Celebrating Employee Engagement Initiatives at the Undokaiya Awards 2025

On February 10, 2026, the inaugural Undokaiya Awards were held in Tokyo by Undokaiya Inc., honoring companies dedicated to enhancing employee engagement through innovative internal events. This award celebrates organizations that recognize the importance of fostering a strong corporate culture and teamwork, showcasing the efforts made to bolster social interactions among employees through activities that go beyond traditional recreation.

What is the Undokaiya Awards?

The Undokaiya Awards is a project organized by Undokaiya Inc., aimed at providing a platform for sharing ideas and commendations related to corporate sports days, quiz competitions, and relay races. With the rise of diverse work styles and remote work, the need for fostering relationships between colleagues has become increasingly significant. Through this award, the goal is to create an environment where companies can share their creative approaches and achievements in employee engagement, promoting an exchange of information to support better organizational relationships.

Award Winners for 2025

From over 200 organizations that executed internal events throughout 2025, several companies were recognized at the Undokaiya Awards 2025:

Grand Prize

Timee Inc.
Timee Inc. demonstrated exceptional innovation by continuously evolving their sports day format for four years in a row. From venues like Ikebukuro's closed schools to Saitama Super Arena and Pacifico Yokohama, 2025 saw the event held at Bellesalle Shibuya Garden. They creatively combined traditional sports days with gamification elements, resulting in an engaging and memorable experience for all participants. Maintaining continuity in leadership, they successfully transitioned to a new team while keeping the spirit of the event alive, receiving numerous praises through post-event surveys.

Runner-up

KDDI Corporation
KDDI Corporation showcased a unique event embodying “Omotenashi” (hospitality), “Passion,” and a “Spirit of Challenge.” Conducted in a caravan format across multiple locations, they also offered online participation via YouTube, ensuring inclusive access to all employees. The strong energy from executives and participants transformed the venue into a vibrant atmosphere, with various events including a relay race and large jump rope competitions, contributing significantly to the overall enthusiasm.

Additional Awards

- Best Impact Award: Mitsui Fudosan Commercial Management, NTT Data University, Nissan Car Rental Solutions
- Engagement Improvement Award: ENEOS Corporation, Lives Co., Ltd.
- ONE TEAM Award: Tohji Co., Ltd., Musashi Engineering, Grace Holdings, Four Seasons Co., Ltd.
- Best Smile Award: Tokyu Land Corporation, Hands Co., Ltd., Yamada Consulting Group

Ceremony Highlights

During the ceremony, the award-winning companies were announced and honored. Each showcased the creative aspects of their internal events. This gathering not only celebrated achievements but also encouraged networking and discussions among participants on the potential of corporate events in enhancing organizational culture.

Comments from the CEO

Takaaki Yonekura, Chief Executive Officer of Undokaiya Inc., praised the awarded companies for their commitment to clear objectives that reflect their unique values and creativity. He highlighted how crucial personal interaction is in building solid corporate culture, stating, “Every event holds unique value, rooted in the gratitude shown towards employees and stakeholders.” He expressed the intent to continue supporting companies in their journey toward bolstering individual relationships through engaging events.

About Undokaiya Inc.

Company Name: Undokaiya Inc.
Representative: Takaaki Yonekura
Location: 150-0034, 3F SodaCCo, 9-10 Daikanyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Undokaiya Inc. specializes in crafting experience-based programs centered around sports events for companies, local governments, and educational institutions. With over 2,500 successful events nationwide, they provide support for team-building initiatives and the creation of strong organizational environments. Their initiatives also include operating experiential venues in repurposed schools and conducting sports events abroad to promote international exchange and support efforts.