We are pleased to report that we have carried out various initiatives for MHM Pride 2023, which we announced on June 1, 2023.

For MHM Pride 2023, continuing on from last year’s campaign, the firm communicated through various initiatives to increase awareness within and outside the firm.

During June, which was designated as MHM “Pride Month,” the MHM logo on our website was in the colors of the rainbow flag, and the firm created opportunities for our clients to learn about the firm’s initiatives by welcoming visitors to the Tokyo Office with flower arrangements using the colors of the rainbow flag at the reception desk together with chocolates and notepads with the MHM Pride logo as well as lanyards in the colors of the rainbow flag for visitors to take.

Internally, in addition to the distribution of the goods described above, we implemented various projects to raise awareness, such as holding workshops on LGBTQ+-related situations, displaying posters that introduce the firm’s measures, and putting up decorations in the office including flags and cushions using the colors of the rainbow flag.
Furthermore, two in-house webinars were held by inviting outside lecturers. The first lecture was given by Professor Ken Suzuki from Meiji University School of Law on the theme of “Why Taiwan Became the First in Asia to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage.” The second lecture was given by Mr. Fumino Sugiyama, a former women’s fencing team member representing Japan and an executive board member of the Japanese Olympic Committee, on the theme of “New Family - A New Family Structure.” Both lectures offered valuable opportunities to rethink about marriage equality in Japan through the example of Taiwan and various forms of families.

 
 
*In May 2023, Professor Ken Suzuki’s publication “Taiwan Doseikon-ho no Tanjo--Asia LGBTQ+ Todai e no Rekitei” (Nippon Hyoron sha, 2022) received the 35th Ikuo Onaka Family Law Academic Award and the 1st Japan Association for Taiwan Studies Academic Award.

Going forward, we will continue our activities to realize the world envisaged in the MHM Diversity & Inclusion Policy and link them to our initiatives for MHM Pride 2024.

The following are comments by Yuto Matsumura, a member of our D&I Promotion Task Force.
“The firm carries out an annual firm-wide campaign “MHM Pride” every year around the month of June for the purpose of promoting greater understanding of the diversity of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). During MHM Pride 2023, we felt that there was an increased awareness because a greater number of members showed their interest and were actively involved in this event compared to last year’s MHM Pride 2022.

Regarding same-sex marriage, one of the themes of the in-house lectures for MHM Pride 2023, judicial decisions have been issued by five district courts in Sapporo, Osaka, Tokyo, Nagoya, and Fukuoka, and appeals are pending in all of those courts. In addition, social interest in LGBTQ+ rights seems to be increasing, as evidenced by recent circumstances such as the issuance of a decision by the Supreme Court for the first time regarding restrictions on the use of workplace restrooms by transgender employees of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

We will continue our various activities with the aim of achieving an inclusive society as early as possible under any judicial decision.”