Since 2023, international lawyer Mina Kobayashi has been working alongside Lively as an advisor, focusing her efforts on the field of Business and Human Rights.
In the first part of our interview, we explored the journey that shaped her — from her early inspirations to where she is today.
In the second part, we’ll delve into her path as an international lawyer and her involvement with Lively.

Passing On a Better World to Future Generations — Advancing “Business and Human Rights” Initiatives

It sounds like your legal work and your life’s mission have come to align. Could you tell us about your past activities and future goals in the field of “Business and Human Rights”?

As a member of the International Human Rights Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, I’ve served as a lecturer for summer schools on Business and Human Rights.
I’ve also worked within the field of corporate law, conducting in-house training sessions for companies on the topic.
Moving forward, I hope to continue raising awareness, providing education, and sharing insights in this field, with the broader goal of contributing to the resolution of human rights issues both in Japan and around the world.

In addition, I’m currently dedicating efforts toward the establishment of a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) in Japan.
Despite having received multiple recommendations from the United Nations, Japan still lacks an independent human rights body separate from the government.
I’ve been organizing study sessions and events that bring together diverse stakeholders, in hopes of building momentum toward the creation of such an institution.
It’s not something that can be achieved overnight, but it’s a cause I’m deeply committed to pursuing.

We’d also love to hear about how you first connected with us at Lively. I remember it started with a casual conversation at the end of a training session. You mentioned practicing composting in your personal life, and we really hit it off talking about environmental and social issues.

That’s right.
When I heard about Lively’s work in areas like recycling, animal welfare, and diversity, I thought, “This sounds like a really interesting company.”
I was also touched by how sincerely you listened to me talk about human rights and composting — and how natural it felt to have those kinds of conversations with you.
Meeting people with whom I could talk about those things so naturally left a deep impression on me.

Shortly after we met, we had the opportunity to collaborate on a human rights-related project. Thank you again for that.

The pleasure was mine — I’m truly grateful we had the chance to work together.
The first project we worked on was focused on supporting a company’s human rights due diligence (HRDD) process, wasn’t it?
We collaborated closely with the client, and I remember being genuinely happy to see how engaged the participants were during the workshop we held.
I was also deeply impressed by Lively’s project philosophy of “empowering clients to take ownership through hands-on experience.”
The way your team works closely and empathetically with clients is truly ideal.
Through this collaboration, I was able to experience things that wouldn’t have been possible solely in my role as a lawyer — it was an incredibly valuable experience.

We’d love to hear your impressions of Lively, and any values or ideas you particularly resonated with.

Everyone at Lively has such a calm and gentle demeanor — you give off this clear, refreshing energy, like a forest in the early morning.
But beneath that, there’s a strong and passionate sense of purpose.
I feel that you, like me, carry a deep sense of responsibility toward future generations.
There’s this shared belief: “We can’t hand over the Earth or society to the next generation the way things are now. That’s why we need to change it.”

I think that sense of mission is something that deeply connects me with all of you at Lively, and it’s a big part of why I resonate with your work.

Toward World Peace — Inviting More People to See Through a New Lens

Looking ahead, what kind of initiatives would you like to pursue together with the Lively team?

I’d like to collaborate on experiential, hands-on initiatives in areas such as Business and Human Rights, gender issues, and civic education.
Traditional lectures and training sessions can certainly help spread knowledge to many people, but they often feel one-sided — people may not feel truly engaged, and the information can be easily forgotten.
That’s why I believe it’s just as important to create opportunities for people to feel and internalize what they’re learning, even if it’s with a smaller group.
To help people start paying attention to social issues, I think we need to offer experiences that allow them to “put on a new lens” — to see parts of the world that were previously out of focus for them.

That’s very true. Many social issues can go unnoticed due to biases shaped by our environment or personal background. Gaining a new lens or perspective to recognize these issues is incredibly important.

Exactly. My own deep engagement with gender issues began when I had the experience of “putting on a gender lens” during my time studying abroad.
I remember hearing someone say, “In Afghanistan, women can’t go to the hospital unless they’re accompanied by a male family member.”
I found that deeply unjust. But one of my Afghan classmates — a man — said, “As long as they can go to the hospital with a male companion, there’s no problem.”
Another classmate, a woman from Indonesia, said, “Nowadays, female genital mutilation (FGM) is just a symbolic practice — there’s no real pain, just a small mark. It should be respected as part of our culture”
I felt conflicted. It seemed to me that individual human rights were being overshadowed by the idea of cultural diversity.
But once I had put on that gender lens, I found myself naturally noticing gender-related issues everywhere.
After returning to Japan, I began to recognize the gender challenges around me — the structural differences faced by people raised in rural areas versus urban areas, issues of sexual violence and harassment, the “mommy track,” the low percentage of women in leadership roles or political office…
So many of these problems are ones that, once you become aware of them, you can’t just look away.
And once you look away, it’s hard not to take action.
That’s exactly why I want more people to go beyond just gaining knowledge — I want them to truly experience these realities, to feel them in their hearts. Because that kind of personal experience is what drives meaningful change.

Lastly, could you share your vision for the future?

Ultimately, I would say “world peace.”
I hope to help create a world where everyone can fully express their unique qualities and abilities, regardless of where they were born or the environment in which they were raised.
Of course, I’ll continue to quietly and steadily pursue experiential, hands-on activities like I have until now. But I also recognize that these efforts can’t be done alone.
That’s why I want to connect with more like-minded individuals — people like the Lively team, who share a common purpose.
Everyone has different strengths, interests, and passions. I believe that as long as we’re anchored by the same core values, we can work together — dividing roles, supporting one another, and building a gentle, expanding network of solidarity.
I want to keep doing things — together with all of you — that will leave a positive impact on the future of this planet and for generations to come.

Thank you very much, Ms. Kobayashi.

Interview Date: November 29, 2024

Message from the Project Member

Ms. Kobayashi’s perspective on social issues — shaped by her formative experiences in high school and later broadened through an international lens — deeply resonates with Lively’s mission to address complex social challenges through continuous engagement and to help build a sustainable future. Human rights issues involve the violation of fundamental rights that all people inherently possess. In recent years, from the standpoint of Business and Human Rights, there has been increasing scrutiny on companies and their responsibilities, including the implementation of human rights due diligence.

In the projects we’ve collaborated on with Ms. Kobayashi, our shared goal has been to help client companies “put on a lens” — to notice social issues that often go unseen. Through workshops and dialogues, her thoughtful questions and observations have enabled participants to recognize previously overlooked challenges. These moments have sparked a shift in perspective: from seeing human rights merely as risks to be managed, to understanding them as a force for positive change.

This process — of questioning existing systems and corporate culture, and transforming those reflections into action — has been made possible through the unique insights and facilitation that Ms. Kobayashi brings.

Despite her active involvement in both domestic and international projects, Ms. Kobayashi consistently approaches every conversation with care and attentiveness. Her presence provides a strong sense of trust and reassurance to our clients. Her accompaniment-style support, grounded in dialogue and empathy, has become a driving force for meaningful change on the ground.

At Lively, we look forward to continuing our partnership with Ms. Kobayashi — creating more opportunities for reflection and awareness through dialogue, and taking steady steps together toward a more sustainable future.