Applications Open for the 2026 KENKO Investment for Health and 2026 Outstanding Organizations of KENKO Investment for Health

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1. Recognition of Outstanding Organizations of KENKO Investment for Health

METI has been encouraging enterprises to introduce KENKO Investment for Health so that they can consider health-related issues for their employees from a business-management perspective as one of the efforts for achieving a society of health and longevity and so that they can strategically implement initiatives that lead to the maintenance and promotion of their employees’ health.
Aiming to create an environment in which enterprises practicing KENKO Investment for Health are appreciated by society, Nippon Kenko Kaigi*¹ has been conducting the Outstanding Organizations of KENKO Investment for Health Program since FY2016 to recognize outstanding enterprises, based on their survey responses. The enterprises are placed into in two categories by size: the Large Enterprise Category and the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Category.^*2
From FY2025 onwards, Nikkei Inc. has become the organizer and secretariat of the programs. It has been working to further promote KENKO Investment for Health through active PR and other activities.

Notes:

1. Nippon Kenko Kaigi is an organization aiming to encourage local governments and private organizations (e.g., economic associations, medical associations, and insurers) to work together toward achieving concrete measures in workplaces and in communities. (https://kenkokaigi.jp/about/)
2. A fee is required to apply for the 2026 Outstanding Organizations of KENKO Investment for Health Program.

(1) Recognition of Enterprises in the 2026 Outstanding Organizations of KENKO Investment for Health Program (Large Enterprise Category)

Applicants' levels of achievement for the requirements are determined based on their responses to the 2025 Survey on KENKO Investment for Health. The top 500 enterprises in the Large Enterprise Category are recognized as the White 500.

(2) Recognition of Enterprises in the 2026 Outstanding Organizations of KENKO Investment for Health Program (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Category) 

Applicants' levels of achievement for the requirements are determined based on the details of their application forms for the 2026 Outstanding Organizations of KENKO Investment for Health Program (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Category). The top 500 enterprises in the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Category are recognized as the Bright 500. In addition, the enterprises ranked from 501st to 1500th place from the top in the category are recognized as the Next Bright 1000.

To find out how to apply, visit this portal site run by the Secretariat of the Outstanding Organizations of KENKO Investment for Health Program.

2. Survey on KENKO Investment for Health

The Survey on KENKO Investment for Health has been conducted since FY2014 with the aim of analyzing KENKO Investment for Health efforts in enterprises and how they change over time, thereby obtaining basic information for choosing enterprises as KENKO Investment for Health and recognizing enterprises as Outstanding Organizations of KENKO Investment for Health (Large Enterprise Category).
The number of enterprises responding to the survey, which is a prerequisite necessary to be recognized for the program, is increasing year by year (3,869 enterprises last fiscal year). As seen in the fact that more than 80% of the enterprises that make up the Nikkei Stock Average (Nikkei 225) responded to the survey, many of the leading companies in each industry have begun to promote KENKO Investment for Health as part of their management strategy.

To find out how to respond to the survey, visit this portal site run by the Secretariat of the Outstanding Organizations of KENKO Investment for Health Program.

3. Feedback to respondent enterprises

Following on from the previous survey, METI will issue to enterprises that have responded to the survey (in the Large Enterprise Category) and applicants for the Bright 500 (in the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Category) feedback sheets that describe the ranking of evaluation results, deviation scores, and other data about all respondents.
In addition, METI will request that enterprises applying for the Bright 500 Program disclose their feedback sheets on their websites as a requirement for them to be recognized as the Bright 500 or the Next Bright 1000, aiming to further expand the base on which SMEs will promote KENKO Investment for Health and to encourage enterprises that have already been engaging in such management approaches to fortify their efforts.

4. Selection of KENKO Investment for Health

METI and the TSE will jointly select exceptional TSE-listed enterprises engaging in KENKO Investment for Health and present such enterprises to investors as attractive investment options. These enterprises are evaluated based on their responses to the 2025 Survey on KENKO Investment for Health.

• Reference: KENKO Investment for Health (in Japanese)

5. Future schedule

Response period for the 2025 Survey on KENKO Investment for Health

From Monday, August 18, to 5:00 p.m., Friday, October 10, 2025

Application period for the 2026 Outstanding Organizations of KENKO Investment for Health Program (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Category)

From Monday, August 18, to 5:00 p.m., Friday, October 17, 2025

Announcement of selected and recognized enterprises

Scheduled to be around March 2026

Division in Charge

Healthcare Industries Division, Commerce and Service Industry Policy Group

Note: The term “KENKO Investment for Health” is a registered trademark of the Nonprofit Organization Kenkokeiei.