Dentsu Japan aspires to enrich its advertising and business communications activities from a human rights perspective. It regularly conducts dentsu Japan-wide employee training programs designed to provide employees with a sound understanding of human rights that they can then apply to their work.
We also consider that the thorough prevention of harassment and protection of employees' human rights are important themes to address to ensure employees can fully exercise their capabilities.

Human Rights Awareness Activities through Training Programs, etc.

Recognizing respect for human rights as the Group’s cornerstone, the Dentsu Group compiled the globally shared Dentsu Group Human Rights Policy, globally shared and designed to promote its part as an honest and sustainable business.

Read the full text of the ”Dentsu Group Human Rights Policy”

Dentsu Japan, a business unit of Dentsu Group Inc., systematically conducts human rights awareness training at Group companies it oversees in Japan. Hierarchy-based training is arranged for new employees, mid-career hires, and new managers; position-based training is provided at sales and creative departments; while human rights-related training is provided periodically for all employees.

In addition, a biannual dentsu Japan Human Rights Education Conference is held for Group human rights education managers and integrators. Guidelines regarding appropriate conduct to show respect for human rights in the workplace are available at all times via a dedicated webpage on dentsu Japan’s intranet. The page includes a collection of past advertisements including expressions or ideas related human rights issues, as well as information concerning human rights.

To raise day-to-day employee awareness regarding human rights, dentsu Japan issues an internal email newsletter twice a month introducing current topics related to human rights.

In addition, it has set up an internal consultation service to monitor the language used in advertisements as it relates to human rights. This is to ensure that its global message is consistently appropriate.

Further, it helps facilitate human rights-related seminars held by the Japan Advertising Agencies Association, and strives to increase human rights awareness throughout the advertising industry.

Human Rights Slogans and Posters

Since 1988, the Group has held an annual, in-house competition, for Group employees and their families, calling for human rights slogans. The entries submitted are usually freestyle short messages, more like advertising copy than mottos. There was a total of 5,120 entries (4,409 entries in the employee category and 711 in the family category) in the fiscal 2024 (January 1–December 31, 2024) competition. ※Total number of companies dentsu Japan

Our art directors create human rights posters, based on the best human rights slogans submitted by Dentsu Group employees.
Although the competition started as an in-house initiative, now local government bodies and corporations make requests to use the slogans and the posters are used for human rights events across Japan.

Dentsu Japan Human Rights Posters Produced in 2023 (The 36th Edition)
Investigating curiously can be discrimination

Investigating curiously can be discrimination

Theme: For combatting discrimination of people of buraku ancestry

Understanding different cultures is complicated, but we can discover them together.

Understanding different cultures is complicated, but we can discover them together.

Theme: For promoting a multicultural society

Dentsu Japan Human Rights Posters Produced in 2022 (The 35th Edition)
There would remain some discrimination forever if we just hope it goes away in time.

There would remain some discrimination forever if we just hope it goes away in time.

Theme: For combatting discrimination of people of buraku ancestry

My choice is the gender being natural for me, not the sex assigned at birth.

My choice is the gender being natural for me, not the sex assigned at birth.

Theme: For promoting the human rights of sexual minorities

Dentsu Japan Human Rights Posters Produced in 2021 (The 34th Edition)
Asking where someone lives is enough to hurt some people

Asking where someone lives is enough to hurt some people

Theme: For combatting discrimination of people of buraku ancestry

Watching, listening, conversing, writing, walking, running, jumping, swimming, eating, sleeping, relaxing … Nobody is good at doing everything. We all have strengths and weaknesses.

Watching, listening, conversing, writing, walking, running, jumping, swimming, eating, sleeping, relaxing …
Nobody is good at doing everything. We all have strengths and weaknesses.

Theme: Respecting the human rights of people with disabilities

Dentsu Japan Human Rights Posters Produced in 2020 (The 33rd Edition)
It takes time to change society,
but not to change yourself.

It takes time to change society,
but not to change yourself.

Theme: For combatting discrimination of people of buraku ancestry

Husband: Having a child changed my wife completely.Wife: Having a child didn’t change my husband at all.

Husband: Having a child changed my wife completely.
Wife: Having a child didn’t change my husband at all.

Theme: Realizing gender equality

Dentsu Japan Human Rights Posters Produced in 2019 (The 32nd Program)
“Is his lineage no problem?”“Are you no problem asking such a question?”

“Is his lineage no problem?”
“Are you no problem asking such a question?”

Theme: For combatting discrimination of people of buraku ancestry

The more you understand new cultures,the wider your world would become.

The more you understand new cultures,
the wider your world would become.

Theme: For building multicultural society.

