Akita Castle Hotel Receives "Future Generations Support Company Award," First for a Company in Akita Prefecture

Akita Castle Hotel (Naka-dori, Akita City, Akita Prefecture, CEO Hiroki Kishimoto) has been honored with the "Future Generations Support Company Award" at the "2026 Future Generations Support Company Awards," a recognition program by the "Governors' Alliance for the Promotion of Future Generations" comprising governors from 24 prefectures nationwide. This award recognizes companies actively engaged in initiatives such as child-rearing support, support for women and youth, and work style reform.

Akita Castle Hotel's unique initiatives were highly praised, including the establishment of a women's project team to actively promote women's advancement and the creation of an internal committee where employees themselves consider how to foster a more comfortable working environment, leading to efforts to promote the use of parental leave.

This marks the first time a company in Akita Prefecture has received this award. An award ceremony was held on July 6, 2026 (Mon), where CEO Hiroki Kishimoto received the certificate of commendation from Ms. Yoko Nakamura, Director of the Akita Prefectural Population Strategy Department.

President's Comment "I believe this is a result of accumulated efforts, not just by the company establishing systems, but by the frontline staff taking the lead through project teams and internal committees. As a company rooted in the region, we will continue to strive to create an environment where future generations can work with peace of mind."

Akita Castle Hotel's Initiatives

Akita Castle Hotel is engaged in "Castle Smile Action," an initiative aimed at creating a workplace environment where each employee can continue to work vibrantly by supporting flexible work styles.

【Example Initiatives】

Women's Project Team "C-WINGS"

This project team is composed solely of women from various departments. Its aim is to improve services through product development, event planning, and information dissemination from a female perspective. Launched in 2014, the team has continued its activities with rotating members. The background to its establishment included a situation where most management positions were held by men at the time of its inception, making it difficult to incorporate women's opinions. By taking charge of everything from planning to execution, the team actively creates opportunities for women's advancement and contributes to their professional development.

● Click here for C-WINGS' past activities (https://prtimes.jp/story/detail/x080eEUXEax)

(C-WINGS members gathered from each department / as of July 2026)

(Over 40 products and projects produced by C-WINGS in the past 10 years)

Internal Committee "ES-Labo"

This internal committee works to improve employee satisfaction with the goal of creating a comfortable work environment. It is composed of men and women aged 20s to 50s from various departments, leveraging opinions from different standpoints and age groups. One of its past activities is "Talk Cafe," an event where employees exchange opinions on various themes. In April of last year, male employees who had taken parental leave and younger employees planning to take it gathered to frankly discuss their experiences and concerns during parental leave, with male parental leave as the theme. In 2024, our company's male parental leave adoption rate was 100%. Additionally, in April 2026, system revisions were implemented, including an increase in the number of annual paid holidays.

(Scene from a Talk Cafe themed on male parental leave / April 2025) (Scene from a Morning Talk Cafe themed on interaction among young employees / March 2026)

【Awards and Certifications】

・ Akita Prefecture Award for Promoting Women's Advancement (Fiscal Year 2021) ・ Akita City Award for Creating a Vibrant Environment for Children "Special Award" (2022) ・ Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare "Eruboshi Certification" (2-star) (Acquired 2024, Renewed 2026) ・ Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry "Certified Health and Productivity Management Organization (Large Enterprise Category)" (2024, 2025, 2026)

Akita Castle Hotel Co., Ltd.

Opened on July 7, 1970, Akita Castle Hotel is a leading city hotel in Akita with 150 guest rooms, 11 banquet halls of various sizes, and 5 dining and drinking establishments. It also houses a "Medical Mall" area, hotel offices, and tenant shops, serving as a regional activity hub for all occasions. Since 2001, the company has been operating a "Medical Meal Service" that provides meals for hospitals and welfare facilities, leveraging the expertise and hospitality cultivated at the hotel, and continues to support regional food services.

【Company Name (Trade Name)】 Akita Castle Hotel Co., Ltd. 【Hotel Name】 Akita Castle Hotel 【Address】 1-3-5 Naka-dori, Akita City, Akita Prefecture 【Capital】 100 million yen 【Opening Date】 July 7, 1970 【President】 Hiroki Kishimoto 【Number of Employees】 443 (as of April 1, 2026) 【Website】 https://www.castle-hotel.jp/