Back to Country Select

Welcome to the InsuranceAsia News Country Awards for Excellence 2026

Submissions are now open for the 2026 Japan Awards for Excellence. Entering its second year, the awards welcome entries from all insurers, brokers, and service providers—both domestic and international—active in the Japan market.

Dedicated to honoring excellence, these awards celebrate the pinnacle of achievement within the industry. They distinguish leading companies and individuals for their innovative contributions, pioneering vision, and commitment to advancing the insurance ecosystem. Present your achievements for recognition among the industry’s best.

We cordially invite qualified entities to submit their entries and join us in setting the benchmark for industry distinction.

 

Timeline for the awards

Feb 23 Entries Open
May 22 Entries Close
July 17 Winners Announced

For any enquiries regarding the awards process, please contact Rean Pollentine: [email protected]. 

 

APPLY NOW FAQ

Award categories

 

  • Best Life Insurer

    The award recognises firms that have stood out with their new initiatives and products and demonstrated excellence in supporting customers and distribution partners.

  • Best Health Insurer

    For companies demonstrating market leadership, excelling in product design, distribution, and customer and employee development.

  • Best General Insurer

    The award will recognise insurers that have shown outstanding growth and innovation, supported businesses, launched new products and business lines, and delivered on claims management.

  • Best Digital Insurer

    The winner, a full-stack P&C or life insurer, should have excelled at a digital journey for its customers whether it be through distribution or claims.

  • Best Employee Benefits Provider

    The award is for an insurer that has raised the bar with its innovative and market-leading employee benefits products that have found favour with its clients and their employees.

  • Best Broker

    The award recognises an outstanding insurance or reinsurance broker that has pushed the envelope in its commitment to clients, providing exemplary service and driving growth.

  • Best Bancassurance Partnership

    Recognising an insurer that has excelled at building bancassurance partnerships, the award will go to insurers that have demonstrated strong distribution growth and innovation as well as enduring partnerships.

  • Excellence in Digital Transformation

    The award will recognise market disruptors that applied technology and innovation to revolutionise the insurance market.

  • Exceptional ESG Leader

    The award recognises companies that have demonstrated a commitment to environment, sustainability and governance, and have embraced ESG principles in their daily operations bringing a perceptible difference.

  • Most Impactful ESG Initiative

    This award recognises a notable programme or initiative adopted by an insurer relating to environmental, social and governance (ESG) or sustainability that has made a demonstrable difference and has improved outcomes.

  • Most Impactful CSR Initiative

    Recognising a company that has shown a strong commitment to corporate responsibility practices and has embraced programmes that make a positive societal change.

  • Most Innovative Product

    The award will go to an insurer that has successfully launched a new product or service that is groundbreaking or unprecedented in the operating market.

  • Most Disruptive Insurtech

    The award goes to a technology provider that has revolutionised the insurance landscape with digital solutions along the insurance value chain.

  • Most Creative Marketing Campaign

    The winner would be insurers that have made a mark with their trendsetting in marketing campaigns and driving business growth.

  • Outstanding Claims Management

    Recognising insurers that have consistently provided superior claims service to customers through swift resolution and use of technology and innovative solutions.

  • Outstanding Customer Service

    Recognising insurers providing exemplary customer service and demonstrated excellence in driving customer satisfaction through new technology, new practices or new channels that have made a positive difference to the company.

  • Outstanding CEO

    The winner will be a CEO at an insurer who has shown excellence in managing teams, driving change, rising to meet unprecedented challenges and steering business growth.

Methodology

The award winners will be decided by the judges based on the submissions received, combined with thorough research, market knowledge and analysis. For categories where no submissions were received, the judges will examine market data and developments, in addition to regulatory filings, to decide the winners.

Each submission will be measured against objective evaluation criteria relevant to each of the categories. The entries will be evaluated based on a five-point scale that will assess the submission on the basis of:

  • Business performance
  • Measurable achievements
  • Innovation
  • Market impact
  • Strategic significance

The submissions will also be cross-referenced with relevant rating reports, regulatory filings, financial data as well as IAN’s proprietary research.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Companies in the insurance industry with operations in Hong Kong and their teams are eligible to enter the awards.

 

The are no fees or charges to enter the awards.

To submit your entry, please click on the Application link on the award homepage above and fill out the online submission form. Please provide as much information as possible. If you need to enter multiple categories, you can submit multiple forms.

 

Your firm can enter for as many awards as you like, but please ensure that each entry addresses the information requirements for the specific category.

 

We want to hear about your business successes, investment in talent, innovation, digital capabilities, client support, ESG and about going above and beyond the call of duty. Please refer to the questions in the entry forms for specific requirements. The judges will also use their own market knowledge when deciding winners.