Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Otsuka) has been designated as "Best Workplace," the highest Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) evaluation at D&I Award 2023 -- an award system organized by the recruitment site JobRainbow Co., Ltd.

D&I Award is a certification and commendation system that assesses companies dedicated to D&I. It evaluates companies using a distinctive set of criteria encompassing five aspects: "gender gap," "LGBT," "disability," "multicultural coexistence," and "childcare/caregiving." Certification is awarded based on the scores obtained in these areas.

At Otsuka, we believe that the active participation of a diverse workforce -- irrespective of nationality, race, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity -- and a culture of mutual respect can drive innovation and global expansion. Therefore, we position Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) as one of our management strategies and actively advance initiatives to foster a work-friendly environment, including introducing meaningful HR systems.

In addition to conducting various seminars on topics such as nurturing employees through leadership (Ikuboss), LGBTQ, and caregiving, Otsuka has accelerated its D&I efforts in recent years, including actively hiring women, promoting male participation in childcare leave, and adapting policies for same-sex partners. These initiatives have led to the maintenance and improvement of employee motivation, an increase in the ratio of women in leadership roles, and the achievement of a 100% rate^* of male employees taking childcare leave.

As a company in constant pursuit of innovation, we will continue to actively promote D&I initiatives to create a diverse workplace environment that brings out the individual strengths of each employee to foster new value and enhance corporate resilience.

• D&I at Otsuka Pharmaceutical　https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/sustainability/diversity/

To foster innovative products and services that drive the company's growth, Otsuka recognizes the importance of leveraging the contributions of a diverse workforce. Top management actively promotes D&I, believing it is a key driver for success. In 2007, they established the "Diversity Promotion Project" (now known as the "Diversity & Inclusion Promotion Project"), and today, the project's mission is to create an inclusive working environment for all employees, regardless of their backgrounds.

• About the D&I Award　　https://diaward.jobrainbow.jp/top　(in Japanese)

The D&I Award initiative began in FY2021 to support companies in their D&I efforts, evolve D&I approaches, and enhance the accessibility of D&I advancement. The initiative aims to promote D&I throughout society and strives towards realizing a society where D&I is commonplace. The highest classification among the certifications is "Best Workplace," awarded to D&I advanced companies that demonstrate a high standard of commitment to promotion not only within Japan but also globally. These companies reflect the principles of D&I in various aspects and extend their influence beyond their organizational boundaries.