Category Archives: Booklet

“Life” and “buildings” as two wheels Even after establishment, National Mutual Insurance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives (Zenkyoren) went groping in the dark. It was life kyosai (mutual insurance) which secured Zenkyoren’s progressing walk in this situation. The original purpose of nokyo-kyosai (agricultural cooperatives mutual insurance) was to prevent the outflow of funds from the rural areas and to promote internal accumulation of rural funds. After the war, Kyosairen Hokkaido had started “life kyosai (mutual insurance) (long-term)” along with “buildings kyosai (mutual insurance) (short-term)” from the beginning of business start. In October 1951, in Hokkaido, where life kyosai (mutual insurance) was practiced, directors of Zenkyoren visited and studied the actual situation. … Continue reading →

Overcoming the weaknesses by amendment of the law Ensured foundation promoted rapid progress Since 1948 when born in Hokkaido, nokyo-kyosai (agricultural cooperatives mutual insurance) business had suffered the incessant pressure from the private commercial insurance industry and nogyo-kyosai (agricultural insurance) organization. The kyosai (mutual insurance) business was in compliance with the provisions of Article 10, Paragraph (1), Item8 of nokyo (agricultural cooperatives) law. However, the contents of contract and rights & obligations had been carried out based on voluntary guidelines between the cooperatives members and nokyo. There was a remarkable difference from detailed supervision against nogyo-kyosai (agricultural insurance) organization and commercial insurance companies. Commercial insurance companies had been poked Its … Continue reading →

After the defeat, food shortage attacked people After the Second World War, General Headquarters (GHQ) of Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, which occupied Japan, on December 9, 1945 (Showa 20), in order to wipe out the rural feudalism, issued “farmers release command (memorandum of agrarian reform)”. It abolished nogyokai (agricultural institution) turned into national policy institutions, and ordered the establishment of “nogyokyodokumiai (agricultural cooperatives)” for farmers by farmers of the farmers to the Japanese government. We follow the decisive actions of agrarian reform and founded process of nogyokyodokumiai (agricultural cooperatives) while watching the process of negotiation between Government of Japan and GHQ. On August 20, 1945, 5 days later … Continue reading →

Matsumura, Minister of Agriculture, expressed determination Ministerial personnel by Prime Minister Kijūrō Shidehara ( 1872 ～ 1951 ) was focused on personnel selection of Minister of Agriculture, Forestry. Kenzo Matsumura ( 1883 ～ 1971 ), Minister of Health and Welfare of Higashikuni Cabinet, was appointed the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. Matsumura was known as most familiar with agricultural policy in the political world. Matsumura was called to the cabinet formation headquarter at Prime Minister’s Office. Matsumura was told his Post and answered, “Current food problem is difficult. I would like to consult some person.” He went out about an hour. The person was Tadaharu Machida ( 1863 ～ 1946 … Continue reading →

Lone struggle of Matsumura, Agriculture Minister In October 1945, 4 days later after appointment of Kenzo Matsumura, Agriculture Minister, the draft of the agrarian reform (draft of Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) had been completed. Shiro Tohata( 1907 ～ 1980 ), Agricultural policy manager, mainly created it. The draft consists of three main points as follows; 1) to establish owner farmers, 2) to change tenant payment in kind into cash payment, while maintaining of controling tenant farmlands and own farmlands, 3) democratic reorganization of municipal agricultural land committee (Committee members consist of each 10 people of landowners, owner farmers, and the local tenant farmers, elected by sectors. Chairman elected committee … Continue reading →