Cooperatives one after another established in raw silk and tea sector In legal basis, sangyokumiai(cooperatives) started in 1900 (Meiji 33). However, before legislation of sangyokumiai, there were some cooperatives which had been born spontaneously and had the same character as sangyokumiai. At the early Meiji era, initial movement of voluntary cooperatives began in the sector of selling cooperatives of raw silk and tea, which were two major exports at that time. In 1859 (Ansei 6), owing to open of Yokohama port, the way of raw silk export was opened. As the proliferation of export, production could not keep up with the demand, overproduction of inferior goods was so flagrant. Uniform … Continue reading →

Foresight for surpass the hardships Before the legislation of sangyokumiai (cooperatives), there was the person who was said to be the pioneer of the sakgyokumiai in Gunma prefecture. He is Tomoe Shimizu. Tomoe lost his father 5 days later of his birth and was brought up to his mother. After graduated from high elementary school at the age of 16, he became a householder and married at the young age of 19.  His daily routine work was to beat the straw in dirt floor and free rope. Tomoe had athletic body and worked rapidly. His caring reputation was also good. Kise village (Maebashi City), Seta District of Gunma Prefecture, was … Continue reading →

“Gyunabe (sukiyaki) Meeting” constructed basis After enactment of sangyokumiai law, 5 years have passed. On February 22, 1905 (Meiji 38), officials and experts involved in sangyokumiai such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Finance were gathered in Western shop “Fujimiken” in Kojimachi Ward, Tokyo (now Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo). The interrogation was made by Tosuke Hirata (before Minister of Agriculture　and Commerce)　and Tsuneaki Sako (Director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce) . The subscription to the sangyokumiai (cooperatives) gradually increased. Aiming for guidance, encouragement, and further spread, Hirata felt strongly the need for a central authority of the cooperatives themselves, except for the … Continue reading →

Foster parent of 2 agriculture organization Hisayoshi Kano, Vice President of Dainihon Sangyokumiaichuokai (association of cooperatives of Japan), is said “foster parent” of two agricultural organization, nokai (chamber of agriculture) and sangyokumiai (cooperatives) in the late Meiji. Kano, after becoming a member of the House of Lords with the opening of Imperial Diet, served as a Kagoshima prefectural governor for 7 years since 1894 (Meiji 27).  During the period of Governor, he focused on the development of agricultural technology and “even spared time to do touring of towns and villages in the prefecture, and opened the lectures and workshops in order to achieve the agricultural improvement. He organized nokai (chamber … Continue reading →

First job, establishment of Zenkoren (national purchase and sales federation) Tosuke Hirata, President of sangyokumiaichuokai, was invited to the beds of Senate, Masayoshi Matsukata ( 1835 ～ 1924 ). Masayoshi Matsukata asked him and said, “Please become the Minister of Interior after me.” The minister of Interior was in a position to give an opinion to national affairs as the counselor of the Emperor of Japan. In the past, it was the role of the Senate. After death of Aritomo Yamagata ( 1838 ～ 1922 ), there had been only two Senates ,  Matsukata and Kinmochi Saionji ( 1849 ～ 1940 ). Saionji had deep relationship with the political world. … Continue reading →