To Court Workers, Japanese Firms Try Being More Gay-Friendly
- 7 years ago
To Court Workers, Japanese Firms Try Being More Gay-Friendly
Professor Suzuki said the prevailing attitude toward homosexuality in Japan had long been "indifference rather than hate." Where traditionalists
in the United States have sought to root out gays, for example, with anti-sodomy laws, "in Japan, people just don’t want to know," he said.
But so far, according to Mr. Kitamura, only a handful of its 14,000 staff members in Japan have registered same-sex partners
for benefits, something he blamed on ingrained aversion among Japanese to standing out and seeming disruptive.
People were surprised," Mr. Nakamura, 33, said of his talk, which he gave to a group of about 50 colleagues last year.
"Three or four years ago, if you came out, people would say, ‘Huh?’ Now at least everyone knows
what you’re talking about." Foreign companies are seen as easier places to be openly gay.
12, 2017
TOKYO — Once a week, the Japanese insurance company where Shunsuke Nakamura works tries
to enliven its morning staff meeting by having employees give personal presentations.
Outside of his small university circle, Mr. Hoshi said, it was the first time he had met openly gay Japanese.
Professor Suzuki said the prevailing attitude toward homosexuality in Japan had long been "indifference rather than hate." Where traditionalists
in the United States have sought to root out gays, for example, with anti-sodomy laws, "in Japan, people just don’t want to know," he said.
But so far, according to Mr. Kitamura, only a handful of its 14,000 staff members in Japan have registered same-sex partners
for benefits, something he blamed on ingrained aversion among Japanese to standing out and seeming disruptive.
People were surprised," Mr. Nakamura, 33, said of his talk, which he gave to a group of about 50 colleagues last year.
"Three or four years ago, if you came out, people would say, ‘Huh?’ Now at least everyone knows
what you’re talking about." Foreign companies are seen as easier places to be openly gay.
12, 2017
TOKYO — Once a week, the Japanese insurance company where Shunsuke Nakamura works tries
to enliven its morning staff meeting by having employees give personal presentations.
Outside of his small university circle, Mr. Hoshi said, it was the first time he had met openly gay Japanese.