FOOT HEALTH AWARDS 2026 Concludes with Great Success, Creating the Future of Foot Culture Beyond Medical Boundaries

"Supporting Life from the Feet" was the theme for the "FOOT HEALTH AWARDS 2026," a new type of award ceremony that fuses medicine and entertainment. Held on May 31, 2026, at the Honda Theatre (Setagaya Ward, Tokyo), the event concluded with great success, with all 350 seats fully occupied.

This award is a joint project planned and operated by Shimokitazawa Hospital and SOL & Co. Inc. It is a novel award that judges and honors excellent products and activities in the fields of beauty/health, sports, and initiatives through a unique format of "presentation drama."

Three Finalists Determined After Preliminary Judging by Approximately 100 People

Following a preliminary screening process involving approximately 100 individuals, the following finalists were selected from each category:

[Beauty and Health Category] Wacoal Co., Ltd. Wing Brand "Slim Up Pants"

[Initiatives Category] Hakone Run Fest Executive Committee "Hakone Run Fest"

[Sports Category] ORPHE Co., Ltd. "ORPHE INSOLE"

The final presentations by the finalists were not mere product introductions or activity reports but were staged as theatrical works. Scriptwriters depicted the challenges, trials, and societal significance faced by the people involved in development, based on actual episodes, aiming to convey the medical expertise and background of the initiatives more clearly to a wider audience.

Mr. Koichi Yajima, a playwright and director, served as the overall producer for the stage, pursuing a high level of entertainment value. This award was unprecedented, challenging the creation of new value through the fusion of medicine and entertainment.

Stage Content and Innovative Judging Method Moved the Audience's Hearts

Presentation in the [Beauty and Health Category] / Wacoal Co., Ltd. Wing Brand "Slim Up Pants" Presentation in the [Initiatives Category] / Hakone Run Fest Executive Committee "Hakone Run Fest" Presentation in the [Sports Category] / ORPHE Co., Ltd. "ORPHE INSOLE"

On the day of the event, representatives from each finalist company also watched the presentation dramas, which were premiered on the grand stage of the Honda Theatre. Attendees in the venue were seen nodding enthusiastically or with tears of emotion, as the entire audience was drawn into the world of the stage. In addition to the development stories and backgrounds that consumers rarely get to know, medical perspectives were also introduced, making it a time filled with learning and emotion that went beyond simple product or activity introductions.

This award was conducted as a participatory event where all attendees served as judges. After viewing all performances, the audience voted for the stage that moved them the most, along with its product or activity. The results were then combined with the evaluations from special judges, including Keiko Takeshita, Ikue Sakakibara, Dai Tamesue, and Takashi Fukunishi, as well as judges from Shimokitazawa Hospital, to determine the Grand Prize.

Grand Prize Awarded to ORPHE Co., Ltd.'s "ORPHE INSOLE"

Actress Keiko Takeshita, a special judge, presented the trophy to ORPHE Co., Ltd. for their "ORPHE INSOLE," the Grand Prize winner.

The prestigious Grand Prize was awarded to "ORPHE INSOLE" from the Sports Category, entered by ORPHE Co., Ltd.

"ORPHE INSOLE" is a smart insole with built-in sensors that visualizes foot movement and pressure distribution on the sole simply by replacing the shoe's insole, enabling analysis of walking and exercise form. Its high future potential and social value in the medical, sports, and healthcare fields were recognized, leading to this award.

Precious Talk Show by Doctors and Special Judges

~ "Supporting the Future of Children, Sports, and Women from the Feet" Held ~

(From left) Dr. Katsuya Kudou, Director of Shimokitazawa Hospital; Takashi Fukunishi, former Japan national football team player and special judge; Ikue Sakakibara, talent and actress; and Dai Tamesue, Professor at the Center for Research into Works of Art, The University of Tokyo, and Professor at the Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo.

During the awards ceremony, a "Precious Talk Show" was held on the theme of "Supporting the Future of Children, Sports, and Women from the Feet."

The panelists shared their insights from their respective fields, as well as personal experiences in work, sports, and parenting, discussing foot development and problems at various life stages of children and their prevention and treatment.

The session provided a multi-faceted perspective from medicine, education, sports, and home life, considering the impact of foot health on life, offering attendees a valuable opportunity for new insights and learning.

The Future Aimed for by "FOOT HEALTH AWARDS"

With the advent of the "100-year lifespan" era, the importance of "walking correctly with correct posture" is increasing more than ever.

The FOOT HEALTH AWARDS was established with the aim of shedding light on products, services, and activities that support people's health and fulfilling lives from their feet, and delivering their value to society. It aims to go beyond the boundaries of medicine and spread foot health as an everyday culture.

Starting in 2026, the event base will move to Shimokitazawa, marking a new beginning as a "Mecca for Feet." Set in this town where theatrical culture thrives, it will create new experiences by fusing "feet x theater x town," connecting interest and understanding of foot health to the next generation.

The "FOOT HEALTH AWARDS" will continue to nurture a new foot culture that leads to people's health and prosperous futures, by highlighting excellent products, services, and activities that support life from the feet.