The Performance Learning Award 2025, organized by Youm Technology Japan Co., Ltd., opened Wednesday at the Hilton Tokyo with an address by Dongshuo Li, founder, CEO and president of UMU. The event showcased case studies from award-winning companies and highlighted the growing influence of artificial intelligence in human resource development.
Judges evaluated submissions from organizations using UMU, an Artificial intelligence powered learning platform designed to boost workplace performance. They said the quality of entries reflected rapid progress in how companies are integrating AI with employee training, underscoring what one judge called a “redefined relationship between humans and AI.”
Ms. Sachiko Nakamura, Izu City CIO Assistant and Regional Information Technology Advisor for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, said a persistent gap between training and workplace execution remains a challenge for many organizations. AI, she said, is helping bridge that divide.
“A common problem in training is that training and actual work are not connected,” Nakamura said. “AI can provide a place for practice — such as role-playing — and give feedback for on-site activities. It makes possible the consolidation of learning that was difficult for people alone.”
The judging panel also included Motohiro Morishima, a professor of business administration at Gakushuin University; Masanori Kanda, CEO of Pablos Co., Ltd.; Yuka Tanimoto, Forbes JAPAN executive officer and web editor-in-chief; and Hiroyuki Nagashima, visiting researcher at Chuo University.
The Performance Learning Award recognizes companies whose learning initiatives directly contribute to corporate performance and management impact. As human capital management becomes increasingly central to corporate strategy, the award emphasizes learning design that drives behavioral change, makes effective use of technology including AI, and showcases innovation that can serve as a model for other organizations.
This year, 16 companies were named finalists following a rigorous first round of judging. Selected companies presented the strategies they used to link learning with organizational growth and improved performance. Organizers said the event offers a rare opportunity to study cutting-edge learning practices that strengthen corporate competitiveness.