Sustainability
Since its founding, Kodansha has been discovering and nurturing diverse talents, proudly introducing them to the world. We believe that our sustainability hinges on consistently meeting the expectations of our readers and users through our publishing. To this end, Kodansha has identified four key ‘Materiality’ issues to be prioritized.
Identification Process
Step 1Identifying Issues
- Identifying issues based on international guidelines and survey criteria used by ESG assessment organizations.
- Conducting an internal survey to identify our ongoing SDGs initiatives.
- Conducting interviews with management.
- Conducting surveys on the expectations of stakeholders (authors, business partners, etc.).
Step 2Analyzing Issues Using a Materiality Map
- Rating the importance based on two axes: Stakeholder expectations (vertical axis) and significance to our business (horizontal axis) using a materiality map.
- Discussing with external experts to validate the appropriateness of the assessment results.
Step 3Approval by the Board of Directors
- The materiality is approved by the Board of Directors after management's review of the analysis results.
Our Materiality
1Bring great stories to the world
‘Inspire Impossible Stories’ This is our purpose. Great stories empower people, eliminate conflicts, and bring hope. We aim to share such narratives not only to Japanese readers but also to readers worldwide. That is our great ambition.
Initiatives for SDGs
2Be the steward of freedom and diversity
Creating wonderful works requires freedom for creative expression. The ability to inspire people stems from diverse values and diverse human resources. Upholding these values is vital to creative inspiration, as we seek to spread their influence globally.
Initiatives for SDGs
3Build the path to sustainability together
In our efforts to respond to challenges like climate change and decarbonization, we are collaborating with various partner companies, extending beyond the publishing industry.
Initiatives for SDGs
4Stand side by side with local communities
Kodansha has been committed to nurturing harmony with local communities and preserving cultural heritage. We will further accelerate our contributions to these communities.
Initiatives for SDGs
Kodansha, Sustainable Actions
We engage in a wide variety of social benefit projects both locally and around the world. Most recently, we’ve promoted reading among children across Japan and launched an employment support program abroad.
1．SDG Media Compact
In 2020, Kodansha became a member of the United Nations SDG Media Compact, which seeks to inspire news and entertainment organizations to leverage their resources and talent to amplify and accelerate progress towards achieving the goals.
2．The Promotion of Reading
“The National Storytelling Troupe project” has been touring all 47 prefectures in Japan with two trucks carrying more than 550 picture books each. They have visited kindergartens, nursery schools, elementary schools, libraries, and bookstores where children can read picture books, listen to them being read, or watch kamishibai storytelling sessions with picture cards.
3．The Noma Cultural Foundation Scholarship Programs
The Noma Cultural Foundation was established at the wishes of Kodansha’s first president, Seiji Noma. With the goal of contributing to public good and cultural development, the foundation provides scholarships for graduate students in Japan to support their research efforts, regardless of the field in which they study.
4．Overseas Employment Support
Kodansha’s Official Global Partner, the Liverpool Football Club’s Liverpool FC Foundation and Liverpool John Moores University, have joined Kodansha in implementing "Creative Works," a program that provides students in and around Liverpool with stronger employment opportunities.
The program supports and mentors participants’ creative skill-building, CV and interview techniques, public speaking and confidence building, as well as workplace expectations to prepare them to achieve their goals. Participants are also given the opportunity to gain work experience in collaboration with seven creative institutions and organizations across Liverpool, including a wide range of theaters and media outlets.
5．Awards
The following awards are awarded by Kodansha to parties and individuals who have been recognized for making notable contributions to publishing culture.
- The Noma Prize for Literature
- The Noma Literary Prize for New Writers
- The Noma Literary Prize for Children’s Literature
- The Noma Publishing Cultural Prize
- The Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for Literature
- The Yoshikawa Eiji Bunko Prize
- The Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for New Writers
- The Yoshikawa Eiji Cultural Prize
- The Kodansha Manga Awards
- The Kodansha Honda Yasuharu Non-Fiction Award
- The Kodansha Science Publication Award
- The Kodansha Picture Book Award
- The Noma Award for the Translation of Japanese Literature
- The Edogawa Rampo Award
- The Kodansha Media Award
In addition, the Japan Council for the Promotion of Book Reading – a public interest incorporated association that Kodansha’s former president, Shoichi Noma, donated to at the time of its founding – has awarded the Noma Cultural Foundation Scholarship to groups and individuals who have contributed to the causes of literacy and book culture in their communities and workplaces since 1971.
6．Environmentally Friendly Transportation of Goods and Disposal of Excess Products
Kodansha has designed a system to ensure the lowest impact on the environment possible while transporting products. Low-polluting vehicles that comply with exhaust regulations, as well as hybrid vehicles, are used during transport. Kodansha is also working to reduce the number of units in operation by conducting joint deliveries with affiliates and business partners. Furthermore, Kodansha aims to increase the ratio of recyclable items used when creating products and minimize the amount of industrial waste when disposing of excess products.
Content Projects
Kodansha works to promote the understanding of SDGs through its wide variety of content.
1. Co-create with art agencies, starting with welfare
As part of Kodansha’s initiatives to protect and spread free and diverse values, we collaborated with HERALBONY Co., Ltd., developing a licensing business that manages art data copyrights for artists with intellectual disabilities. The stories of these unique artists are presented to the world in the form of the “K” symbol decorated in our ten corporate colors.
2. FRaU
This women’s magazine has been recognized as a leading force in the industry for its dedication to spreading awareness of SDGs. The FRaU × SDGs Project encourages people to be proactive in helping achieve these goals.
3. The "Mottainai Grandma" Series
This picture book series teaches readers to live a non-wasteful lifestyle. Supported by the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW, a non-governmental organization for the elimination of plastic waste), this joint project with the Ministry of the Environment of Japan has created a "Mottainai Grandma" animation series that has been translated into six different languages (Japanese, English, French, Spanish, Chinese and Hindi).
Additionally, in India, a reading truck travels across the country to read "Mottainai Grandma" to children. The picture book has been translated into many different languages and is being read to children around the world as an "SDGs Picture Book."
4. The "Story-Telling SDGs" Series
A series of 10 books that can be used as introductory learning materials for children regarding SDGs. The details and significance of SDGs can be conveyed through this easy-to-understand set of children’s stories.
5. Kodansha SDGs
Kodansha SDGs is SDG information media for businesses. It promotes corporate sustainability in many ways, such as by introducing various examples of corporate SDG initiatives, explaining relevant keywords, and providing articles written by experts.
