New graduates share their thoughts! What matters most in making diversity a reality? A look at our first-ever participation in Tokyo Rainbow Pride as part of our new-hire training program!

Hello! We are Saito and Ono from Social Relations Division 2, and we joined the company in April 2024!

This may be sudden, but have you ever marched through the streets of Shibuya and Harajuku? In fact, on April 28, we did it for the first time in our lives—at Tokyo Rainbow Pride!

In an era when PR and communication professionals must have accurate knowledge of LGBTQ issues and communicate appropriately.

At SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP, with the desire to share this knowledge and mindset with new members joining the company, time is set aside as part of training to learn about diversity.

Each year, new graduates who wish to do so participate in the event!

▼Read past articles here!
• 2021: Pride Month begins around the world in support of the LGBTQ+ community! | Diversity Lab Vol.1
• “Live true to yourself 🙂 BE YOURSELF!” Tokyo Rainbow Pride 2018 – New Employee Suzuki Edition –
• “Sexuality is also part of individuality! It’s only natural that everyone is different” Tokyo Rainbow Pride 2018 – New Employee Yamaguchi Edition –

Tokyo Rainbow Pride, which celebrates the diversity of “sex” and “life,” marked its 30th anniversary this year. This year’s theme was “Don’t give up until things change.”

The excitement has grown year by year, and the event drew a record-breaking 270,000 participants. We would like to share our impressions of joining Tokyo Rainbow Pride, which is now more vibrant than ever, through the voices of our new graduates, Saito and Ono!

▼Tokyo Rainbow Pride Official Website
https://tokyorainbowpride.com/

A talk by Fumino Sugiyama

Before participating in Tokyo Rainbow Pride, we had the opportunity to hear a talk for new graduates from Fumino Sugiyama, Representative of New Canvas Inc. and Co-Representative Director of the specified nonprofit organization Tokyo Rainbow Pride!

Ms. Sugiyama actively engages in initiatives centered on LGBTQ awareness, including managing restaurants and operating events, as well as giving more than 100 talks a year nationwide and appearing in the media. She was also involved in establishing Japan’s first same-sex partnership system in Shibuya City. She currently also serves as a Director of the Japan Fencing Federation and a Director of the Japanese Olympic Committee, among other roles.

About Fumino Sugiyama (Official website)

New graduates taking notes attentively during the talk

The talk began by addressing how Japan lags behind other countries in LGBTQ support, and we learned foundational knowledge such as the history of LGBTQ in Japan and the support initiatives currently in place.

Then, drawing on personal experiences, Sugiyama spoke about the difficulties LGBTQ people face and the importance of building a society where people can come out more easily—precisely because sexuality cannot be judged by appearance alone.

The conflicts and anxieties they carry are far beyond what we can imagine, and all of the new graduates listened to Sugiyama with serious expressions.

Once again, thank you very much, Sugiyama, for sharing so many valuable insights!

~From here, Saito and Ono’s conversation begins. Please enjoy it with your own voice-over in mind.~

Ono: What was the most memorable part of Sugiyama’s talk for you?

Saito: For me, I was shocked by what was mentioned at the beginning—that “the percentage of LGBTQ members of the National Diet is 0.1%.” Is it really that low?! That was my honest reaction.

Ono: And you also said that “the fact that discus
sions are moving forward in the National Diet—the place where laws and systems are decided—while there are hardly any people directly affected, is one reason LGBTQ support is delayed,” right?

Saito: Deciding things that affect social minorities with only the majority—now that you mention it, it does feel a bit off…
Ono: But precisely because we noticed that discomfort, I felt there must be something we can communicate to society!

Saito: Exactly. And when we hear “LGBTQ,” we unconsciously think of it as a social issue, but everyone has at least one worry that’s hard to talk about, don’t they? Maybe I was overthinking it.
　　
Ono: Sugiyama also said, “In a society where no two people are the same, people with various minority identities come together and become the majority,” didn’t they? Saito, do you have any worries you can’t tell others?

Saito: …I have tons (embarrassed).
Ono: Me too… (laughs). When you think about it that way, LGBTQ feels much closer to home, doesn’t it?

Saito: Yes, totally! Anything else that stood out to you?

Ono: For me, it was learning for the first time in this talk about “welcoming out,” where Allies who support LGBTQ people signal to them, “It’s okay to confide in me.” I found it really interesting!

Saito: “Welcoming out” is such a positive phrase—it’s wonderful!

Ono: Exactly! And I realized that, just like LGBTQ people, you can’t tell who is an Ally by appearance either. But as one Ally, I still couldn’t picture what I should do—specific actions weren’t coming to mind…

Saito: Then Tokyo Rainbow Pride is the place to find that. This event isn’t only for people directly affected—everyone can join!

Ono: You’re right! Let’s enjoy it to the fullest and try to find even one more thing we can do.

What were your impressions of the event?

Ono: Wow—it was so much fun! I’m really glad we went.

Saito: Yes, yes—there were far more people than I expected, and the energy was incredible!

Ono: When we actually went to the venue, the atmosphere felt even more intense than on TV or in magazines, and everyone there was absolutely glowing!

Saito: We all joined in with rainbow markers on our cheeks, didn’t we?

Ono: That was surprisingly hard to draw (laughs).

New graduates enjoying themselves more than anyone

Corporate booths also had photo spots

Saito: Also, it really stood out how everyone was dressed freely and fully expressing their “true selves.” Ono, what left the biggest impression on you?

Ono: For me, it was the gap—in a good way—between what I expected and how people looked at the parade. Marching through Shibuya and Harajuku with loud music… I was a little worried about how people in the city would see us.

But people around us had sparkling eyes, saying “Happy Pride!” as they high-fived us and waved—it made me so happy!
　　　
In that moment, I wasn’t thinking about whether the people I high-fived were LGBTQ or not; I felt we were all connected as fellow participants enjoying the same parade!

Saito: Actually, when I posted about the day on Instagram, I got a like from an LGBTQ friend. That means I managed to do a “welcoming out” without even realizing it, right?

Ono: That’s amazing! After hearing Sugiyama’s lecture, I was also wondering how I could make it clear that I’m an Ally. But I realized that sharing things casually is important, too.

Saito: True! And it was so much fun—I want us all to join again next year!

In Closing

Society is made up of people with different minority identities.

A society where those differences are accepted as natural, and where we can say “Happy Pride!” with confidence—this is the goal we should be striving for, and I strongly feel that.

And as PR professionals, we want to keep holding on to the attitude of “not giving up until we can change society” into one where people can live true to themselves.

To you there who read to the end!

Why not take this opportunity to think about diversity together?

Saito Ono: Happy Pride!!