On January 22, 2015, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and METI Minister Youichi Miyazawa praised the winners of the 1st Nippon Venture Awards hosted by the Venture Business Creation Council at an awards ceremony at the Hotel New Otani. Spiber received the Special Jury Award (Encouragement of Regional Economies).

【About Nippon Venture Awards】
The Nippon Venture Awards are designated to acknowledge the importance of proactively accepting challenges and the social value of business entrepreneurs in general, and elevate the awareness of enterprising throughout all of society by praising and awarding business entrepreneurs who have established new enterprises that have had a strong impact and will be role models for young people.
【Comments on Regional Vitalization Awards】
We are very pleased to be recognized for the results of our effort in trying to contribute what we can by putting together a team to do the most for human society. However, our challenges have just started. We will continue to make serious efforts towards significant contributions to human society, resulting in regional contributions as well.

Details can be found here.
Comments from the Cabinet of the Prime Minister can be found here.