The 3rd All-Japan Advertising Federation Japan Advertising Awards Winners Announced

The All Japan Advertising Federation (Chairman: Akira Ohira) held the selection committee meeting for the 3rd "Zenkyoren Japan Advertising Awards" on December 18 last year. It decided to award the "Matsushita Prize" to Mr. Toshifumi Suzuki (Chairman and CEO, Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd.), the "Masariki Prize" to Ms. Hisako Higuchi (Advisor, Japan Ladies Golf Association), The "Yoshida Award" to Mr. Hideya Higashi (Chairman of the Board, Sendenkaigi Inc.), and the "Yamana Award" to Mr. Naoshi Kaname (Package Designer, Artist). The awards will be presented during the ceremony of the "63rd Zen-Kyoren Kanazawa Convention" (Ishikawa Prefectural Music Hall Concert Hall, Kanazawa City) scheduled for Wednesday, May 20. The recipients and reasons for each award are as follows.

Recipients and Reasons for the 3rd "Zen-Kōren Japan Advertising Awards"

■ "Matsushita Award" Toshifumi Suzuki

Chairman and CEO, Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd.

In the rapidly changing retail industry both domestically and internationally, he accurately grasped customer needs for "dedication to taste and quality," "safety and security," "convenience," and "comfort" in products and services. He built convenience stores into a globally renowned system serving as social infrastructure. Furthermore, through proactive advertising communication activities like commercials, he has widely disseminated the company's unique capabilities cultivated over more than 40 years, extending beyond its own products and services, thereby building the brand through retail promotional activities. His achievements in pioneering new initiatives, such as promoting new businesses including Seven Bank, were also highly evaluated.

■Masariki Award: Hisako Higuchi

Advisor, Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association

Passed the inaugural women's professional test in 1967. As a pioneer of Japanese women's professional golf, she holds the Japanese record for most career wins with 72 victories. In 1977, she became the first Japanese woman to win the U.S. Women's Professional Golf Championship, gaining worldwide recognition for her skill. She later served as President of the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), dedicating herself to the development of women's professional golf. She particularly focused on enhancing content value, leading to the growth of tournaments to 37 events annually. Women's professional golf has become a powerful media content, significantly contributing to the advertising industry. In 2003, she became the first Japanese inductee into the World Golf Hall of Fame. In 2014, she was selected as a Person of Cultural Merit, the first from the golf world.

■ "Yoshida Award" - Hideya Azuma

Chairman and CEO, Sendenkaigi Co., Ltd.

He founded 11 companies, including advertising agencies, and took over the management of Senken Kaigi Co., Ltd. in 1993. As a researcher, he has worked to expand the capabilities of the advertising industry and promote its dissemination. He has dedicated efforts to nurturing talent in the advertising world by launching various courses nationwide, such as copywriter training programs. In 2012, he established the School Corporation Higashi Education Research Group Graduate School of Business Design and assumed the position of Chairman. He mentors talent including corporate new business managers, business successors, social entrepreneurs, and regional revitalization leaders, while also working to invigorate the advertising business as a collaborator and supporter. He has held public positions including Director of the Japan Public Relations Association and Deputy Director of Waseda University's Institute for Japanese Regional Culture.

■ "Yamana Award" Takashi Kanome

Package Designer, Artist

Graduated from the Tokyo School of Fine Arts (now Tokyo University of the Arts), Department of Oil Painting, in 1950. As one of Japan's leading package designers, he has created packaging for daily consumer goods. Simultaneously, he designs packaging that consistently presents new concepts, such as the MOLD PACCO, which won the Tokyo ADC Award in 1992. Since 1988, he has freely utilized the expressive qualities of diverse materials—glass, aluminum, iron, Japanese paper, textiles, wood, paper molds—influencing the worlds of design, craft, and art. He continues his creative activities with enthusiasm while also dedicating himself to nurturing the next generation.

*Regarding the Zenkyoren Japan Advertising Award

The All Japan Advertising Federation (AJAF) inherited the Japan Advertising Award commendation program, originally conducted by the Japan Advertising Club since the 1950s, starting in fiscal year 2013. After necessary reorganization, it aims to foster and develop the award as one of the public interest activities of the Public Interest Incorporated Association All Japan Advertising Federation. It annually honors individuals who, from their respective positions—advertisers ("Matsushita Award"), media companies and other media-related firms, event and other content producers ("Masariki Award"), advertising-related companies ("Yoshida Award"), and creators ("Yamana Award")—have contributed to the advancement and development of the advertising industry by promoting the social mission of advertising. The plan is to honor annually individuals who have contributed to the advancement and development of the advertising industry by promoting the social mission of advertising from their respective positions. Additionally, a "Special Award" will be presented to individuals or organizations recognized for having made particularly meritorious contributions to promoting the social mission of advertising, in addition to the four awards mentioned above.