends conventional wisdom.
CEO Okabe's strong sense of mission on the competition stage
'May the craftsman's skill become a hope for the future.'
While balancing busy management duties, CEO Okabe decided to challenge the Skills Grand Prix due to a strong sense of crisis regarding the structural issues facing the industry and a belief in the inherent value of technical skills. The competition highlighted the reality that the '1st Grade Skilled Worker' national certification, which is highly valued in public works, is not sufficiently recognized or appreciated by the general public. This gap in perception causes younger generations to hesitate to enter the field, draining the industry's overall vitality. Okabe took to the competition stage with a self-imposed mission to break through this status quo.
The divergence between 'value' and 'recognition': The silent crisis facing skill succession
Currently, many fields, including the construction industry, are facing a serious crisis of aging craftsmen and a shortage of successors. Specialized skills, such as glass installation, cannot be mastered overnight, making systematic skill succession essential. While the government guarantees the value of the '1st Grade Skilled Worker' qualification through measures like adding points in public works bidding, social recognition and respect have not kept pace. A social foundation is needed where 'skills' are properly valued and become a profession that young people aspire to.