At Daiko Nexta, we have been promoting a ‘Health and Productivity Management Project’ since 2021, aiming for a workplace where every employee can work in good physical and mental health. We have implemented various initiatives, including subsidies for health checkups and various tests, radio calisthenics, walking events, and smoking cessation support.
As a result, in March 2026, we were selected for the ‘Bright 500,’ an honor given only to the top 500 corporations out of the 23,085 certified as ‘Certified Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organizations 2026 (Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Category).’
In this article, we interviewed Ms. Yokoo, who is in charge of the Health and Productivity Management Project, and Mr. Machida, the executive in charge, to hear about the journey to ‘Bright 500’ certification and the future vision for our health and productivity management.
[Profile]
Yuki Yokoo, Chief, Management Section, Management Department, Management Headquarters
Joined the company in 2014. While in charge of HR and labor affairs, she has been involved in the launch and operation of the Health and Productivity Management Project since 2021.
Moriyasu Machida, Managing Director and General Manager of Management Headquarters
Joined the company in 2001. Involved in the Health and Productivity Management Project as the executive in charge, supporting employee-led initiatives.
Previous efforts bear fruit, achieving ‘Bright 500’ certification beyond our goals
—Congratulations on your ‘Bright 500’ certification! Could you share your honest thoughts on receiving this recognition?
Machida:
Thank you for your kind words!I am genuinely happy to have been certified as a ‘Bright 500’ company, and at the same time, to be honest, I was a little surprised.
The reason is that we were not aiming for ‘Bright 500’ from the beginning. We had been working toward the goal of being certified as a ‘Next Bright 1000’ company, which is given to corporations ranked 501st to 1500th, so when I heard that we had been selected for the even higher ‘Bright 500,’ I felt a mix of surprise and joy.
Yokoo:
I also remember being a little surprised when the results were announced this March and I received the notification, thinking, ‘I can’t believe we were certified as Bright 500!’ However, I was genuinely happy that our activities to date were evaluated in this way.
—In applying for this year’s Certified Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organizations 2026 (Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Category), were there any areas you strengthened compared to last year?
Yokoo:
To accelerate the promotion of health and productivity management, we have been advancing our initiatives while incorporating external opinions, such as receiving guidance and cooperation from the health insurance association.
Also, I myself, as the person leading the health and productivity management efforts, have taken on new challenges, such as obtaining qualifications as a Type 1 Health Officer and a Health and Productivity Management Advisor.
Looking at the feedback for this year’s ‘Bright 500,’ it seems our company’s activities were highly evaluated in areas such as ‘grasping the company’s health culture, information dissemination, involvement of management and executives, penetration into the organization, and PDCA.’
Furthermore, we re-examined the application content one by one, and performed an inventory check to see if our internal initiatives met the requirements and if we had missed any existing initiatives in our application.
Machida:
Previously, Yokoo was in charge of the application process alone, and I think there were times when she was unsure whether something could be called a health and productivity management initiative, or when it was difficult to answer with confidence on her own.
So this time, we changed to a system where a subcommittee consisting of three members, including Yokoo and myself, scrutinized the application content. By bringing together the perspectives and opinions of the three of us, we were able to notice requirements we had already met, and I believe we were able to submit an application that led to our certification.
Providing small triggers to lead to the health of employees 10 or 20 years from now
—Once again, what kind of initiatives has Daiko Nexta implemented in terms of health and productivity management so far?
Yokoo:
Daiko Nexta’s Health and Productivity Management Project was launched in 2021. Currently, six members selected from each department serve as project members, and we are carrying out promotional activities from three perspectives: ‘promotion of work-style reform,’ ‘prevention of lifestyle-related diseases,’ and ‘activation of communication.’
Specifically, we provide financial support for health checkups, optional screenings, and follow-up examinations, as well as subsidies for gym memberships and on-site physical fitness testing sessions. Furthermore, to foster daily exercise habits, we continue to hold radio calisthenics every morning at 9:00 AM and a monthly walking event; the walking event will reach its 38th iteration in September 2026!
