The 2015 Porter Prize winners have been announced.

Hitotsubashi University's Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy announced the winners of the 2015 Porter Prize on October 28. This award recognizes companies that have implemented unique, outstanding strategies and achieved and maintained high profitability.

The winners are: "IBJ" (Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President: Shigeru Ishizaka), which provides marriage support services; "Kaneka Kanekaron Division" (Kita-ku, Osaka; President: Mamoru Kakukura), which handles synthetic fibers for wigs and other products; "Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten" (Nara City, Nara Prefecture; President: Atsushi Nakagawa), which plans, manufactures, wholesales, and retails lifestyle goods using traditional crafts; Shinsei Principal Investments (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Yoshikage Kozano), which provides investment banking services for mid-sized and small-to-medium enterprises.

IBJ was recognized for providing seamless services from accessible entry points like matchmaking websites and parties to marriage counseling agencies, achieving a high marriage success rate. Kaneka was honored for cultivating the African women's hair accessory market and building a value chain where all players, including manufacturers, can benefit from growth. Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten was recognized for building an integrated business model spanning craft production to retail, fostering mutual growth with other craft manufacturers. Shinsei Principal Investments was honored for its specialized focus on mid-sized and small businesses, providing comprehensive support tailored to the corporate lifecycle, from startup assistance to business revitalization.

The Porter Prize was established in 2001. Its name originates from Harvard University Professor Michael E. Porter, a leading authority on competitive strategy who has long focused on Japanese companies and has a history of collaborative research with Hitotsubashi University.

The Porter Prize Steering Committee will hold the "Competitiveness Conference 2015" in conjunction with the 2015 Porter Prize award ceremony as follows.

Competitiveness Conference 2015
・Date and Time: Starts at 1:00 PM on December 1, 2015
・Venue: Hitotsubashi Hall (2-1-2 Hitotsubashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
<Program>
・Video Lecture by Professor Porter
・Panel Discussion: "Challenges in Enhancing Competitiveness"
&nbsp;&nbsp; Tadashi Yanai (President, Fast Retailing), Hirotaka Takeuchi (Professor, Harvard Business School; Professor Emeritus, Hitotsubashi University)
・Interview with the CEO of the 2015 Porter Prize-winning company: Ken Kusunoki (Professor, Hitotsubashi University Graduate School)
・The Journey of Porter Prize Winners: Further Development of Superior Competitive Strategies Emi Osono (Professor, Hitotsubashi University Graduate School)

◎For details, visit the Porter Prize website

◎To participate in the Competitiveness Conference 2015, apply via the dedicated registration site (First 100 applicants invited)
※Outside registration period