The Pioneer Shinagawa’s wish came true After scrapping the shinyokumiai bill along with the dissolution of the House of Representatives in 1891 (Meiji 24), the initiative of submission of the sangyokumiai bill was moved to the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce from the Ministry of the Interior. Makers of the sangyokumiai bill were Saku Watanabe, farming manager of the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, and Hajime Oda, Counsellor of the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, who opposed the Tosuke Hirata and Yajiro Shinagawa who had submitted the shinyokumiai bill. Watanabe and other stuff tried translating the words representing the cooperatives in Germany “Erwerbs- und Wirtschafts-Genossenschaften” into “Seisan oyobi keizaikumiai (Livelihood … Continue reading →

Two headwaters to build rural villages The mother of the current JA (Japanese nogyokyodokumiai (agricultural cooperatives)) was “nogyokai (agricultural institution)” that was combined sangyokumiai (cooperatives) and nokai (chamber of agriculture) during the war in 1943 (Showa 18). Because JA succeeded the character of cooperatives from sangyokumiai, generally the predecessor of the JA is said to be sangyokumiai. On the other hands, JA also succeeded the farming guidance business and agricultural policy activities from “nokai (chamber of agriculture)” which merged with nogyokai (agricultural institution). (Tetsuro Shimizu, “History of Nokai system and farming guidance business by nogyokyodokumiai (agricultural cooperatives)”, from “Research and Information, January 2005” by Norinchukin research Institute). It is necessary … Continue reading →

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 →