[Activity Report] Jointly Held "We are 'Rainbow' Meetup Exchange Event" to Discuss Diversity: Expanding the Circle of ALLYs Beyond Corporate Boundaries

Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. (President: Hideki Horiguchi) has launched "The Stonewall Inn IPA" from Brooklyn Brewery (New York, USA, CEO Eric Ottaway / President Robin Ottaway), a representative American craft beer manufacturer. The 3L PET bottle for "Tap Marché" will be sold in limited quantities from Monday, May 25*1, and the 350ml can from Tuesday, May 26. Additionally, delivery via the membership draft beer service "Kirin Home Tap" began on Thursday, May 21.

*1 Order start date on the EC site

To commemorate the launch of this product, Brooklyn Brewery Japan Co., Ltd. participated for the first time in the "We are 'Rainbow'" campaign, organized by FamilyMart Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Takeo Kotani), which supports the creation of a society where everyone can thrive authentically, transcending corporate boundaries.

Campaign page here:

[URL] https://www.family.co.jp/sustainability/with-sustainability/202606ws.html

As part of this campaign, on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, a "We are 'Rainbow' Meetup Exchange Event" was held, bringing together ALLY employees from four companies: FamilyMart Co., Ltd., Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Inc., Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd., and Brooklyn Brewery Japan Co., Ltd.

*ALLY: Derived from the English word "ally," meaning "alliance" or "supporter." It refers to a person who actively understands and supports LGBTQ individuals, regardless of whether they are members of the community themselves.

Background of the Event: Visualizing the Circle of Support Through Dialogue Beyond Corporate Boundaries

This "Meetup Exchange Event" aimed to expand the "circle of support across society" by having employees from the four like-minded companies engage in direct dialogue, going beyond mere product sales collaboration. By sharing each company's vision for "We are 'Rainbow'" and creating "horizontal connections" where ALLY employees could talk directly and share their aspirations, participants voiced comments such as, "It's encouraging to see so many like-minded colleagues across industries; it gives me confidence for future actions," and "I was able to reaffirm the joy of connecting through products." By transcending corporate boundaries and having individual employees proactively act as ALLYs, this event marked a concrete step towards realizing a society where everyone can thrive authentically.

Part 1: Screening of Short Film "Until the Day I Call Him Son" and Dialogue

In Part 1, the short film "Until the Day I Call Him Son," which depicts the struggles of a transgender person and family bonds, was screened. Following the screening, a talk session was held featuring director Ayumi Kurokawa and lead actor Takamasa Goda. Director Kurokawa spoke about the thoughts and intentions behind the production, saying, "Through this work, I want people to once again confront their own notions of 'normal' and 'ordinary.'" Through dialogue aimed at understanding the difficulties and emotional nuances faced by individuals as if they were their own, the importance of correctly understanding and supporting them as an ALLY was reaffirmed. A shared understanding was deepened that "acknowledging one's authentic self" creates a sense of security and strengthens organizations and society.

Part 2: Dialogue Connected by Six-Colored Sticky Notes and Creation of a "Rainbow Wall"

In Part 2, a workshop was held where participants gave shape to their thoughts. On six-colored sticky notes symbolizing diversity, each person wrote their impressions of the film, their determination to take a step forward, and their planned actions. Eventually, the sticky notes were assembled to create a vibrant and powerful "Rainbow Wall" filled with messages.

In the subsequent exchange session, participants held rainbow-themed products and beverages from each company, starting conversations in a relaxed atmosphere. Active exchanges of opinions took place among ALLYs from different companies, providing a moment to feel the circle of support across society.

Comments from Stakeholders

● FamilyMart Co., Ltd.

We are delighted to once again connect the spirit of "We are 'Rainbow'" with many partner companies and support the creation of a society where everyone can thrive authentically. It was extremely meaningful not only to deliver rainbow-design products but also to create a space where ALLYs could connect with each other beyond corporate boundaries. We feel that by talking directly, thoughts that a single company cannot convey can be nurtured into more solid social connections. FamilyMart will continue to advance initiatives that turn this diversity into strength.

● Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Inc.

We are very pleased that the circle of ALLYs, which started with FamilyMart three years ago, is expanding year by year, transcending company and industry boundaries. Our employees are also proactively participating in events and continuing activities to expand the ALLY circle. We hope that through the colorful products and goods filled with the thoughts of each company gathered here, the ALLY circle will also spread to the customers who pick them up. Our company will continue to move forward towards sustainable growth and increased corporate value by fulfilling our mission of "delivering happy moments to all people and creating value."

● Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. / Brooklyn Brewery Japan Co., Ltd.

We are deeply honored to have been able to participate in the "We are 'Rainbow'" initiative on the occasion of the launch of "The Stonewall Inn IPA," which carries the concept of "FOR ALL."

We have always valued promoting diversity and maintaining an open attitude. Going forward, we aim to spread this spirit to even more people by working together with like-minded companies.

We will continue our efforts to expand a world filled with love.

Event Overview

● Date & Time: Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 16:00 - 18:00
● Location: FamilyMart Co., Ltd. Head Office
● Participants: A total of 42 ALLY employees from FamilyMart, Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan, Kirin Brewery, and Brooklyn Brewery Japan
● Campaign Support: Cherio Japan Co., Ltd., Cleat Co., Ltd. (in no particular order)

[KIRIN Official Note] Cultivating New Culture from Convenience Stores: How FamilyMart and Brooklyn Brewery Deliver Diversity

In implementing this campaign, a special dialogue was held between Nana Shimada, Executive Officer and Lifestyle Headquarters General Manager of FamilyMart Co., Ltd., and Tetsuji Otani, President and Representative Director of Brooklyn Brewery Japan Co., Ltd. In the discussion, the two companies shared their common aspirations, going beyond the frameworks of "beer" or "convenience stores" to talk about "how to co-create richer daily experiences for consumers" and "how to build a society where diverse values are mutually recognized and supported."

Article URL here:

[URL] https://note-kirinbrewery.kirin.co.j