Category Archives: Cooperatives

Contributed to the welfare of farmers In 1900 (Meiji 33), when sangyokumiai (cooperatives) law was established, a young man was walking 80km of the way beyond the Chugoku Mountains from Iwami region of western edge of Shimane Prefecture. He was heading to the Hatsukaichishi station of Sanyo line (Hiroshima prefecture), for getting admission to the Kyoto municipal agricultural school (now Kyoto Prefectural University). Name of the man, who was getting on train for Kyoto which he saw for the first time, was Masayo Oba ( = 1882 ～ 1939 ). He was the man who worked on the medical business of Sangyokumiai (cooperatives) later. After graduation, Oba became the assistant … Continue reading →

On July 22, 1931 (Showa 6), in Nichiharacho (now Tsuwano-cho) of Kanoashigun (Kanoashi county) of Shimane Prefecture, Kyozon hospital (co-existence hospital) of Sekisei riyokumiai (Sekisei utilization cooperatives) limited liability cooperatives was opened, servicing only medical business.10 persons including Masayo Oba were appointed to board members and 3 persons were appointed to auditors.  The hospital’s name of “kyozon (co-existence)” was adopted from the words “kyozon kyoei (co-existence and co-prosperity)”, the philosophy of the modern cooperatives. The hospital had 2 buildings of 2 stories (Total floor area 937 square meters). Medical subjects　were internal, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology. 3 doctors worked. Pharmacy and X-ray laboratory were equipped. 16 nurses worked. The doctor … Continue reading →