We are pleased to announce that Akio Nishida, Chairman and Representative Director of Goldwin Inc. (Headquarters: Minato City, Tokyo), has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosetta at the autumn 2024 conferment.
The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette is awarded to a person who has achieved a remarkable contribution to the nation and/or the public. In the case of a corporate manager, the award is given to the chief executive of a company that has made great contributions to the development of the economy and society. This award represents the recognition of not only Mr. Nishida’s positive impacts on society through manufacturing and sales of sports apparel as our core business but also his contributions to the industry as an executive member of the Association of Japan Sporting Goods Industries (JASPO), as well as achievements in the growth of the regional economy and society of the Hokuriku District.
Mr. Nishida assumed office as the president and representative director of Goldwin Inc. in June 2000. Under the management guideline of “Strong, Fast and Transparent Management,” he strived to strengthen and reform the company’s management practices. In the same year, he opened a directly managed store specializing in the company’s outdoor brand THE NORTH FACE in Harajuku, Tokyo, propelling the growth of self-management stores.
Deploying directly managed stores facilitated understanding customer needs and consumption trends, and enabled us to establish a demand-based business model with thorough and effective inventory control throughout the entire process from production planning to sales.
In November 2017, Mr. Nishida opened the research and development base, the Goldwin Tech Lab, at our headquarters in Oyabe City, Toyama Prefecture. Based on his medium- to long-term business strategy to manufacture products focusing on creativity and originality, this facility employs digital design using 3D scanners and motion capture data as well as the experience and ideas of expert engineers, which led to the development of jerseys for the Japan National Rugby Team, among a number of other achievements.
Mr. Nishida has furthermore contributed to the growth of the regional economy and society of the Hokuriku District through his capacity as the president of the Toyama Textile & Fashion Association. The association has participated in the JFW Japan Creation, a comprehensive textile trade fair, every year since November 2012, in an effort to accelerate the development of products and technologies of textile companies in the prefecture and to develop new markets for the Toyama textile industry. Mr. Nishida also serves as the chairman of the Prince Tomohito Memorial Cup: Hokuriku Welfare Golf Tournament, where he has worked hard to support the welfare of people with disabilities in the district.
Mr. Nishida also serves as the president of the Goldwin Nishida Tosaku Sports Promotion Memorial Foundation and the Goldwin Nishida Education Foundation. Through these organizations, he supports businesses involved in sports promotion and contributes to the realization of a cohesive society where everyone can enjoy sports equally; and provides scholarships for students studying in the sports-related fields that assist athletes and/or in the apparel/fashion-related fields as well as those who are from Toyama, where our company was founded.
The award ceremony is scheduled to be held on November 26.
Comment from Mr. Nishida:
I am deeply honored and humbled to have been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette. Since assuming my position at Goldwin, I have been striving to pursue our founders’ will to move our company forward with tireless efforts and determination to contribute to society through sports, and to move forward with the passion with which our company was founded.
I’m determined to continue devoting myself to passing on to the next generations our founding spirit and corporate culture, where we aim to enrich people’s lives through sports in a way that is appropriate to the times. This award is the fruit of the support provided by all those who have walked this path with me, including our customers, business associates, and executives and employees. I would like to once again express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has given me guidance and support over many years.
About Mr. Nishida:
Born on November 6, 1953 in Oyabe City, Toyama Prefecture, Japan
1977 Joined Goldwin Inc.
1989 Appointed as a director
1992 Appointed as a managing director
1997 Appointed as a senior managing director
2000 Appointed as the president and representative director
2020 Appointed as the chairman and representative director
Public Service
Vice President, Association of Japan Sporting Goods Industries (General Incorporated Association)
President, Toyama Textile & Fashion Association (General Incorporated Association)
Chief of Toyama Prefecture Branch, Japan Textile Federation
President, Goldwin Nishida Tosaku Sports Promotion Memorial Foundation (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)
President, Goldwing Nishida Education Foundation (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)