Presented at: Asia Policy Dialogue, Seoul 2017

Organisation: Japan Workers’ Co-operative Union (JWCU)

Date: July 1st, 2017

Presenter: Mr. Osamu Nakano (International relations officer) 

Contacts: o-nakano@roukyou.gr.jp

Summary:

Japan Workers’ Co-operative Union (JWCU) was established in 1979 and has over 60,000 members. The following presentation discusses the nature of JWCU and like workers’ cooperatives in Japan, as well as exploring the current circumstances of Japan about the rest of the world, which, according to the presenter, is very much for neo-liberalistic capitalism. The presentation explores four different cases in Japan where workers cooperative was vital and successful. The first case describes a local welfare business centre “Ajisai.” The second case deals with the integration of cleaning services, “West RINGS” and West Nara Business Centre. The third deals with clean energy industry, “Aguriin”, a biodiesel fuel plant that is managed cooperatively. The fourth case describes “Next Green Tajiman,” forestry management and other related businesses workers’ cooperative. One of JWCU’s main visions is pursuing a society in which no one is left behind.

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