Dentsu Japan Human Rights Posters Produced in 2018 (The 31st Program)
It is up to us to prevent discrimination that is being shared through Telephone Games.

It is up to us to prevent discrimination that is being shared through Telephone Games.

Theme: For combatting discrimination of people of buraku ancestry

Please do not hate to love someone.

Please do not hate to love someone.

Theme: Respecting the human rights of sexual minorities.

Dentsu Japan Human Rights Posters Produced in 2017 (The 30th Program)
Whether I become a friend with her depends just on me

Whether I become a friend with her depends just on me

Theme: For combatting discrimination of people of buraku ancestry

The most remarkable growth that the childcare leave brought to my husband is about his way of thinking.

The most remarkable growth that the childcare leave brought to my husband is about his way of thinking.

Theme: Towards the establishment of a gender equal society

There are many restaurants where I can't make a reservation with using a wheelchair.

There are many restaurants where I can't make a reservation with using a wheelchair.

Theme: Eliminating discrimination against people with disabilities

Dentsu Japan Human Rights Posters Produced in 2016 (The 29th Program)
Some mothers know their kids will be bullied even before they’re born.

Some mothers know their kids will be bullied even before they’re born.

Theme: For combatting discrimination of people of buraku ancestry

Why am I taking childcare leave? It’s what responsible fathers do, that’s why.

Why am I taking childcare leave? It’s what responsible fathers do, that’s why.

Theme: Towards the establishment of a gender equal society


Japan is the country of harmony, yet some people are still considered outsiders

Japan is the country of harmony, yet some people are still considered outsiders

Theme: Eliminating discrimination against people of foreign descent

Dentsu Japan Human Rights Posters Produced in 2015 (The 28th Program)
That’s not concern, Dad. It’s discrimination.

That’s not concern, Dad. It’s discrimination.

Theme: For combatting discrimination of people of buraku ancestry

Being nosy might just save a child.

Being nosy might just save a child.

Theme: Protecting children’s rights

I get that you couldn’t love someone of the same sex.I can’t love someone of the opposite sex.But it’s still the same thing: Love.

I get that you couldn’t love someone of the same sex.
I can’t love someone of the opposite sex. But it’s still the same thing: Love.

Theme: Protecting LGBTQ rights

Dentsu Japan Human Rights Posters Produced in 2014 (The 27th Program)
It's not that we don’t exist.It’s just that we can’t tell you who we are.

It's not that we don’t exist.
It’s just that we can’t tell you who we are.

Theme: For combatting discrimination of people of buraku ancestry

Correct your prevailing perceptions about the "use of women"

Correct your prevailing perceptions about the "use of women"

Theme: Towards the establishment of a gender equal society

Childhood is more than preparation for adulthood. It’s real. It counts.

Childhood is more than preparation for adulthood. It’s real. It counts.

Theme: Protecting children’s rights

Human Rights Art Project

The Human Rights Art Project has transformed the Dentsu Group’s previous human rights poster production activities into a more open activity involving a broader sphere of society. Students at art universities collaborate in the production of posters by providing designs to accompany the human rights slogans.

Since fiscal 2007, we have been collaborating with other enterprises to produce posters using the best of the suggested slogans. Currently, we are working on posters with Joshibi University of Art and Design, Osaka University of Arts, and Kyoto University of the Arts.

Students work with Dentsu creative staff from the initial idea stage to produce the posters. In fiscal 2021, 24 students participated and, to date, some 1,100 students have taken part in the project. Due to the impact of COVID-19, we have also begun incorporating coursework held remotely.

The poster initiative enables Dentsu to contribute to human rights awareness using communications skills it has honed through advertising work.

Human Rights Art Project Posters produced in fiscal 2023

Anti-harassment Activities

To supplement its Compliance Line—an internal system for the reporting of internal violations—Dentsu Inc. integrated a number of harassment consultation functions under its Harassment Counseling Section in fiscal 2012.

To establish and maintain a comfortable working environment and ensure respect for the human rights of its employees, Dentsu’s Harassment Consultation Section maintains contact points at Dentsu and its branch offices, as well as at select external locations.

The consultation services handle issues ranging from harassment to internal human relations, breaches of etiquette, and troublesome behavior. Further, Dentsu works closely with the harassment consultation offices at all Dentsu Group companies, as it strives to prevent harassment throughout the Group.

Meanwhile, Dentsu provides personalized training programs based on surveys regarding harassment awareness. At the same time, it conducts employee education activities aimed at preventing harassment, including power harassment and sexual harassment.

In addition to its handbook, Basic Knowledge Regarding Hidden Harassment, the Company provides instructions tailored to suit all target groups, and issues alerts via internal bulletin boards and human resources management directors at each of its offices.