Mizuho Financial Group x Japan House London

Cultural awareness and employee engagement

Japan House London worked together with Mizuho’s employee-led Cultural Diversity Network to engage Mizuho’s Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA)-based employees to raise cultural awareness of Japan and appreciate diversity.

Objectives

Engage Mizuho’s employees in Japan House London’s Symbiosis: Living Island exhibition.
Enable Mizuho’s Cultural Diversity Network to achieve their aims of exploring different perspectives and appreciating diversity.
Promote Japan House London’s activities among Mizuho’s employees.
Strengthen the partnership between Japan House London and Mizuho.

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How we worked together

Japan House London worked with Mizuho’s Cultural Diversity Network to co-create a week-long programme of engagement opportunities for Mizuho’s circa 2,000 Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA)-based employees, centred around the Symbiosis: Living Island exhibition. The programme leveraged Mizuho’s Japanese corporate heritage to raise cultural awareness, explore different perspectives and appreciate diversity.

Three events were held for over 100 Mizuho attendees, including an online talk, a guided exhibition tour and evening reception, and an ikebana (Japanese art of flower arrangement) demonstration.

Key outcomes

96% of Mizuho attendees learned something new about Japan or Japanese cultures.
82% of Mizuho attendees were inspired to deepen their professional and business relationships with Japan.
78% of Mizuho attendees felt that they wanted to visit Japan after the engagement week (note Japan’s borders were closed at the time of asking).

The Japan House London team have helped us increase engagement in and awareness of Japanese culture not just in London but also across the whole of EMEA through in person and online events for our employees. Mizuho is an international bank, but Japan is our home, and it is wonderful to be able to offer employees who have not had contact with Japan the opportunity to learn as much as they can about Japan’s rich and diverse cultures. Through learning and appreciation, it helps support cultural understanding and that in turn gives broader benefits to our colleagues, clients and in the societies in which we operate.

Neil Riley, Managing Director, Mizuho EMEA

About Mizuho EMEA

Mizuho EMEA provides corporates and institutions in the region with unparalleled access and expertise in Japan and Asia, and supports clients with their corporate and investment banking, and asset management needs. Headquartered in London and with a strong presence throughout the region, our client base includes leading corporations, financial institutions and state owned entities. Mizuho is deeply committed to serving client needs, enabling our people to flourish, and helping to improve society and communities where we do business.

Mizuho’s presence in EMEA is an integral part of the Japan-based Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. Mizuho Financial Group is one of the largest financial institutions in the world, offering comprehensive financial and strategic services through its subsidiaries. The group has over 900 offices and 60,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries throughout the Americas, EMEA, and Asia. As of 31 March 2024, its total assets were US$2 trillion.

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Corporate Membership at Japan House London

Since opening in 2018, Japan House London has worked with a diverse community of corporate partners, all united in their commitment to enabling Japan House London to present the very best of Japan.

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