The number of B Corp-certified companies headquartered in Japan reached 100 as of July 2026. This special report looks back at the movement's 10-year history and reports on the start of the new criteria's application.
The B Corp movement in Japan marks its 10th anniversary since its launch in 2016, with the number of certified companies headquartered in Japan reaching 100 at this milestone. The pace of growth has accelerated, and a special-edition annual report was released to mark the occasion. The report suggests that the B Corp community in Japan is expanding. As a result, greater attention will be paid to Japanese companies' efforts in social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.
B Lab transitioned to a new structure in 2024, published new certification criteria in 2025 and began applying them in 2026. The new criteria shift from a system centered on an overall score to one requiring companies to meet minimum requirements in each of seven areas. Examples relating to “Policy Affairs & Collective Action” were also introduced as examples of initiatives in Japan.
As of July 2026, B Corp-certified companies in Japan had expanded to 22 prefectures and 46 industries. Since the transition to the new structure in 2024, the number of certified companies has approximately doubled, rising from 50 in 2024 to 105 at the end of July 2026.