Junichi Okuyama, CEO of CACL Inc., who was selected as one of the “CULTURE-PRENEURS 30 2025” by Forbes JAPAN, attended the “CULTURE-PRENEURS AWARD 2025” ceremony held on October 13 at Funatsuru Kyoto Kamogawa Resort in Kyoto, where he took the stage to deliver a speech.

About the “CULTURE-PRENEURS” Feature

A “Culture-preneur” is an entrepreneur who pioneers new forms of business through cultural and creative endeavors, striving to build a richer and more inclusive society.
Now in its third edition, the Forbes JAPAN feature spotlights thirty individuals and groups under the age of 45 who are expected to drive future growth in the cultural entrepreneurship scene. The final list was selected by the editorial board, based on recommendations from a 17-member advisory panel.

Official website: https://forbesjapan.com/feat/culture-preneurs30-2025/

Award Ceremony

At the ceremony, Forbes JAPAN recognized the thirty “CULTURE-PRENEURS 30” awardees along with one recipient of a special prize, for a total of 31 honorees.
Of these, 24 awardees—including 23 from the “CULTURE-PRENEURS 30” list and one each from the Kyoto City Special Award and YNK Award sponsored by Tokyo Tatemono—gathered in Kyoto to receive their commemorative plaques and share reflections on their achievements and aspirations.

Press release: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000298.000017289.html

Comment from Junichi Okuyama

“I am deeply honored to be invited to such an inspiring occasion.
CACL is based in Nomi, Ishikawa Prefecture, the home of Kutani ware.
We create new forms of expression by fusing fragments of broken Kutani ceramics, Suzu pottery, and Wajima lacquerware.
I am not an artist myself—our works are born through collaboration between local artisans and the people working in our welfare facilities for individuals with disabilities.
I would like to dedicate this award to everyone in our community who makes this possible.”

Profile: Junichi Okuyama

Born April 6, 1984, in Gifu Prefecture.
Moved to establish a company in 2012 after witnessing his mother’s struggle with a rare illness and social isolation.
Over the next decade, he expanded disability support services to more than 20 sites across the Hokuriku region before transferring the business in 2022.

In 2023, he founded CACL Inc., combining traditional craftsmanship with social welfare to address two challenges: the shortage of artisans and the limited employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
After visiting local Kutani kilns and seeing ceramic fragments discarded as “defects,” Okuyama began experimenting with ways to repurpose them—recognizing a parallel between these fragments and people marginalized by society.

Following the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, CACL launched initiatives to connect broken ceramics with new forms of craftsmanship, creating temporary workshops for Wajima lacquer artisans affected by the disaster.
Today, CACL continues to explore creative reuse, transforming discarded or obsolete materials into art, design products, and new forms of expression.

About CACL Inc.

CACL Inc., based in Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture—an area renowned for Kutani ware—operates at the intersection of traditional craft and social inclusion.
The company addresses two intertwined issues: the shortage of artisans to carry forward Japan’s traditional crafts, and the limited employment options and low wages for people with disabilities.

CACL creates art pieces and products that combine fragments of ceramics and other materials into new expressions.
After the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, the company launched the “Stand with NOTO” project, supporting reconstruction through job creation and temporary workshops for Wajima lacquer artisans.

It also began the “Rediscover Project,” integrating fragments of Kutani ware, Suzu pottery, and Wajima lacquer to produce art pieces—one of which was exhibited at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa in “Dancing with Everything—Ecology of Empathy.”

In July 2025, CACL launched “KAKERA,” an experimental brand reimagining the value of “off-spec” or discarded craft materials.
KAKERA has since collaborated with Parfums Givenchy, and partnered with LIXIL and Yuko Nagayama & Associates on a joint project to preserve and reinterpret Noto’s traditional landscapes for the future.

Company Information

Company: CACL Inc.
Website: https://cacl.jp/
Address: 56 Ri, Tatsunokuchi-machi, Nomi, Ishikawa 923-1245, Japan
Representative: Junichi Okuyama
Established: June 1, 2023
Tel: 0761-48-8004