Tokyo celebrated its sixth annual Pride festival this weekend, marking its biggest turnout ever The Daily Mailwith some 70,000 people crowding into the city’s Shibuya district.

US Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy was among the celebrants, marching in the parade and speaking to a group of mothers about LGBT children.
Thanks to Happy Mama Life and to all moms who fight for kids including #LGBT kids #MothersDay @Tokyo_R_Pride pic.twitter.com/g66l9k9TEa
— キャロライン・ケネディ駐日米国大使 (@CarolineKennedy) May 8, 2016
Support for LGBT rights is growing gradually in Japan: Last fall, Shibuya began recognizing same-sex marriages, and a 2015 poll indicated s 51% of Japanese adults support such recognition.
At the same time, Panasonic became one of the first major corporations in the country to offer benefits to partners of gay and lesbian employees.
This year’s parade saw employees from Google, Gap, JP Morgan and a number of Japanese finance firms holding up signs declaring their companies’ commitment to equality and diversity.
“Since sexuality is something invisible, the issue of LGBT people tends to be regarded as nonexistent unless they make their voices heard,” organizer Fumino Sugiyama told the Japan Times.”The purpose of this event is to make LGBT people visible, but do it in a cheerful, funny way.”
Below, check out highlights from the 2016 Tokyo Rainbow Pride parade on Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFJdC73Hfmm/?tagged=tokyopride
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFIpfCbwWU1/?tagged=tokyorainbowpride
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFJC62SL8DC/?tagged=tokyopride
ステージ…そろそろクライマックスです… #TRP2016 pic.twitter.com/JBLoiBZRBP
— TOKYO RAINBOW PRIDE (@Tokyo_R_Pride) May 8, 2016
My t-shirt. #TRP2016 #Tokyopride pic.twitter.com/KVMVygnlz4
— Sheepchase (@sheepchase) May 8, 2016
歩いてます!! pic.twitter.com/oLfV9s16Hc
— TOKYO RAINBOW PRIDE (@Tokyo_R_Pride) May 8, 2016
Some photos of today's massive #Tokyo Rainbow Parade | 3 of 3@Tokyo_R_Pride #TRP2016 #LGBT pic.twitter.com/UV28nlPqBr
— Kjeld Duits (@KjeldDuits) May 8, 2016
And
Today
Over
The
RAINBOW#TRP2016#SUK#OVEGAS pic.twitter.com/cOFFM7RlAu— SUK (@SHUNNITTER) May 8, 2016