Call for Fun 'Jun-katsu' Ideas to Reduce Waste and Promote Resource Circulation! Third Kamakura Circular Award Opens Applications on July 16

Kayac Inc. (Headquarters: Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture; CEO: Daisuke Yanagisawa) announces the opening of applications today, Thursday, July 16, 2026, for the '3rd Kamakura Circular Award,' which it administers.

This award aims to evolve the 'Zero Waste Kamakura' initiative into a 'town of circular practitioners' while promoting the creation of circular economy businesses. It features three categories: Citizen, Startup, and Business. The first edition (2024) received 117 entries across all categories. The second (2025) advanced Kamakura-originated resource circulation culture by setting the citizen category theme as 'door-to-door collection.' For the third edition, the operational scope expands from Kamakura to the entire Miura Peninsula, with significant updates to each category.

The application deadline is August 31, 2026, at 23:59. The second-round judging and award ceremony are scheduled for Saturday, October 3, at Kamakura City Lifelong Learning Center 'Kirara'.

Planning Background: Expanding the Circle of 'Circulators' from Kamakura to the Miura Peninsula through Industry-Academia-Government-Citizen Collaboration

The award is planned and operated by the 'Kamakura Circular Award Executive Committee,' a collaborative body of industry, government, academia, and citizens. It is part of the activities of the 'Co-Creation Hub for a Respect-Based Symbiotic Upcycling Society,' one of the 'Collaborative Space Formation Support Program (COI-NEXT)' initiatives by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), with Keio University as the core hub. Kayac serves as the lead corporate member, and Kamakura City participates as a lead local government, working with regional enterprises and citizen groups on new 'town-making through resource circulation.'

※ A consortium-based program enabling industry-academia collaboration and joint research through participation by diverse institutions such as universities, companies, and local governments.

Unique Features of the 3rd Edition: Expanding the Circle of Circularity Beyond Fields, from 'Jun-katsu' to Business

1. Citizen Category: New Theme 'Jun-katsu,' Expanded Area to the Miura Peninsula

We invite ideas for 'jun-katsu'—circular activities that people can enjoy and naturally sustain, like 'oshi-katsu' (idol support activities) or 'asa-katsu' (morning activities). We aim to eliminate the sense of obligation often associated with 'waste reduction' and 'recycling,' instead seeking engaging mechanisms that people will want to try at home, school, or in their communities. The eligible area expands from the previous Shonan region to include the entire Shonan and Miura Peninsula. Outstanding ideas may be adopted as 'jun-katsu' activities in the 'Kururin Pet' app—a character-raising app used in Kamakura City where characters grow as users reduce waste—allowing Kururin to earn growth items.

2. Startup Category: New 'Regional Collaboration Division' to Solve Local Business Challenges

The eligible area expands from Kamakura to the entire Miura Peninsula, and themes now include not only the circular economy but also 'Nature-Positive' (leveraging rich natural resources) and 'One Health' (protecting people, animals, and the environment as one). Two new application formats are introduced. To support next-generation leaders, special awards for Under 18, Under 25, and Under 35 have been added this year. In addition to cash prizes (Gold: ¥300,000, Silver: ¥50,000, Bronze: ¥30,000), mentoring and consultation/matching for pilot experiments will be provided.

Regional Collaboration Division (Type 1): Applicants tackle real challenges faced by local businesses in the Miura Peninsula, including Kamakura. The goal is to create businesses deeply rooted in the region’s unique characteristics through collaboration with local enterprises (details of partner companies and challenges to be announced at application launch).

Open Application Division (Type 2): Open business plans rooted in the Miura Peninsula, including Kamakura, from unique perspectives.

3. Business Category: Multi-Dimensional Evaluation of Corporate Circularity via the New 'Compass Division'

The certification system for businesses headquartered or having branches in Kamakura City as 'Kamakura Circular Award 2026 Certified Businesses' continues, but the evaluation category for symbiotic and environmental initiatives is renewed as the 'Compass Division.' Based on the 'Sustainability Compass' proposed by Change Agent and incorporating 'Kamakura-ness,' this unique Keio University metric evaluates and certifies businesses across three areas: environment, collaboration, and society.

Zero Waste Division (Type 1): Certification continues for businesses that continuously measure and report waste reduction efforts and outcomes by weight.

Compass Division (Type 2): A new evaluation and certification system using a unique metric that blends initiatives in 'Nature,' 'Economy,' 'Society,' and 'Well-being' with 'Kamakura-ness,' developed in collaboration with Nozomi Oka, a consultant supporting B Corp certification. Businesses are evaluated multi-dimensionally.

Certification is valid for one year from the certification date. Benefits include listing on the official website and brochures, and receiving certificates and stickers.

Comment from Executive Committee Chair: Hiroya Tanaka

Executive Committee Chair: Hiroya Tanaka

Professor, Faculty of Environmental Information, Keio University SFC; Project Leader, COI-NEXT Keio Kamakura Hub

'We are excited to launch the third year of this award. The Kamakura Circular Award is a rare event that simultaneously hosts three categories: Citizen, Startup, and Business. We encourage those with innovative business ideas to apply to the Startup category, families to participate together in the Citizen category, and regular local shops in Kamakura to join the Business category. We look forward to entries and engagements that fully embrace all three categories and make the most of this opportunity.'

3rd Kamakura Circular Award Application Overview

Categories: Citizen / Startup / Business

Application Period: July 16, 2026 (Thu) – August 31, 2026 (Mon) 23:59

For details and applications, visit the official Kamakura Circular Award website (https://award.junkansha.jp/).

Organizational Structure

Organizer: Co-Creation Hub for a Respect-Based Symbiotic Upcycling Society

Executive Committee Chair: Hiroya Tanaka (Professor, Faculty of Environmental Information, Keio University SFC; Project Leader, COI-NEXT Keio Kamakura Hub)

Deputy Executive Committee Chair: Rie Hirano (Gomifes 532 Operations)

Chief Judge: Takashi Matsuo (Mayor of Kamakura City)

Executive Committee:

Kamakura City Department of Symbiotic Co-Creation, Policy Innovation Section

Shingo Zenjiku (President, Kamann Co., Ltd.)

Ryohei Yuasa (Specially Appointed Lecturer, Keio University)

Kohei Fujiwara (Kankei Annaijo Hatsuhinode)

Nanami Kobayashi (Kankei Annaijo Hatsuhinode)

Yoko Kaji (Kayac Inc.)

Secretary General: Yuko Hasegawa (Kayac Inc.)

Secretariat: Kayac Inc.

Media Partners: IDEAS FOR GOOD / Circular Economy Hub

Support: Kanagawa Prefecture

Kayac Inc. Company Overview

Kayac leverages creative thinking, planning, and technical capabilities to deliver new user experiences by combining cutting-edge technology and innovative ideas—from game apps and advertising/website production to community currencies and initiatives promoting relocation and regional engagement. 90% of employees are creators such as designers and programmers.