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The 5th City Promotion Award Conference: A Day of Sharing Future Visions

On April 21, 2026, the City Promotion Award Executive Committee, led by CEO Takahito Kawai of the Public Communication Research Institute, hosted the 5th City Promotion Award Conference at the headquarters of Ururu Co., Ltd. in Harumi, Tokyo. This conference served as a platform for the award-winning entities of the 2025 City Promotion Award (CPA2025) to convene and share their experiences, challenges, and insights for future strategies.

The event brought together representatives from the ten award-winning organizations, including three gold awardees (Sayama City, Nabari City, Moka City), two silver awardees (Kawachi-Nagano City, Joso City), and special jury awardees, along with sponsors and numerous municipal representatives. It was conducted in a hybrid format, combining in-person attendance with Zoom webinars, allowing attendees to listen to presentations from the awardees along with a panel discussion, which was meticulously coordinated by Executive Committee Chairman Takahito Kawai.

Event Overview

As the fifth installment of this annual conference, the event focused on the theme “Beyond the Awards.” Opening with the presentation of trophies, the event featured case studies by the three gold award-winning cities and two special jury awardees. During the panel discussion, which lasted about 60 minutes, the audience was engaged in discussing the “realities behind the numbers” and what transpired in the operations of these projects. The conversation provided a deeper understanding of the underlying processes leading to consensus within the organizations and the authentic challenges they faced.

The conference included a pitch session, showcasing collaborative efforts not only from the special sponsor Ururu but also from other sponsor companies like WingArcNEX and Sembear, along with the silver and encouragement award recipients. This session fostered an environment of mutual learning across public and private sectors concerning city promotion and community engagement initiatives.

Award Recipients (CPA2025)

Gold Award - 3 Entities

• - Sayama City (Saitama Prefecture)
• - Nabari City (Mie Prefecture)
• - Moka City (Tochigi Prefecture)

Silver Award - 2 Entities

• - Kawachi-Nagano City (Osaka Prefecture)
• - Joso City (Ibaraki Prefecture)

Special Jury Award - 2 Entities

• - Suzuki Herb Research Institute
• - A City by Japan’s Largest Lake

Encouragement Awards - 3 Entities

• - Nagoya City (Aichi Prefecture)
• - Mizunami City (Gifu Prefecture)
• - Shiojiri City (Nagano Prefecture)
• - Sugito Town (Saitama Prefecture)
• - Tome City (Miyagi Prefecture)
• - Hitachinaka City (Ibaraki Prefecture)
• - Tapaz (Kamikatsu Technical School Students)
• - Shimodate Kyoshi Association (Ibaraki Prefecture)

The details of each participating organization’s initiatives and remarks made by the speakers will be sequentially shared on the City Promotion Award website and the community fair note articles.

• - City Promotion Award Official Website
• - Municipal General Fair Official Note

Panel Discussion Main Topics (60 minutes)

During the panel discussion, Coordinator Takahito Kawai posed several critical questions to the speakers, including:

• - What discussions and agreement processes occurred within your organization before the initiatives?
• - What are the tangible challenges and realities that aren’t reflected in the numbers?
• - Is it truly appropriate for city promotion to rely on “permanent residents” as a measure?
• - What actions must be taken in the next year to ensure these initiatives are sustainable?

The panel discussion provided a profound opportunity for the awardees to reflect on their strategies and outcomes, contributing significantly to ongoing discourse in the realm of city promotion.

Special Sponsors

The special sponsor, Ururu Co., Ltd., provided valuable feedback and presented the “Ururu Award” during the program's conclusion, highlighting the significance of private enterprise perspectives in acknowledging the accomplishments of the award-winning organizations.

Upcoming CPA 2026

The Executive Committee plans to open applications for the City Promotion Award 2026 in June 2026. Announcements will begin at the Municipal Comprehensive Fair in July 2026, with applications received until September, evaluations conducted between October and December, and the results announced at the City Promotion Summit in January 2027. The closing ceremony will be held in April 2027. Participation from private enterprises and organizations as applicants, committee members, or sponsors is highly encouraged. Details will be provided through the official note and social media channels.

About City Promotion Award

The City Promotion Award (CPA) is a collaborative initiative aimed at honoring excellent city promotion activities undertaken by municipalities, corporations, and non-profit organizations. By sharing and disseminating success cases, the CPA seeks to foster civic pride and stimulate revitalization across communities in Japan. Started in the 2021 fiscal year, the awards assess projects through document reviews and evaluations by the Executive Committee and external judges, recognizing entries with gold, silver, special jury, and encouragement awards.

Executive Committee:
Chairman: Takahito Kawai
Vice-Chairman: Jintaka Hosokawa
Organizer: City Promotion Award Executive Committee

Event Details

• - Event Name: The 5th City Promotion Award Conference
• - Date and Time: April 21, 2026 (Tuesday) from 1:30 PM to 5:15 PM (Networking until 7:00 PM)
• - Venue: Ururu Co., Ltd. Headquarters (3F-12-1 Harumi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo)
• - Format: Hybrid event (in-person + Zoom webinar)
• - Participation Fee: Free (including networking)
• - Organizer: City Promotion Award Executive Committee
• - Special Sponsor: Ururu Co., Ltd.
• - Sponsors: WingArcNEX Co., Ltd., Sembear LLC

Contact Information

City Promotion Award Office
Japan Management Association Municipal General Fair Office
Email: [email protected]
Special Website: City Promotion Award

About Japan Management Association

Founded in 1949 as the Japan Association of Office Efficiency, the Japan Management Association’s foundational activities focus on modernizing and enhancing management efficiency in Japan.

Core Philosophy:
The NOMA promotes the harmony of management, humanity, and science to contribute to sustainable societal development.

Mission:
To continue to innovate Japanese management alongside our customers for a prosperous tomorrow.