We are also working on smoking cessation awareness and support, and as a result of installing smoking booths to separate smoking areas, we have received feedback from employees saying that they are less bothered by smoke than before.
Machida:
Walking events, radio calisthenics, and smoking cessation awareness do not produce immediate results just by implementing them. However, I believe it is important that by continuing these efforts, employees’ awareness and habits will gradually change.
▼ Please see our past articles for the background on the launch of our health and productivity management project and details on our initiatives to date.
— Daiko Nexta has been promoting its health and productivity management project for about five years now; could you tell us about any new initiatives you have started recently?
Yokoo:
Starting in fiscal year 2026, we have begun new heatstroke prevention measures.From around July, when the heat became severe, we implemented an initiative to deliver one case (24 bottles) of bottled beverages to the homes of employees working in the field or on-site once a month. For the bottled beverages, we allowed them to choose their preference from water, barley tea, or sports drinks.
In addition, we send out the day’s heat stress index (WBGT) and other information via email every morning at 9:00 AM to raise awareness and help prevent heatstroke.
— So, initiatives to help employees continue working healthily are still ongoing.
Yokoo:
Yes. Health and productivity management does not show results immediately, and no matter how good something is for your health, it is difficult to suddenly change long-standing habits.
Therefore, I believe there is value in having moments where employees are conscious of their health through opportunities to exercise, such as radio calisthenics, and through daily information dissemination.
When thinking about 10 or 20 years from now, I want to increase the number of things we can do without strain to help our employees stay healthy for as long as possible.
Not for certification, but ‘for the employees.’ We want to continue Daiko Nexta’s unique style of health and productivity management.
— Have there been any reactions from inside or outside the company since being certified as a ‘Bright 500’ company?
Machida:
There has been a lot of reaction from outside the company, and we were even featured in the real estate industry trade journal ‘Monthly Real Estate Distribution’.We are receiving more opportunities to be interviewed about our health and productivity management, and I believe that the ‘Bright 500’ certification will allow us to further strengthen our external communications.
I believe that utilizing the strengths of our public relations and marketing departments to disseminate information through magazines, institutional journals, and press releases is one effective method.
Yokoo:
While we have received feedback from outside the company, there are still challenges in communicating these efforts internally.
Since health and productivity management is a long-term endeavor, some employees may wonder if it truly leads to better health, or they may not even be aware of the initiatives themselves. That is precisely why I feel we need to communicate more effectively within the company, including the reasons why we are undertaking these activities.
–Could you tell us about the future vision Daiko Nexta has for its health and productivity management?
Yokoo:
Beyond protecting the health of our employees, we want to continue high-quality initiatives that will be recognized both inside and outside the company.
The number of companies focusing on health and productivity management is expected to continue growing. Consequently, the number of applications for the Certified Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organizations Recognition Program (SME category) should also increase. To ensure our activities do not get lost in such a landscape, I believe it is important to first continue doing what we can without overextending ourselves.
Machida:
While the ‘Bright 500’ certification was very happy news, I want to avoid a situation where we do things just to get certified. This is because if the certification itself becomes the goal, we might lose sight of the initiatives that are truly useful for employee health.
I believe it is important to listen carefully to the voices of our employees and, by gradually increasing our initiatives and improving their quality, pursue a form of health and productivity management that feels ‘just right’ for everyone.
Currently, Daiko Nexta has been certified as a Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organization for five consecutive years. Under our health and productivity management declaration, ‘We will promote mental and physical health so that each employee can demonstrate their individuality and creativity, and we will create a safe and rewarding workplace environment,’ we intend to continue practicing health and productivity management that is uniquely Daiko Nexta.
–Thank you for sharing your story with us today. Once again, congratulations on your ‘Bright 500’ certification!
(Interview, text, and photography by Komachi; Editing and photography by Shibuya)
