Help us counter LGBTQ+ discrimination in Japan

We would like to give you a report about our sixth “Dokodemo” (meaning “anywhere” in Japanese) Pride Caravan event that we held at the Osaka University, Toyonaka Campus, on October 5th, 2023!

“Dokodemo” Pride Caravan is an outreach program of Pride Center Osaka. We aim to bring the services available at our center to everywhere in Japan. Our “Dokodemo” Pride Caravan that is decorated in 6 rainbow colors will travel across Japan to spread information regarding the social obstacles faced by the LGBTQ community and information regarding the Pride Center Osaka. We are going to visit universities in the Kansai region, and will spread information to students, faculty and staff.

This time we visited the Osaka University.

We opened “Docodemo” Pride Center (On-site center) using DAICEL Studio space in Toyonaka Campus. We brought books and racks that we have at the Pride Center for people to feel like they are visiting our Pride Center! The staffs stayed there as well, and had some conversations with the visitors and introduced what Pride Center Osaka is working on.  

This time, we asked the visitors to write some messages on a flag for the upcoming Parade held with “Rainbow Festa! 2023” in Osaka. Thank you very much for the heartwarming messages!

In the afternoon, we held a workshop on the topic of “LGBTQ and healthcare”. After broadcasting a video on LGBTQ and healthcare, the participants had opportunities to discuss in groups what they thought from the video and what they can do to keep making a better situation. We were really happy to have the participants who keenly joined us to think about the issues LGBTQ facing in medical situations.

As a special guest, Dr Wani, an official mascot of Osaka University, came to liven our “Docodemo” Pride Calavan! Dr Wani was so popular as the queue for photograph didn’t break up for a while!

Comments from the event’s participants:

“There are many difficult things to consider but also, we can do something in our daily lives was the lesson for me in this event. Thank you.”

“It was easy to recognize that you are holding an event by the rainbow flags as last time. I hope you will have this kind of events at many places, like university and others.”

Thank you very much for the participations and cooperations! The report of “Dokodemo” Pride Caravan is also broadcasted in “57th episode of Eenchau radio” (Pod-cast of Pride Center Osaka), so feel free to listen to it too!

The further details of next Dokodemo Pride Caravan will be available on the Pride Center Osaka website. Students, faculty members, staff and anyone is welcome to participate in this event!

Links:

• Nijiiro Diversity
• Pride Center Osaka

We would like to give you a report on our 10 year anniversary & reporting event! 

Nijiiro Diversity celebrated the 10 year anniversary since its establishment as a legal nonprofit organization on July 26th, 2013.We hosted a reporting event in Osaka and Tokyo to share the history of our activities and thank those who have supported our work and to celebrate the 10th year together.

First, we would like to report on the event in Osaka. We held the event at Kawano Eki Hachikenya, which is located on the other side of the river from the Pride Center Osaka. We opened the Mobile Pride Center Osaka in front of the venue from 3 p.m. We had good luck with a clear blue sky. It seemed like the weather was also celebrating our 10th year.

Many people participated in our event. There were also people who randomly dropped in. It gave us a good opportunity to promote our Pride Center to people. 

Employment Support Office Type B and book and café cocoaru offered us drip coffee bags for the event. Book and café cocoaru is run by nonprofit organization ‘Assort’, and offers a safe space. We distributed the drip bags to the event participants. The drip bags were designed to celebrate Nijiiro Diversity’s 10th anniversary! Thank you!

We began the reporting event at 6 p.m. We started off with self-introductions by each of our staff. Each staff member spoke about their responsibilities within the organization and what they like about working at Nijiiro Diversity. Following the introduction, our director Muraki spoke about the history of our organization and our future prospects. It was very touching to look back on the past 10 years and share the moment with the people who have supported us.

The second part was a meet and greet session for the participants and staff. Everyone enjoyed conversations with each other. At the end of the event, our director Muraki gave final remarks, and closed the event by cheering “Happy 10th anniversary!” all together with the participants and staff. You can listen to the audio on the Eenchau Radio podcast episode released on 30th July. Please check out our new episodes!

Next, we would like to tell you about the event we hosted in Tokyo. The venue was SHIBAURA HOUSE, which is in Minato-ku. We decorated the venue with pride flags to appeal to people on the street, and it was effective! People dropped in with curiosity after seeing the rainbow decorations from the street.

We began the reporting event at 3:30 p.m. We began with self-introductions from each staff member. Each person spoke about their responsibilities and things they like about Nijiiro Diversity. After that, Muraki spoke about our history and future prospects. It was really great to feel that we have supporters across the country and the world.

During the second half of the event there was a panel talk with the Pride Center Osaka  sponsors. The theme was “the significance of working together with social sectors.” The speakers talked about their company’s efforts with social sectors, information sharing about their LGBTQ policies to the public, and how to strengthen the cooperation between social sectors and business sectors. The speakers actively shared their insights. 

After the panel talk, we had a meet and greet for the participants. Staff also socialized with the participants.

Below, we will introduce some of the feedback we received from the participant survey.

“Listening to the history of the past 10 years strengthened my wish to keep supporting your work. Even small support accumulates and helps to achieve something. I will continue to support your efforts!”

“I had a great time. The event had a welcoming atmosphere. Thank you!”

“Happy 10th anniversary! Many messages from your nonprofit and corporate partners show your organization’s strength. I wish you further success.”

“Happy 10th anniversary! I imagine the organization has gone through lots of difficulties. I felt empowered hearing that your organization has steadily made developments and has overcome challenges. I appreciated this opportunity to socialize with staff and other participants. I can see that an opportunity like this is a good learning chance for corporations that are uncertain about how to improve their DEI policies.”

Nijiiro Diversity has been able to continue our efforts thanks to the support from all of you. Thank you. This in-person reporting event was the first since our anniversary event in 2019. We are very happy to celebrate our 10th year with many of our supporters. We wish to continue and expand the circle of support and cooperation with our supporters and partners.

Please continue to support us to keep advocating about LGBTQ equality and manage Pride Center Osaka!

Links:

• Nijiiro Diversity website
• Pride Center Osaka website