Announcement of the Recipients of the 7th ESG Finance Awards Japan

日本語へ

　The Ministry of the Environment administers the ESG Finance Awards Japan to recognize and commend financial institutions and organizations actively engaged in ESG finance, as well as companies making efforts in sustainable corporate management.
　The recipients of the 7th ESG Finance Awards Japan have been selected, and the awards were presented on February 16, 2026.

１．Overview

　The Ministry of the Environment established the ESG Finance Awards Japan in 2019 to promote and expand ESG finance. This award aims to recognize and commend financial institutions and organizations actively engaged in ESG finance, as well as companies making efforts in sustainable corporate management, and to share these initiatives with society. This year marks the seventh round of the awards.
　The initiatives submitted for consideration were reviewed by the ESG Finance Awards Japan Selection Committee, and recipients were selected in each category. The awards were conferred on February 16, 2026.

２．List of Award Recipients (subcategories in parentheses)

[Minister of the Environment Awards] Gold Prize: 7 recipients, Silver Prize: 8 recipients
[Chair of the Selection Committee Awards] Bronze Prize: 9 recipients, Special Award: 4 recipients, Thematic Award: 7 recipients

[Investors of the year]
Gold:            Robeco Japan Company Limited (Asset Managers)
Silver:          Nissay Asset Management Corporation (Asset Managers)
Bronze:        Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company (Asset Owners)
Special Award: Japan Automobile Recycling Promotion Center (Asset Owners)

[Banks of the year]
Gold:            THE SHIZUOKA BANK, LTD.
　　　　　 Mizuho Bank, Ltd.
Silver:          The Higo Bank, Ltd.
        　　 The Bank of Yokohama, Ltd.
Bronze: The San-in Godo Bank, Ltd.
Special Award: The Fukui Bank, Ltd. and Fukui Byora Co., Ltd. (jointly awarded)

[Issuers/Borrowers of the year]
Gold:            Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.
Silver:          Mitsubishi HC Capital Inc.
Bronze:        Central Nippon Expressway Company Limited
Special Award: N/A

[Financial Services of the year]
Gold:            Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd. (Securities)
Silver:          Rating and Investment Information, Inc. (ESG Evaluation and Data Providers)
Bronze: Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd. (Securities)
Special Award: Sustainable Lab Inc. (ESG Evaluation and Data Providers)

[Thematic Awards (Financing of the year)]
Net Zero Award:                      Senshu Ikeda Lease Co., Ltd.
Nature Positive Award: THE SHIGA BANK, LTD.
Circular Economy Award: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.

[Environmentally Sustainable of the year]
Gold: ITOCHU Corporation
　　　　　Sekisui House, Ltd.
Silver: Kurita Water Industries Ltd.
　　　　　DAIWA HOUSE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
　　　　　Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd.
Bronze: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
　　　　 KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
　　　　 SKYLARK HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
TOPPAN Holdings Inc.
Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
Special Award: MITSUI-SOKO HOLDINGS Co., Ltd.

[Thematic Awards (Environmentally Sustainable of the year)]
Net Zero Award: Tokyu Fudosan Holdings Corporation
　　　　　　　　　　 Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha
Nature Positive Award:           Nissui Corporation
Circular Economy Award: LIXIL Corporation