The Ministry of the Environment conducts 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 management.

　We are pleased to announce that the winners of the 6th ESG Finance Awards Japan have been selected, and the awards were presented on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

Scenes from the Award Ceremony Held on Wednesday, February 19

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 management, and to share these initiatives with society. This is the 6th year of the awards.

　The initiatives submitted for consideration were reviewed by the ESG Finance Awards Japan Selection Committee, and winners were selected in each category. The awards were presented on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

Opening Remarks by Minister of the Environment Keiichiro Asao

2. List of Award Recipients (subcategories in parentheses)

[Minister of the Environment Awards] Gold Prize: 7 recipients, Silver Prize: 8 recipients

[Selection Committee Chairman Awards] Bronze Prize: 10 recipients, Special Award: 5 recipients, Thematic Award: 6 recipients

[Investors of the year]

Gold　　　　   : The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, Limited (Asset Owners)

Silver　　　     : Robeco Japan Co.,Ltd (Asset Managers)

Bronze             : Nissay Asset Management Corporation (Asset Managers)

                      　 Nippon Life Insurance Company (Asset Owners),

Special Award : Cadira Capital Management Co., Ltd.(Asset Managers)

[Banks of the year]

 Gold　　　　   : THE SHIZUOKA BANK, LTD.

                            Mizuho Bank, Ltd.

 Silver　　　     : THE SHIGA BANK, LTD.

                            Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

 Bronze             : The Juroku Bank, Ltd.

                           The Bank of Yokohama,Ltd.

 Special Award : THE AMAGASAKI SHINKIN BANK

                           The Hiroshima Bank, Ltd.

[Issuers/Borrowers of the year]

 Gold　　　　   : Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.

 Silver　　　     : INFRONEER Holdings Inc.

 Bronze             : Nomura Real Estate Holdings, Inc.

 Special Award : N/A

[Financial Services of the year]

 Gold　　　　   : Bloomberg L.P. (ESG Evaluation and Data Providers)

 Silver　　　     : Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd. (Securities)

 Bronze             : Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd. (Securities)

 Special Award : Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd. (ESG Evaluation and Data Providers)

[Thematic Awards(Financing of the year)]

Carbon Neutral Award   : DNV Business Assurance Japan K.K.

Nature Positive Award : The Norinchukin Bank

Circular Economy Award: WOOD ONE CO., LTD.

[Environmentally Sustainable of the year]

 Gold　　　　   : Kirin Holdings Company, Limited

                            Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.

 Silver　　　     : AISIN CORPORATION

                            Seiko Epson Corporation

                            Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd.

 Bronze             : Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd.

　　　　　　      ITOCHU Corporation

　　　　　　      SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED

                           Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.

 Special Award : OKAMURA CORPORATION

[Thematic Awards (Environmentally Sustainable of the year)]

Carbon Neutral Award   : Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd.

Nature Positive Award   : Tokyu Fudosan Holdings Corporation

Circular Economy Award: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation

3. Reasons for Gold Awards

The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, Limited

As the Chair of the GFANZ Japan Chapter Consultative Group, the Dai-ichi Life Insurance has contributed to the sound development of sustainable finance in Japan while incorporating an international perspective, making efforts to introduce global standards to the country. The management has also demonstrated a commitment to education, as seen in their operation of the Group Sustainability Committee, which is broadcasted to employees. The Selection Committee highly praised the company’s focus on engagement and strong commitment to create an enabling environment for engagement through their capacity building programs. . Additionally, the Dai-ichi Life Insurance’s strict policies, including investment decisions that take into account the overall reduction effect on society and carbon lock-in, were particularly noteworthy.

THE SHIZUOKA BANK, LTD. 

The Shizuoka Bank has further promoted regional collaboration and made “Shizuoka GX Support” open to all regional financial institutions in the prefecture, thereby making a significant contribution to the progress of regional decarbonization. While working to raise the overall level of the region, the bank has also emphasized improving the well-being of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Their efforts in stakeholder collaboration and reflection of the Sixth Basic Environment Plan are particularly noteworthy. By building co-creation relationships within the prefecture, including with local governments, the Shizuoka Bank has fostered a unified regional approach to decarbonization, helping to increase momentum among SMEs. Additionally, to ensure organizational continuity in sustainability, they have trained and begun deploying sustainability consultants, which also serves as a valuable reference for other financial institutions in human resource development.

Mizuho Bank, Ltd.

Mizuho Bank has a clear strategy for supporting Sustainability Transformation (SX) by leveraging its strengths in industry research. The bank is making steady progress in enhancing collaboration between headquarters and branches to effectively support Japan’s decarbonization efforts and lead industrial structure transformation. Their transition investment framework and value co-creation investment, which support R&D, social implementation, and commercialization of new technologies, are particularly innovative. Additionally, their broad strategic approach as exemplified by their leadership as Chair of PCAF Japan is befitting a megabank. Furthermore, the strong involvement of Mizuho Bank’s management and effective sustainability governance across its wide-ranging initiatives were also highly evaluated.

Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.

Osaka Gas has set an ambitious emissions reduction target for 2030 to be realized through initiatives such as promoting energy conservation and the introduction of e-methane, while also advancing efforts toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. By positioning transition as a key management priority, the company was highly evaluated for presenting a realistic pathway for the decarbonization of heat and successfully establishing a finance scheme to support its implementation. Furthermore, through investor relations activities, Osaka Gas has deepened awareness of transition finance issues and actively communicated actions toward achieving their goals. These efforts serve as a valuable reference for other issuers for which transition is necessary.

Bloomberg L.P.

As a leading financial information provider, Bloomberg provides timely and reliable sustainable finance information to the Japanese financial industry and corporations. It offers a comprehensive range of high-quality and distinctive services backed by extensive sustainability data. Furthermore, the company is recognized for developing educational programs related to sustainable finance taking into account the local context, and specifically designed for the needs of regional banks in Japan.

Kirin Holdings Company, Limited

Kirin Holdings has developed a transition plan that covers climate change, natural capital, and the circular economy, effectively communicating their interconnections to the reader, and their ongoing efforts in continuous improvements were highly praised. As a company reliant on nature resources, the company’s efforts to improve business sustainability will serve as a model for other companies. In accordance with international frameworks, such as the mitigation hierarchy and the 4Rs, the company conducts due diligence on acquisitions from a corporate philosophy perspective, even in overseas business expansion. This exemplifies the qualities of a globally recognized sustainability leader.

Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.

With a strong commitment to environmental initiatives such as net Zero Energy Houses (ZEH) and net Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB), as set forth in the President’s message, Daiwa House Industry is successfully integrating environmental contributions through its core business with corporate value enhancement, demonstrating a progressive approach. The company was highly praised for introducing Japan’s first internal carbon pricing system as a criterion for investment decisions in real estate, as well as for initiating efforts to calculate and reduce embodied carbon. Additionally, Daiwa House Industry’s proactive engagement with suppliers and industry-leading stance were also recognized.