At the beginning of the awards ceremony, Tokyo Governor KOIKE Yuriko delivers an address
At the outset, Governor KOIKE stated in her greeting, “Technologies, such as AI, blockchain, and big data analytics, are evolving at an astonishing speed, bringing about new ways of thinking.” She further noted, “The power of finance will become increasingly significant. I believe that combining new technologies with the power of finance will turn the incoming great wave of change into an opportunity and help resolve social issues,” expressing her expectations for the creation of social value through the fusion of technology and finance.
Professor MIWA Yumiko (left), recipient of the Judges’ Special Award, and YAMAOKA Hiromi, Chair of the Judging Committee (right)
Comment from YAMAOKA, Chair of the Judging Committee
“Sustainability means that it is not only for the present; if something cannot continue across generations for decades to come, it is not truly sustainable. For that reason, human resource development is essential, although the outcomes for such efforts are often not immediately visible. Their sincere commitment in this area was highly evaluated. In particular, the MIWA Seminar was recognized for its continued efforts to educate current students, who will be the individuals shaping society in the future.”
Evaluation points for seminar activities
・Under the theme “compassionate finance,” the seminar has developed human resources who can contribute sustainably to society.
・Conducting activities in which students study global social issues through field training in countries such as Indonesia and consider the roles that finance can play in addressing the issues.
・Engaging activities that involve evaluating corporate integrated reports from a student’s perspective.
・Participating in various sustainability-promotion initiatives led by institutional investors.
・The efforts made by current students in seminar recruitment activities, such as enhancing explanations of sustainable finance, which have contributed to successful outcomes.
Second-year seminar leader ITO Eisuke gives a presentation at the awards ceremony.
Comment from second-year seminar leader ITO Eisuke
“One and a half years ago, I simply wanted to join the MIWA Seminar. With only that desire in mind, I had not yet thought about the seminar’s future activities. Even after becoming the seminar leader, I was fully occupied with our day-to-day responsibilities. Still, to help everyone deepen their understanding of finance, I introduced several initiatives, such as sharing weekly financial news during seminar sessions. During the seminar recruitment period, I hoped that many first-year students would develop an interest in the finance field. To achieve this, I conducted five guidance sessions and actively posted about topics like ESG investing and integrated reports on Instagram. As a result, 68 first-year students applied, which made me truly happy. I believe that this Tokyo Financial Award recognized the efforts of our student-led initiatives. However, it is not only the work of our generation, but also thanks to the dedication of those who came before us. With sincere gratitude to our previous seniors and Professor MIWA, I will continue to do my best moving forward.
Comment from Professor MIWA Yumiko
“I believe this award is, above all, the result of the efforts of the generations of seminar students who have walked this path together over the past 20 years. From the first cohort to the present, I can clearly picture each individual’s face, and I am deeply grateful for all the opportunities I have had to visit various companies to date thanks to them. What I advocate as ‘compassionate finance’ is not merely pursuing numbers. Precisely because modern financial economics has expanded to the point where the faces of payers and recipients are no longer visible, it is essential to consider the people and society behind the numbers. In other words, it refers to a form of finance in which counterparties are visible, one that does not become overwhelmed by efficiency and profitability alone. In my teaching, I have focused on how to cultivate the perspective of considering the other party, a viewpoint that tends to be lost as finance grows more complex, within the practice of sustainable finance. In the seminar, we place great emphasis on hands-on learning, such as field training on environmental issues in Indonesia and providing student feedback on companies’ integrated reports, by stepping outside the classroom, confronting challenges on site, and engaging in repeated dialogue. I believe that those gritty experiences are precisely the force that creates a truly sustainable society. I feel that this award serves as the greatest encouragement to students who are determined to pioneer the future of finance.
Group photo from the Tokyo Financial Award 2025 ceremony