(10 September 2025 – Japan) ITOCHU has announced the issuance of its first Orange Bond, representing the first issuance of its kind in Japan with the use of proceeds allocated to gender-positive initiatives.
Orange Bonds are intended to direct financing to projects directly promoting gender equality, the empowerment of women and gender minorities. The colour Orange is designated by the United Nations (UN) as its signature colour representing the campaign for ending violence against women.
The Japanese trading house raised ¥15.2 billion JPY from the debt sale, more than the initial plan for a ¥10 billion JPY offering, according to lead manager Daiwa Securities Co with strong investor demand displayed for the ESG notes.
ITOCHU has become the first company in Japan to issue an Orange Bond, demonstrating the group’s commitment to gender equality and the promotion of women’s advancement to stakeholders while further deepening its gender-positive initiatives.
Beyond initiatives for its female workforce, the ITOCHU Group has actively promoted women’s advancement throughout its value chain by offering support programs, investing in technologies that contribute to gender equality, and strengthening business relationships with companies that promote women’s advancement.
“No previous environment, social and governance debt deal in Japan has targeted gender inequality so directly. Still, Japan ranks last among the G7 economies in a global gender gap index and empowering women is ‘indispensable’ for a nation with an ageing and shrinking population” commented Nomura Research Centre of Sustainability Head, Akane Enatsu.
The announcement comes as market participants continue to vocally pursue ambitious ESG goals and want companies to document progress as regulators and investors raise scrutiny of ESG statements for accuracy. Company executives, data firms, consultants and investors continue to declare that corporate ESG disclosures are quickly becoming unmanageable for strategic decision makers.