Mecenat Award 2018 Presentation Ceremony Held ~ Grand Prize Awarded to Kodansha's "Let's Play with Books: National Storytelling Team"

The Corporate Mecenat Council held the "Mecenat Award 2018" presentation ceremony on November 29 at Spiral Hall in Minato Ward, Tokyo. This award recognizes particularly outstanding corporate activities from the perspective of social creation through art and culture. This year, seven projects were selected (1 Grand Prize, 5 Excellence Awards, 1 Special Award: Agency for Cultural Affairs Commissioner's Award).

The Grand Prize was awarded to Kodansha's "Let's Play with Books: National Storytelling Team." Launched to promote reading among children who will lead the next generation, commemorating the company's 90th anniversary, the initiative was recognized for its utilization of picture books as a corporate resource and its meticulous, long-term activities targeting locations nationwide. Upon receiving the award, President Shigenobu Noma expressed enthusiasm for further expansion, stating, "While the future direction remains uncertain, we have had a cumulative total of 1.9 million participants to date. We believe this award will provide a boost for continuing our activities."

The presentation ceremony featured remarks by Takashi Takashima, Chairman of the Corporate Mecenat Council, and congratulatory words from Ryohei Miyata, Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, followed by the presentation of the Agency for Cultural Affairs Commissioner's Award, Excellence Awards, and the Mecenat Grand Prize.

Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs Ryohei Miyata commends Pentel and Canon Marketing Japan, recipients of the Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs Award

The Grand Prize was presented to Shigenobu Noma, President of Kodansha, by Motoki Ozaki, Chairman of the Council

Excellence Award, Special Award: The Agency for Cultural Affairs Commissioner's Award recipients are as follows.

●Excellence Award

・Everyone Smiles Award: ACOM
　"Helping Smiles" Barrier-Free Concert: ACOM "See" Concert Story

・Art for a Vibrant Future Award: Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance
SOMPO Art Fund

・Art Creation Hub Award: Toyoko Inn
ART FACTORY Jonanjima Operation

・Sake Artistry Excellence Award: Hachinohe Shuzo
sake×art: Mutsu Hassen's Initiatives Through Japanese Sake

・Art of the Moment Award: Fujifilm
FUJIFILM SQUARE Activities: Communicating "The Past, Present, and Future of Photography" and Connecting People

●Special Award: Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs Award

・Pentel / Canon Marketing Japan
School Building Memories Project

For the full list of winners and details of their activities, see here (Winners Announcement Press Release).

Corporate Art Patronage Council website:
http://www.mecenat.or.jp/ja/