Written by Makiko Hashizume from The Japan Research Institute
On March 14, 2025, the dialogue-based event “B Academics Japan Chapter – Advancing the B Corp Movement Through Academia”, co-hosted by The Japan Research Institute, Limited (JRI) and B Market Builder Japan (BMBJ), was held at the Social Value Creation Studio in Marunouchi, Tokyo. Timed to coincide with B Corp Month(*), this hybrid-format event welcomed approximately 30 participants—including educators, researchers, business professionals, and representatives of B Corps—from across Japan and overseas. The event served as a valuable opportunity for participants to share their initiatives and explore future collaboration, marking a new step in the expansion of the B Corp movement in Japan.
A Day for Deepening the Connection Between B Corps and Education/Research
As of March 2025, the number of certified B Corps in Japan has exceeded 55, with increasing recognition among businesses, local governments, and individuals. In this context, B Corp-related content is gradually gaining traction in academic settings, encouraging students and professionals to engage in conversations about what it means to be a “good company.”
Since 2023, JRI has maintained an MOU with B Academics, the U.S.-based nonprofit organization that promotes research and education around B Corps. Together with Waseda Business School, JRI developed case studies used in short courses held in February and October of 2024. Building on these experiences, this event was designed as a new step toward embedding B Corp principles more deeply in society through education, research, and practice.
Event Program Overview
- Opening Remarks
- Main Sessions – B Corps in Education and Research
- Session 1: JRI’s approach to B Academics
- Session 2: Sharing of Experiences
- World Café – Dialogues that Foster Learning and Connection
- Discussion 1: Approaches and Challenges in Teaching and Researching B Corps
- Discussion 2: How to Leverage the Japan Chapter Network
- Closing Remarks
Opening: The Beginning of a Collaborative Learning Space
The event began with opening remarks from Ms. Hashizume, JRI and B Corp consultant Ms. Oka, followed by brief participant introductions. The in-person venue quickly filled with vibrant discussion and a friendly atmosphere, while the online participants exchanged supportive comments and reflections, creating a true sense of shared purpose and mutual learning.
Participants came from diverse backgrounds, including university and high school faculty, graduate students, HR professionals, B Corps, and public sector representatives. United by a shared desire to “expand the B Corp movement through education and research,” they embarked on a day of meaningful dialogue.
Session 1: JRI and B Academics
JRI shared its experiences working with B Academics since 2023, including collaborative discussions with professors in the U.S. and the development of projects with Waseda Business School. The session highlighted the importance of academic networks in advancing the B Corp movement globally.
Session 2: Sharing of Experiences
The core of the event featured six speakers from academia and business, who presented real-world examples of how they are incorporating B Corps into their teaching and research.
- Associate Professor Kanetaka Maki from Waseda Business School shared his experience co-developing educational programs with JRI and collaborating with B Academics and local B Corp communities (B Local).
- Professor Masaatsu Doi from Hosei University presented his efforts to engage undergraduate students with B Corps through direct collaboration with certified companies.
- Professor Emeritus Kanichiro Suzuki of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), and advisor to B Corp EcoRing, discussed his research on ESG management and the business impacts of B Corp certification.
- Ms. Yukiko Kuroda, founder of B Corp People Focus Consulting, shared her experience incorporating B Corp principles into a graduate-level course at Tama University titled “What Makes a Good Company in the 21st Century.”
- Ms. Nozomi Torii, co-representative of BMBJ and CEO of B Corp VALUE BOOKS, spoke about her work with educational institutions and university students, raising the question: “Can the B Corp standards empower students to lead better lives?”
The session emphasized that the act of engaging with B Corps—whether through education, research, or business involvement—can become a powerful educational tool in itself. Many attendees resonated deeply with this idea, nodding as they considered how such learning might influence the next generation.
World Café – Building Learning and Connection Through Dialogue
In the second half of the event, a World Café-style dialogue session invited participants to join free-flowing discussions around two key questions:
- What are the creative strategies, challenges, and lessons learned in teaching or researching B Corps?
- How can we effectively leverage the B Academics Japan Chapter network moving forward?
Across both in-person tables and online breakout rooms, participants actively exchanged ideas, shared challenges and successes, and imagined new possibilities. Educators expressed how the session gave them clearer ideas for applying B Corp principles in their own classrooms. Business professionals spoke of the potential to incorporate these ideas into internal talent development. The conversations were filled with energy and direction, transforming ideas into potential next steps.
Note:
(*) B Corp Month is a global campaign that brings together B-Corp certified companies and those interested in B Corp certification to share how they can work together to drive better business. It is held all over the world in March every year, and seminars and events are held in various places.
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