Hollywood¡¯s bad-film awards are not much more than a joke.

But the nominees for Japan¡¯s Most Evil Corporation of the Year Award, also known as the Black Company Award, highlighting the ugly side of corporate Japan and its culture, have nothing to laugh about.

A group of journalists and rights activists on Monday announced nine nominees for the label of ¡°black company,¡± or a business with exploitative practices that has resulted in a worker¡¯s death and whose case has been referred to prosecutors.