Renesas Electronics endorses same-sex marriage: putting rainbow colors on their company logo, implementing company policies with consideration for LGBT+ employees

    Renesas Electronics, a major semi-conductor manufacturing company, announced on June 21st that they would be changing their personnel system to include either partners in heterosexual marriages or homosexual partnerships in their definition of spouses. This system will pave the way for queer couples to take different types of leave like marriage, childcare, nursing, etc. It will be applied first in Japan, and then gradually introduced to a new system that leans more on promoting diversity within the company according to the situation within each region and country. Staff can apply with this new system anonymously, and a consultation counter will also be set up to offer advice.

　They can also obtain permission to give their chosen name, more suited to their gender identity, for business use. The company also began adopting guidelines on working with people of diverse gender identities.
　
    "In Renesas, we respect the individuality and the growing ambition of our employees around the world. We are striving to create a company culture that allows everyone to reach their potential. We believe it is important to have diversity and inclusion as the root foundation of a company. We recognize the rights of our employees to be able to work without discrimination and bias, regardless of their gender, race, sexual orientation, disability, age, etc.

　In order to promote diversity and inclusion globally, we established a Diversity Promotion Group (DPG) in June 2021 with about 120 people volunteering to take on the task around the world. With the DPG, we are developing diversity and inclusion policies, alongside promoting this initiative around various regions.

　We are hoping that through this action, more people will be understanding of the LGBTQ+ community and we can foster a system and environment safe for them. We are also hoping that, through this revision of our personnel system, we can continue to promote diversity and inclusion. There are different forms of diversity and including the LGBTQ+ community is just one of several."

(Taken from the official press release)
　
　Furthermore, Renesas did different things for Pride Month on June 1. They put a message in support of the LGBTQ+ community at the top of their website: "In honor of Pride Month." They also changed their logo to incorporate rainbow colours. Additionally, they also endorsed "Business for Marriage Equality" (a movement to legalize and promote same-sex marriage within Japan). Absolutely wonderful news for our community.
　
Reference:
Renesas Electronics recognizes same-sex partnership (Nikkei Shimbun)
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC213630R20C21A6000000/

Source: https://www.outjapan.co.jp/pride_japan/news/2021/6/40.html

Inoculation for ANA and JAL staff begins... International pilots can feel safer at work

    Two major airline companies have begun COVID-19 vaccination for their staff. Everyone associated with ANA Holdings will begin inoculation from the 13th and the 14th for JAL. All pilots and flight attendants at Haneda airport will have vaccine priority.

ANA flight attendant receiving the vaccine.
June 13, 2021, Haneda Airport.
Photo by Shuuhei Yokoyama (横山就平)

　The government said that they could start inoculating from the 21st but also suggested the possibility of moving it earlier. Both companies moved the date up. After getting his vaccine, Yoshiharu Tsuruzawa, an ANA pilot said, "It's a great relief to feel safe while working on international flights."

    Yomiuri Shimbun also began their inoculation, vaccinating over 5000 people. They began on the 14th at the local clinic, called "Yomiuri Clinic", located within their Tokyo main office.

　Preparing for the early phases of the vaccine rollout, they moved the dates up. The 5000 people eligible for the vaccine were the staff at the main branch, the Yomiuri Giants, all the staff from associated organizations and their families, and also the childcare workers in the building, along with essential workers there.

　Those with underlying conditions, nursery school staff in the building, and cafeteria staff were also given priority. Media companies reporting on the Olympics and Paralympics, Nippon TV, Hochi Shimbun, and Fukushima Minyu Shimbun will also be able to receive the vaccine early if they wish to.

　The rollout will expand accordingly to the surrounding Yomiuri stores around Tokyo. Those include the chief executives and their board members.

　The Yomiuri Clinic began their preparation for the vaccine rollout in February. They vaccinated about 40 staff members in the clinic and surrounding medical institutions in the area. They also prepared to vaccinate the elderly and people with underlying medical conditions outside of the company. Furthermore, the government announced policies on workplace vaccinations earlier this month after consulting health care centers and began the process for applications.

　Preparations were quickly made: hiring doctors and nurses, and getting supplies and equipment. This made the rollout possible to start on the 14th. From the 21st, more doctors and nurses will be able to support the vaccination staff.

　Aside from the Yomiuri group, the staff from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), which is also in the same building, might be able to get their vaccination from the same clinic. The clinic also plans to vaccinate people who are registered patients in the clinic as well as residents in the same area. They are currently reviewing methods on how to verify identities and manage vaccination records.

Source: https://yomidr.yomiuri.co.jp/article/20210614-OYT1T50023/?catname=news-kaisetsu_news

Protest in front of the LDP headquarters: outrage against the homophobic and transphobic remarks by the LDP

Protesters in front of the LDP headquarters to protest against the discriminatory remarks made against the LGBT+ community by LDP members.
Chiyoda, Tokyo. May 30, 2021. 6:59 PM.
Photo by Naoki Watanabe (渡部直樹).

"We are outraged."

    On the evening of May 30, people organized a protest in front of the LDP headquarters, located in Nagata-cho, against the discriminatory remarks made against the LGBT+ community by LDP members. The protest is also to call for the passing of the LGBT+ bill. More than 100 people showed up with placards and candles to express their thoughts.

【Miyuki Fujisawa (藤沢美由紀)/Digital Reporting Center】

Demand For the LGBT+ Bill

　

    The LDP passed up the decision to submit the "Promotion of Understanding LGBT Bill" even though they had more than two weeks left in the current Diet session. This is the reason behind the protest, but what really sparked it is that House of Representatives member Kazuo Yana and House of Councillors member Eriko Yamatani made discriminatory remarks during the assembly regarding the bill. The LGBT community and allies called out for support, and organized a seat-in protest and speeches until the night of May 31.

Protesters in front of the LDP headquarters to protest against the discriminatory remarks made against the LGBT+ community by LDP members.
Chiyoda, Tokyo. May 30, 2021. 6:59 PM.
Photo by Naoki Watanabe (渡部直樹).

    During the rainy evening of May 30, many came out in protest holding up signs that say "Pass the bill to end LGBT discrimination!" "Take back your LGBTphobic remarks!" and listened to the speakers at the protest.

　Openly gay Soushi Matsuoka declared in his speech: "In this country, the situation for sexual and gender minorities is just so horrible that our lives are constantly in danger. That's why we need to make the bill into law. I cannot express how angry I was to hear about the discriminatory remarks made during the debate for the bill."

　Fumino Sugiyama, who is a transgender man, spoke out in protest, "As of now, many of our community members are still suffering to the point that they want to die. I can't count how many people we have lost due to this. The Japanese society is just hopeless when it comes to understanding our struggles, especially struggles for trans people. This bill could save lives so just pass it into law during this current Diet session."

Source: https://mainichi.jp/articles/20210530/k00/00m/040/155000c