
The new ad will bring tears to your eyes while revealing some interesting statistics about Japanese society.
Sometimes ads have the power to play out like mini movies, touching our hearts with beautiful settings, familiar scenarios, and characters we can all relate to. Japan’s leading telecommunications provider, NTT DoCoMo, has just released a heartwarming new video containing all these elements, as part of its new “For ONEs” campaign that centres around the topic of diversity, showing how the many individual “ones” in Japan are all part of a larger plural that makes up the fabric of society.
▼ One in eight people are children.
▼ One in four are old.
▼ One in sixty are foreigners.
▼ And one in 13 are a member of a sexual minority.
With Japan still lagging behind much of the western world when it comes to recognising sexual minorities and gay rights, it’s this last mention that’s become a hot topic in Japan, as it features the real-life couple of Koyuki Azuma (pictured above right) and Yuko Masuhara (above left), two of the country’s most prominent LGBT rights activists.
The recent strides towards equality in Japan, with the issuing of same-sex partnership certificates by local governments, has received support from cellphone providers like NTT DoCoMo, with discounted plans being offered to cohabitating same-sex couples for quite some time. It’s heartwarming to see the company continuing to bring the topic of same-sex partnerships out from the shadows in Japan, particularly when one in 13 people across the country are part of a sexual minority.
It’s a great reminder that no matter how much we might feel like we’re alone in the world, we’re always part of a larger group that makes up a part of a wider society.
Source: Genxy
Images: YouTube/docomoOfficial





Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward to offer marriage certificates to same-sex couples
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
Peanuts and Coke becomes a viral hit in Japan, but is it a trend worth joining?
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Famous koi ponds overwhelmed with tourists throwing thousands of coins in them
How to take your home ramen to the next level by making your own chashu pork in a frying pan
Deer that appeared in downtown Osaka gets a new home, a new name, and a lot of snacks[Video]
U.K. coffee brand Costa Coffee releases first ever matcha flavor with new Matcha Espresso Latte
Japan’s new difficult-to-drink-from beer glass protects your liver, but it’s a brutal experience
Does this video about an abandoned dog leave you wiping your eyes or shaking your fist?
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights
Fading Tokyo – Searching for signs of the Showa era as local neighborhoods evolve[Photos]
Pokémon lacquerware series expands for Year of the Horse with new handcrafted design[Video]
Tokyo turns its phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots, and here’s how to use them
Tokyo teahouse serves up a sakura matcha dessert you won’t find anywhere else
Totoro Fund line of beautiful artwork and apparel lets you help the real-world Totoro Forest
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says