BAT Japan Promotes Inclusive Corporate Culture Through Pride Month Initiatives

British American Tobacco Japan LLC (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Mauricio Lara, hereinafter "BAT Japan") implemented various initiatives during Pride Month 2026 to promote understanding and foster allies for the LGBTQ+ community.

BAT Japan considers D&I an important strategy and is working to create a workplace environment where employees with diverse backgrounds and values can feel secure and perform to their fullest potential. In particular, to promote understanding of LGBTQ+, the employee resource group "B United" at BAT is at the forefront, creating an environment where employees can share their thoughts and experiences with ease, and promoting continuous awareness-raising activities to establish an inclusive corporate culture. At the same time, the learning and practices gained there are also being expanded to dialogue with society and community support, working towards the realization of a society where everyone can live as themselves.

"Lunch & Learn" Session in Collaboration with Certified NPO Nijiiro Diversity

Scene of the "Lunch & Learn" Panel Discussion BAT Japan President Mauricio Lara

On May 12 (Tue), we invited Ms. Tomo Kogawa from Certified NPO Nijiiro Diversity (hereinafter "Nijiiro Diversity") to give a lecture on the current state and challenges of LGBTQ+ understanding in Japan, as well as the basics of allyship. Additionally, a panel discussion was held by speakers with diverse backgrounds within the company, sharing their experiences and thoughts from various perspectives. 80 employees participated, providing an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the importance of allyship in the workplace and the creation of an inclusive environment.

【"Lunch & Learn" Session Overview】

Date: May 12, 2026 (Tue) 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Location: BAT Japan Headquarters

Content:

・Current State of LGBTQ+ Understanding in Japan

・Allyship in the Workplace

※Certified NPO Nijiiro Diversity https://nijiirodiversity.jp/: A certified NPO that aims to protect the dignity and rights of sexual minorities such as LGBTQ+ and their families and supporters, and to realize a society where no one is left behind.

Participation in Asia's Largest LGBTQ+ Event "Tokyo Pride 2026"

At "Tokyo Pride 2026" held on June 6 (Sat) and 7 (Sun), under the concept of "Pride × Summer Festival," we exhibited a participatory booth that connects diversity and allies, providing content that allows people to easily learn about LGBTQ+ and allyship. Our booth was visited by a total of over 650 people over the two days, and more than 50 employees participated in the "Tokyo Pride 2026 Pride Parade" held on June 7 (Sun). Our company believes that promoting understanding is not something that is completed within the company alone, but should be expanded through dialogue with society. On that day, we engaged in dialogue towards the realization of a society that respects diversity through interaction with visitors.

【"Tokyo Pride 2026" Overview】

Date: June 6 (Sat) / June 7 (Sun) 2026 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Location: Yoyogi Park Event Square

HP: https://pride.tokyo/

Donation to Nijiiro Diversity Based on Actions

BAT Japan will donate 400,000 yen to Nijiiro Diversity, calculated based on employees who supported and participated in our ally initiatives such as the "Lunch & Learn" session and "Pride Parade," as well as visitors to the "Tokyo Pride 2026" booth. The donation will be used for activities aimed at protecting the dignity and rights of sexual minorities such as LGBTQ+ and their families and allies, and realizing a society where no one is left behind.

D&I Promotion Initiatives: Introduction of Partnership System

In addition to the initiatives during Pride Month, BAT Japan has been focusing on promoting D&I (Diversity & Inclusion) in terms of systems. As part of this, in April 2024, we introduced a partnership system that applies equal welfare benefits to same-sex partners and partners in de facto marriages as those to legal spouses, promoting a workplace where employees can perform with confidence.

Comment from Hamza Fazal, Executive Officer, Human Resources Culture & Inclusion, BAT Japan

"At our company, we value creating an environment where each employee with diverse backgrounds and values can work as themselves and perform to their fullest potential. Pride Month is an opportunity for us to rethink and act on diversity and inclusion.

This year, through providing learning opportunities, participating in "Tokyo Pride 2026," and community support activities, we have gained much learning and dialogue. In the future, we will continue to create an environment where diverse talents can thrive and contribute to the realization of a society where everyone is respected."

About "B United"

"B United" is a global employee network consisting of LGBTQ+ employees at BAT and their supporters, allies. It aims to create a more inclusive workplace environment where each employee can work as themselves and maximize their abilities. Its predecessor was "Lucky Tribe" established in 2010, and in 2018, it changed its name to "B United" aiming for a more inclusive organization. Currently, it has grown into a network that includes not only LGBTQ+ individuals but also allies, with local chapters established in three global regions of BAT.

About BAT Japan

Company Name: British American Tobacco Japan LLC

Headquarters: 20F, Midtown Tower, 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6220

Representative: President Mauricio Lara (Mauricio Lara)

Official Website: https://www.batj.com/

BAT (British American Tobacco) is a global company leading multi-category consumer goods businesses. Headquartered in London, UK, it employs over 47,000 people.

To accelerate the transition to a "smoke-free" world, we are promoting portfolio transformation with a long-term perspective on sustainability. Towards this transformation, we aim to increase the number of users of our smoke-free products to 50 million by 2030 and generate more than 50% of the group's revenue from smoke-free products by 2035. Our smoke-free brands are used by over 34.1 million adults worldwide (as of the end of 2025), and many of these users have completely switched from cigarettes or reduced their consumption.

The underlying concept for this transformation is "Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR)." THR refers to efforts to reduce the harm of cigarettes for smokers who may continue to smoke.