Advancing Gender Equality

For Shiseido, International Women's Day is an important opportunity to expand awareness and action toward gender equality both within Shiseido Group and in broader society. Every March, we carry out various initiatives to deepen understanding of gender equality and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I). As part of these efforts, we held an online seminar series titled "Diversity Week for Gender" for our employees around the world. The program included three workshops on gender equality and webinars on related topics. In a talk session, Representative Corporate Executive Officer Ayako Hirofuji and Corporate Executive Officer Mizuki Hashimoto shared candid, relatable experiences as women leaders at Shiseido, including tips for broadening one’s career, approaches to daily work, and ways to recharge. Through the Q&A, the talk session provided participants with an empowering opportunity.

At the Shiseido DE&I Lab^*, established in 2023, we conduct joint research with the University of Tokyo on how diverse talent can demonstrate their individual strengths in ways that enable different values and ideas to facilitate innovation. Through this research, we are working to verify the relationship between the promotion of DE&I and corporate growth. We share insights gained through this research within Shiseido Group and with society through the Shiseido DE&I Lab Site so they can be useful to other companies. Through this work, we take the lead in promoting discussion and practice toward realizing DE&I as a driver of growth for the Japanese economy.

In March 2026, to coincide with International Women’s Day, Shiseido hosted the Shiseido DE&I Lab Symposium, joined by our research collaborators, including Professor Shintaro Yamaguchi of the Graduate School of Economics at the University of Tokyo. Designed primarily for human resources and DE&I professionals at other companies, the event featured a streamed discussion on achieving gender equality, incorporating the latest research insights. In the same month, we published a report on the Shiseido DE&I Lab Site that analyzes gender gap issues identified through the measurement of inclusion. The report findings suggest that disparities in access to career-building experiences may be a contributing factor.

• *Since its launch in 2023, the Shiseido DE&I Lab has partnered with Professor Shintaro Yamaguchi of the University of Tokyo to conduct empirical research on how diverse talent contributes to organizational performance.

We continue to uphold its international commitment to gender equality by endorsing the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), promoted by UN Women, and by participating in the Unstereotype Alliance. Since 2023, we have been a member of the Japan National Chapter of the Unstereotype Alliance, working to end gender stereotypes in advertising and communications. In December 2025, during UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous’s visit to Japan, our Chief DE&I Officer participated in the Business Leaders Dialogue. The dialogue brought together DE&I leaders from companies promoting gender equality to discuss accelerating future initiatives.

In March 2026, Shiseido made a pro bono contribution of an advertising artwork created by its in-house creators to the “Unstereotype” Exhibition, an International Women’s Day event hosted by UN Women. Created specifically for the exhibition, the visual was presented at the unveiling ceremony held at the United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan. Held as part of the Unstereotype Alliance, a global initiative led by UN Women that promotes gender equality through media and advertising, the exhibition sought to foster dialogue toward a society that embraces diverse expressions of individuality.
We also contributed visuals on the theme of gender equality, created on a pro bono basis by our in-house creative team responsible for Shiseido Group cosmetics advertising.

The proportion of women researchers in Japan is low compared to other countries, remaining at roughly 18.5%^*. Recognizing this challenge, we offer continued support to women researchers in Japan who are engaged in world-leading, innovative research in natural sciences. We have administered the Shiseido Female Researcher Science Grant in this area since 2007. Now in its 18th year, 2025, we awarded research grants to 10 women researchers. This subsidy is characterized by its flexibility in providing support to women in their life events, such as childbirth and childcare, so long as the objective of the funding is research. To date, it has contributed to the research results and the career development of 179 researchers.
The theme for the 2025 award presentation ceremony held at the Shiseido Global Innovation Center (Yokohama) was “Leveraging the Network of Female Researchers.” In addition to contributing to the development of research environments, this grant program also helps facilitate network-building among recipients, creating a foundation where women researchers can learn from one another and forge their own career paths. We will continue to support women researchers who demonstrate leadership in their own way and advance initiatives toward gender equality in the field of science.

