Companies Supporting Same-Sex Marriage Exceed 700; Campaign Visualizing Support for Marriage Equality Launches Guide Tool for Policy Preparation Before and After Legalization

Business for Marriage Equality (hereinafter, "BizMari"), a campaign to visualize companies and organizations that support marriage equality (legalization of same-sex marriage), is pleased to announce that the number of supporting companies surpassed 700 in June 2026. To commemorate reaching 700 companies, a public press conference was held during the "work with Pride 2026" Conference Vol. 1, held on June 30, 2026 (Tue) at the Keidanren Kaikan International Conference Room. A guide tool, "Same-Sex Marriage Action Plan Creation Worksheet," was released to help companies organize measures needed before and after the legalization of same-sex marriage.

Supporting Companies Reach 700; Companies Move to Concrete Preparation Phase Amidst Judicial Developments

The number of supporting companies and organizations, which began with 134 in 2020, has increased due to companies' DEI promotion efforts and unconstitutional rulings by courts across Japan, reaching 700 in June 2026 after surpassing 500 in 2024. (As of June 29, 2026: 704 companies).

Regionally, the Tokyo metropolitan area accounts for the majority with 512 companies, but support is spreading nationwide, including the Kinki region (80 companies), Kyushu/Okinawa (31 companies), and Tokai (24 companies). By industry, advertising and information communication services (155 companies) are the most numerous, followed by corporate services (106 companies), consumer services (59 companies), and finance (41 companies). The total number of domestic employees at supporting companies exceeds 2 million.

In the United States, where same-sex marriage was realized in 2015, 379 companies submitted amicus briefs to the Supreme Court leading up to its ruling. The fact that over 700 companies already support same-sex marriage even before a Supreme Court ruling, compared to the US, indicates the high level of interest domestically.

In the "Marriage for All" lawsuits, unconstitutional rulings have been issued one after another by high courts nationwide, and a decision from the Supreme Court is expected as early as 2026. As the legalization of same-sex marriage becomes a realistic issue, companies are entering a phase of concrete preparation regarding "what, which department, and by when" to address in practice.

* BizMari is jointly operated by three non-profit organizations active in Japan: Public Interest Incorporated Association Marriage For All Japan – Marriage Equality, Lawyers Network for LGBT and Allies, and Certified NPO Rainbow Diversity.

* The number of supporting companies and organizations includes those that supported the 2018 proposal by the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), along with four other chambers of commerce in Japan, urging the Japanese government to recognize marriage equality.

Guide Tool Released to Organize Measures to Be Taken Before and After Legalization

When marriage equality (legalization of same-sex marriage) is realized, it is not only the national and local governments that will be required to take action. Companies will also need to review a wide range of practical matters, including spousal benefits, internal regulations, HR and labor systems, various application systems, customer service, and product development/service design. However, there are no concrete precedents for which departments need to change what, potentially leading to widespread confusion among companies nationwide. Furthermore, delays in corporate response even after legal system changes risk further harm to individuals through "microaggressions," which can be described as "unconscious discrimination."

In light of this, BizMari has been holding "Same-Sex Marriage Hackathons" since this fiscal year, where companies, universities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and students discuss and consider what specific actions companies should take after legal reform. To commemorate reaching 700 supporting companies, we have now released the "Same-Sex Marriage Action Plan Creation Worksheet," a guide tool developed based on these discussions, to help companies organize measures needed before and after the legalization of same-sex marriage.

About the Guide Tool "Same-Sex Marriage Action Plan Creation Worksheet"

This guide tool has been organized into a format that is easy for companies to use in practice, based on discussions and ideas from the "Same-Sex Marriage Hackathon" held in 2026 with diverse participants including HR professionals, researchers, students, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

The measures required of companies when same-sex marriage is realized are divided into two periods: "Before Legalization (Preparation Period)" and "After Legalization (Follow-up)." The structure allows for organizing actions by department, such as HR, Legal Affairs, Public Relations, Product Planning, Marketing, and Systems. For each item, companies can proceed with their review according to their own situation by filling in the implementation status, priority, responsible department, and implementation timeline.

◆ Download the "Same-Sex Marriage Action Plan Creation Worksheet":

https://bformarriageequality.net/initiative/detail/4787/

In particular, for industries directly affected, such as weddings and funerals, travel (including inbound), jewelry, gifts, real estate, housing, automobiles, home appliances, apparel, finance, insurance, systems, childcare, education, and medical/welfare, it is important to review product/service design and prepare for customer service. The goal is to enable smooth corporate response at the time of system implementation by organizing "what kind of measures are likely to be necessary" in advance, rather than scrambling to organize after the legal system changes. It can be freely used and shared within companies, and BizMari plans to hold briefing sessions and workshops for companies utilizing this worksheet in the future.

* When using internally, please include the following credit line: "Referencing the 'Same-Sex Marriage Action Plan Creation Worksheet' © BUSINESS FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY2026."

◆ About Each Organization:

・NPO LGBT and Allies Legal Network (LLAN)

Established in February 2016, LLAN aims to contribute to the realization of an equal and inclusive society where individual dignity and diversity are respected, and all people can confidently develop their full potential, by promoting understanding and dialogue regarding sexual minorities such as LGBT, and by providing legal support to eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, utilizing the experience and knowledge of practicing lawyers through legal system research and proposals on legal issues.

http://llanjapan.org/

・Certified NPO Rainbow Diversity

Rainbow Diversity is a certified NPO that aims to create a society free from disparities based on sexual orientation. Through research, social education, and the operation of an LGBTQ+ center, we work to resolve the difficulties faced by LGBTQ+ individuals and those around them in daily life, such as in the workplace, school, and community, and to realize a society free from discrimination based on SOGI.

https://nijiirodiversity.jp/aboutus/

・Public Interest Incorporated Association Marriage For All Japan

We aim to realize a society where everyone can freely choose whether or not to marry, regardless of their sexual orientation. Established by some of the lawyers belonging to the legal team of the "Marriage for All" lawsuit filed in February 2019, along with various professional experts working on social issues, to achieve marriage equality (legalization of same-sex marriage). "Marriage freedom" means that when two people want to spend their lives together, both partners can marry if they wish, and they are not forced to marry if they do not wish to do so.

The corporate name "Marriage For All Japan – Marriage Equality" expresses the desire that this marriage freedom (the option of marriage) should be equally available to both heterosexual and same-sex couples. We support the "Marriage for All" lawsuit through PR, and aim to achieve marriage equality (legalization of same-sex marriage) through events, seminars, media appearances, research, and lobbying.

https://www.marriageforall.jp/