The 2nd "Extend Your Healthy Life Expectancy! Award" Ceremony Tanita wins the Grand Prize!

On November 11, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare held the second "Extend Healthy Life Expectancy! Award" ceremony at the Urban Center Hotel in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. This award recognizes companies and local governments that implement outstanding initiatives to raise awareness about preventing lifestyle-related diseases and promote health among their employees and residents. It is part of the "Smart Life Project" conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) with the goal of improving the lifestyle habits of the public and extending healthy life expectancy.

The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Award (one Grand Prize and three Excellence Awards) was presented for particularly outstanding initiatives, with Tanita receiving the Grand Prize.

 

Deputy Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Tsuchiya Noriko stated in her address, "We designate this year as the 'First Year of Prevention' and will advance initiatives related to prevention and health management. We hope this will serve as an opportunity to further promote health-building activities."

Singer-songwriter Ayaka Hirahara, appointed as a "Vibrant Health Ambassador" in September, attended the ceremony as a guest. Hirahara shared, "I've developed a sense of pride as a Health Ambassador. I've started classical ballet again after 11 years, and my whole family does radio calisthenics together on our balcony." She also discussed her future activities as a Health Ambassador, including encouraging young people to get health checkups through her blog and Facebook.

For details, visit the Smart Life Project website.

 

The award-winning companies, organizations, and municipalities, along with the names of their initiatives, are as follows.

【Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Grand Prize】 (1)

・Tanita Corporation: "Implementation of the Group Health Creation Package 'Tanita Health Program'"

【Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Award - Excellence Prize】 (3 entries)

＜Corporate Category＞
Daiwa Securities Group Inc.
"Integrated Health Promotion Initiatives by the HR Department, Health Insurance Association, and Occupational Health Staff"

＜Organization Category＞
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Employees' Mutual Aid Association
"Challenges in Preventing Lifestyle-Related Diseases by the Large-Scale Insurer 'Tokyo Metropolitan Government Employees' Mutual Aid Association' – 'Mutual Aid Business Plan 2011': Conscious, Voluntary, and Self-Directed Health Promotion"

<Municipal Government Category>
Kure City (Hiroshima Prefecture)
"Kure City Project for Preventing Severe Complications of Diabetic Nephropathy, etc. / Let's Start! Reducing Salt Intake"

[Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Director-General of Health Bureau, Excellence Award] (15 entries)

＜Corporate Sector＞
・Aim Service Co., Ltd.
"Promotion of 'MetaboCare' (a balanced set menu based on low energy, low cholesterol, and high dietary fiber)"

・Global Dining Co., Ltd.
"Bringing Health and Joy to Customers and Employees"

・Fujikura Ltd./Fujikura Health Insurance Association
"Aiming to be 'A Company Where Employees Work Vibrantly'"

・Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company
"Dai-ichi Life's Health Management ~ DSR Management and Bonds of Security ~"

・Lawson Health Insurance Association
"Health Promotion Initiatives Based on Health Check Results, Collaborating with Workplaces"

＜Group Category＞
・Enterprise Cooperative Aiai Village Kura
"The 'Enterprise Cooperative Deaimura Kura' Will Make Dreams Bloom! ~The People and Town Vibrant and Energetic Project~"

・Kumamoto Smoking Cessation Promotion Forum
"From Quitting to Quit-Free: Smoking Cessation Promotion Activities in Kumamoto Prefecture"

・Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Aichi Health Promotion Foundation
"School Education Support Program for Elementary and Junior High Schools in Aichi Prefecture ~ Mental and Physical Health Education~"

・Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Japan Anti-Cancer Association
"Easy Quit Contest"

・JA Yamanashi Koseiren Health Management Center
"Extend Your Healthy Life Expectancy! 'Connecting Kindness' Project"

<Municipal Government Category>
・Obu City (Aichi Prefecture)
"Obu Healthy Longevity Support Project — Aiming to Create a City Where Dementia (and the Need for Care) Can Be Prevented Through Exercise and Other Activities—"

・Sakado City (Saitama Prefecture)
"Health Promotion Movement Through Collaboration with Citizens and Local Resources"

・Shodoshima Town (Kagawa Prefecture)
"Olive-Based Healthy Longevity Island Development Activities"

・Myoko City (Niigata Prefecture)
"Citizen-Led Health Promotion Toward Realizing 'Myoko: Comprehensive Health City'"

・Wako City (Saitama Prefecture)
"Comprehensive Initiatives to Create Systems Enabling Seniors to Live in Familiar Neighborhoods and Homes, Preventing the Need for Care, and Reducing the Number of Care Recipients"