This Year’s International Men’s Day: Rakugo in the Office?! A Day to Learn about Unconscious Bias in the Workplace

Hello! This isSunny-chan from the Corporate PR team.

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

This special day, which started in 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago, focuses on the mental and physical well-being of men and boys while aiming to address challenges unique to them. However, it isn’t just a day for men—it’s also a day to work toward gender equality for everyone.

At SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP, we aim to create a work environment where every member can thrive, regardless of gender. This includes offering unique benefits such as our “32 Benefits”—featuring a semen testing subsidy—and taking part in the public-private project “W society,” which works toward a society where every woman can enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle.

Our group, which promotes diversity, has carried out various initiatives in alignment withInternational Men’s Day.

▼Past Initiatives (Article in Japanese)
In celebration of International Men’s Day, we held a seminar titled “What Every Modern Man Should Know About His Body” to deepen understanding of the semen testing benefit offered through our 32 Systems.

Seminar for Unconscious Bias

This year, our theme for this special day is “Unconscious Bias.”

Have you heard of this term?

People with blood type O are careless.
Employees who leave work on time are unmotivated.
Men should work hard, while women should take care of the home.

These are the assumptions we’ve built up over time through past habits and experiences, and they’re known as “unconscious bias.” This bias can cause us to unintentionally create stress or feelings of exclusion for others. In society, it can significantly skew evaluations and judgments, becoming a barrier to true diversity.

That’s why we held a seminar—to first raise awareness of these biases and to foster an environment where people can speak up to help reduce them.

However, this topic is already challenging, and simply attending a lecture might not make it feel personal. In light of that, we decided to take a more interactive approach.

This time, we hosted a special lecture titled “Understanding Unconscious Bias Through Rakugo” by rakugo performer Katsura Sanshiro, held in a hybrid format both in-person and online!

Katsura Sanshiro is a disciple of Katsura Bunshi VI, who is well known as the host of ABC Asahi Television’s “Shinkon-san Irasshai! (Welcome, Newlyweds!)”

Our team designed this flyer ourselves. We were a bit nervous to show it to him—but he ended up loving it!

He has performed at many top venues in Tokyo and Osaka, including Tenma Tenjin Hanjotai, Lumine The Yoshimoto, Shibuya Yoshimoto ∞ Hall, Jinbocho Kagetsu, Yoshimoto Asakusa Kagetsu, and Namba Grand Kagetsu. He’s also appeared at popular Tokyo venues like Shinjuku Suehirotei, Ikebukuro Engeijo, and Asakusa Engei Hall.

Katsura Sanshiro excels in original rakugo. In his special lecture, “Understanding Unconscious Bias Through Rakugo,” he performed an original piece crafted just for the theme.

Understanding Unconscious Bias Through Rakugo!

Thanks to the unique twist of “Rakugo in the Office,” our members began gathering one after another—even early in the morning.

Accompanied by traditional entrance music, Katsura Sanshiro took the stage. Amid continuous applause, the seminar kicked off right away.

The first half began with a brief lecture. However, this wasn’t your typical classroom lesson. Instead, Katsura Sanshiro—whose work is all about conversation and storytelling—shared his own experiences with plenty of humor.

At the venue, people nodded and smiled, saying things like, “I totally understand” As a true professional storyteller, he kept everyone laughing while clearly sharing his message.

In the second half, it was finally time for the rakugo performance.

The scene takes place at the local izakaya the dad usually visits. A tipsy dad, his son who keeps him in check, a nearby woman, and the owner all get involved in a hilarious “●● harassment” showdown that’s sure to have you laughing! Through a rakugo case study, we learned in a fun way that even a careless comment can sometimes hurt someone.✏️

For more details, see it for yourself!

All Done! Next International Men’s Day Will Set a Higher Bar…

The hour flew by, and although we were sad to see him leave, Katsura Sanshiro eventually stepped off the stage. Attendees shared messages like “I wish we could have seen more!” and “This is the most fun seminar I’ve ever been to!” and we wrapped up the seminar on a high note.

Many members joined online too!

On International Men’s Day, we focused on unconscious bias—those hidden ideas everyone has. Thanks to Katsura Sanshiro’s funny talk, many of us realized that our unconscious biases can sometimes lead to harassment.

Unconscious bias isn’t just a workplace issue.

It can affect your coworkers, your family, and the people you care about.

Why not take this chance to talk about unconscious bias?

▼Katsura Sanshiro’s profile is available here (and to request a lecture, click here!).
https://346katsura.com/