• *Based on the 2024 Report on the Survey of Research and Development by Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication

In a drive to make the childcare environment better through company cooperation, our consolidated subsidiary KODOMOLOGY Co., Ltd. operates in-house childcare facilities for businesses. In addition to the operation of KANGAROOM Kakegawa, an in-house nursery at our factory, KODOMOLOGY supports the start-up and management of childcare facilities at other companies (2 facilities in Shizuoka)^*. Its parenting support services, KANGAROOM+, are available to our employees and partner companies from the prenatal stage through elementary school.
KODOMOLOGY is also expanding its childcare services to sporting events. Childcare services were provided at Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza home games in Japan's professional women's soccer league, the WE League, as well as at the Shiseido Ladies Open, a professional women's golf tournament. In addition to athletes, referees, event operations staff, and others involved in running these competitions may face challenges in securing childcare on Sundays and holidays or when working away from home. By providing childcare services near competition venues, KODOMOLOGY helps them balance childcare with work responsibilities.

• *As of the end of December 2025

As part of its long-term commitment, Clé de Peau Beauté hosts the annual 'Power of Radiance Awards'—a philanthropic initiative honoring women across the globe who drive positive change through knowledge. In 2025, the seventh year of the initiative, Ms. Sachiko Nakajima—a musician, mathematician, STEAM*2 educator, and media artist—was selected as the recipient. She founded steAm, Inc. in 2017, an organization dedicated to providing STEAM education and unlocking the creative potential in everyone. Clé de Peau Beauté also held the 'STEAM Girls Award' with steAm, providing girls in elementary, junior high, and high school in Japan with opportunities to apply STEAM knowledge and skills through creative inquiry and to present their achievements.
Through ongoing support rooted in our business activities, we will continue our efforts toward girls’ education and financial independence.

• *1：UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product, or service.
• *2：STEAM: Science, technology, engineering, art, and math education

At Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, Clé de Peau Beauté worked with Ms. Sachiko Nakajima to promote women's education and empowerment in STEAM. In August 2025, the brand held an international talk session under the theme ‘STEAM × Gender,’ sharing insights on the challenges women face and the potential of diversity in the field. A development program for recipients of the STEAM Girls Award was also held to support the next generation of talent who will help drive future innovation.
Using the Expo as a platform, our efforts went beyond brand activities. In September, we held a talk session for women students to explore the future of beauty through the lenses of art, science, and DE&I. The event introduced Shiseido Group's longstanding engagement with art and science, as well as research and initiatives focused on the connection between skin, body, and mind. It also shared our commitment to respecting diversity, offering participants an opportunity to consider beauty from new perspectives.

With the vision, “Aiming for a society in which all children are brimming with smiles and shining in their own way,” the Shiseido Child Foundation promotes ongoing activities centered on three pillars to support children who live apart from their parents in childcare facilities or with foster parents as they prepare themselves for challenges brought by adulthood: “Supporting Children's Challenge for the Future,” which supports children's independence and higher education; “Creating Opportunities to Learn for People who Nurture Children,” which creates learning opportunities for those who care for children; and “Creating a Society in which Children are Supported by Everyone,” which shares information with the general public to raise awareness of supporting children across society.
As part of “Supporting Children's Challenge for the Future,” the Foundation partners with a range of companies and organizations to organize Self-Reliance Seminars for junior high and high school students who receive social care^*, helping them acquire social knowledge and skills from specialists so they can live independently. Through the Future Design Program, an experiential career support initiative that leverages our resources, the Foundation provides opportunities for these students to explore diverse professions and envision their futures. The Foundation also offers programs where they learn practical knowledge for independent living from specialists so they can build confidence as they prepare for adulthood.

In addition, the scholarship program for students entering universities, junior colleges, and vocational schools supported 18 recipients as of the end of March 2026, bringing the total number of recipients to 97 since its launch in 2007. Through efforts like these, the Foundation aims to contribute to advancing gender equality by providing equal opportunities regardless of gender.

• *Social care refers to the public responsibility of protecting children who are unable to live with their parents by caring for them and providing support to households with difficulty finding childcare. About 42,000 children in Japan are receiving social care.