Rakugo in the Office for This Year’s International Men’s Day?! A Day to Learn About Unconscious Bias Lurking Within the Company

Hello! This is Sunny-chan from Public Relations.

Every year, November 19 is International Men’s Day.

Started in 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean, this day is described as a time to focus on the physical and mental health and well-being of men and boys, aiming to resolve health issues unique to them. However, it is not simply a day for men; it is also a day for everyone, including women, to face and promote gender equality.

At SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP, we strive to create a comfortable working environment for all members regardless of gender. This includes unique welfare benefits such as the Semen Analysis Subsidy within our “32 Benefits,” and our participation in the executive committee of “W society,” a cross-sector public-private project aiming for a society where all women can build a lifestyle they are satisfied with.

As a group that promotes such diversity, we have undertaken various initiatives to coincide with International Men’s Day.

▼ Click here for past initiatives
In conjunction with International Men’s Day, we held a seminar titled “What Modern Men Need to Know About Their Bodies” to deepen understanding of the semen analysis supported by our 32 Benefits!

Unconscious Assumptions: Unconscious Bias

The theme this time is “Unconscious Bias.”

Unconscious bias… are you familiar with this term?

People with Type O blood are careless.
Employees who leave on time lack motivation.
Men should work hard, and women should protect the home.

These assumptions, accumulated based on past habits and experiences, are called “unconscious bias.” This bias carries the risk of unintentionally causing stress or a sense of alienation in others and can significantly distort evaluations and judgments, particularly in society, acting as a barrier to promoting diversity.

Therefore, we held a seminar to first acknowledge the existence of these biases and to foster an environment where people feel empowered to speak up to reduce them.

However, the theme itself sounds difficult. Would people be able to relate to it if they just sat through a lecture?

That is why!

For this occasion, we held a special lecture titled “Understanding Unconscious Bias Through Rakugo” by Rakugo performer Sanshiro Katsura, in a hybrid offline and online format!

Sanshiro Katsura is a disciple of Katsura Bunshi VI, who is well-known as the host of the ABC TV show “Shinkon-san Irasshai!” (Welcome, Newlyweds!).

A flyer created by our internal members. When we tentatively showed it to him, he surprisingly gave it a great review!

He is active in many prestigious venues, mainly in Tokyo and Osaka, such as Tenma Tenjin Hanjotei, Lumine the Yoshimoto, Shibuya Yoshimoto ∞ Hall, Jimbocho Kagetsu, Yoshimoto Asakusa Kagetsu, and Namba Grand Kagetsu. He also performs at Tokyo’s traditional vaudeville theaters like Shinjuku Suehirotei, Ikebukuro Engeijo, and Asakusa Engei Hall.

Sanshiro Katsura’s specialty is creative Rakugo. For this special lecture, “Understanding Unconscious Bias Through Rakugo,” he performed an original piece tailored to the theme.

Understanding Unconscious Bias Through Rakugo!

Perhaps due to the unique appeal of “Rakugo in the office,” members gathered one after another despite the early hour.

Sanshiro Katsura took the stage to the sound of the opening music. The seminar began immediately amidst thunderous applause.

The first half started with a brief lecture.

That said, this seminar was not a typical classroom session. As someone whose profession is storytelling and communication, Sanshiro Katsura shared his own experiences with plenty of humor!

In the audience, some were nodding in agreement, while others couldn’t help but smile, thinking, “I know exactly what you mean.” As expected of a professional speaker, the content was consistently funny and engaging, making it easy to absorb.

The second half was finally the Rakugo performance.

The setting was a father’s favorite izakaya. The battle of “various types of harassment” involving an intoxicated father, his son trying to restrain him, a woman sitting nearby, and the shop owner was absolutely hilarious!! Through Rakugo, we were able to enjoyably learn about the dangers of how a casual remark can hurt someone, based on case studies. ✏️

Please take a look for yourself to see the details!

Successfully completed! The bar has been set high for the next International Men’s Day…

The hour flew by, and Sanshiro Katsura left the stage to much regret. Messages like “I wanted to see more!” and “I’ve never had such an enjoyable seminar!” poured in from the participating members, and the seminar concluded successfully.

Many members also attended online!

Unconscious bias does not only occur in the workplace.

It happens with colleagues, family, and loved ones.

Why not take this opportunity to discuss unconscious bias with those around you?

▼ Click here for Sanshiro Katsura’s profile (and for lecture requests!)
https://346katsura.com/