Over 350 companies takes a stand for marriage equality in Japan

Over 350 companies and organizations have declared their support for the “Business for Marriage Equality” campaign, championing the cause of same-sex marriage legalization. The goal is ambitious: to gather 500 supporters by the end of 2023, in a society where traditional values often hold sway.

The Business for Marriage Equality (BME) campaign, launched in 2020, seeks to make visible the growing support for marriage equality among Japan’s corporate sector. BME has fostered connections between like-minded companies, sharing experiences and encouraging others to join the movement. From a modest start of 134 participating organizations in 2020, the number of supporters swelled to 300 by November 2022, and by March 2023, a further 50 had joined the ranks.

With the G7 Hiroshima Summit scheduled for May, LGBTQ issues are gaining traction among both politicians and business leaders. Heavyweights such as ITOCHU Corporation, Boston Consulting Group, NEC Solution Innovators, Bayer Holdings, and Suntory Holdings have recently lent their support, bringing the total number of participating companies and organizations to 355.

As the job hunt for the class of 2024 kicks off, the expectations placed upon employers are evolving. The G7 Hiroshima Summit looms large, and Japan’s progress on diversity and inclusion is in the spotlight. In response, BME is redoubling its efforts to recruit more companies to the cause of marriage equality. To that end, a “Support Consideration Kit” is being circulated among potential supporters, with plans to establish an executive group of leading companies to spearhead the push for legalization. Their next aim is to reach 500 supporting organizations within Japan by the close of 2023.

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