One after another, “Learn from Hokkaido”
Taiichi Kurokawa, later managing director of National Mutual Insurance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives, (from “Evolution History of Agricultural Cooperatives Mutual Insurance”)
After the war, private insurance companies focused on rural areas which were relatively little damaged by the war. Since spring of 1948, Nippon Life Insurance Company had been lobbying the alliance to nokyo (agricultural cooperatives). At 1st representatives meeting of nokyo held in 1949, nokyo side unanimously resolved “To seek a revision of the Insurance Business Law so as to be able to run life insurance business in nokyo.” On the other hand, there was realistic voice as follows; “It is good idea to make partnering with Nippon Life Insurance Company via liaison of National Welfare Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives (Zenkouren).”
As a result, in 1948 and 1949, Nippon Life Insurance Company signed contract with local-level nokyo one after another. Until March 1949, 3779 nokyo contracted with the company. Being looked from the outside, it seemed as if nokyo had signed with Nippon Life Insurance Company in a nationwide hand.
There was a person who was furious to hear this story. The person was Rokutaro Matsumoto, chairman of Prefectural Guidance Federation of Hokkaido of Agricultural Cooperatives. He claimed, “What does National Guidance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives think? In Hokkaido, nokyo created prefectural mutual insurance federation in order to run insurance business. In other prefectures, it must be also possible to do the same thing.”
This statement of Matsumoto nationwide shocked whole of nokyo including National Guidance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives. If there had not been this statement, partnership with insurance companies could have proceeded to threaten the destiny of National Mutual Insurance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA Kyosairen).
At the end of 1949, Taiichi Kurokawa, later managing director of National Mutual Insurance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA Kyosairen), visited to National Guidance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives (Zenshiren). At that time, the guidance federation requested him, “Please examine the kyosai (mutual insurance) business of Hokkaido.”
Kurokawa had heard about kyosai (mutual insurance) business in Hokkaido, but he didn’t understand its meaning. However, he felt that such business might become the cornerstone of cooperatives. Replying immediately, he went to Sapporo.
Shigeyoshi Okuno, sanji (associate director) of Prefectural Mutual Insurance Federation of Hokkaido of Agricultural Cooperatives (Kyosairen Hokkaido), explained Kurokawa on the establishment circumstances and the business contents. In this north land, there had been progressed the business completely different from information heard in Tokyo. Back to Tokyo, Kurokawa visited the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. “The kyosai (mutual insurance) business is steadily progressing in Hokkaido. Do you know it?” But the ministry paid no attention to it and answered, “It is on different level from commercial insurance business.” However, Kurokawa did not give up. He had felt the swell.
In January 1950, Haruo Tamiya, general affairs section manager of Kyosairen Hokkaido, went to Tokyo in order to attend the meeting for sanji (associate directors) and senmuriji (senior managing directors) of prefectural guidance federations of agricultural cooperatives. After the meeting, Tamiya opened “Promotion council for kyosai (mutual insurance) business by nokyo” gathering prefectural representatives interested in this theme. It was gathered 10 prefectures such as Fukushima, Ibaraki, Kanagawa, Nagano, Gifu, Osaka, Hyogo, Yamaguchi, Ehime, and Kagoshima. Tamiya reported about the performance of Kyosairen Hokkaido, the relationship with nogyo-kyosai (agricultural insurance) organization, and the investigation result by the Ministry of Finance, so as to demand an early start of the kyosai (mutual insurance) business.
Promotion councils formed in 18 prefectures
In May of this year, the central organization such as National Guidance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives (Zenshiren) established Research Council for kyosai (mutual insurance) business by nokyo, so as to start information collection on kyosai (mutual insurance) business. In October, representatives of 18 prefectural federations joined the council to form Promotion Council for kyosai (mutual insurance) business by nogyokyodokumiai (agricultural cooperatives). This council became the founding meeting for National Mutual Insurance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives (Zenkyoren, later JA Kyosairen).
In parallel, the council also encouraged start of kyosai (mutual insurance) to other prefectures. Ichiro Kato, general affairs director of Prefectural Guidance Federation of Kanagawa of Agricultural Cooperatives, changed the complexion after finishing reading the document sent from the council. He commanded to his staff, “This is just the cooperatives movement that we have been trying to do. Research thoroughly what’s called “kyosai (mutual insurance).”
For the first time his staff just heard the technical terms including “kyosai (mutual insurance)”. They had to visit and learn in Hokkaido, advanced area. One day, directors and 15 staff went to Hokkaido. Staff for reception guided to the inn the guests who arrived after 26 hours trip by train and ship and said, “You are the first guests for study visit.”
From the next day, study sessions at Kyosairen Hokkaido continued. Local staff kindly taught responding to question on details of practices and mechanisms. After finished the sessions, they went back to the inn while bringing documents wrapped in cloth full. On 30 October 1950, the Establishment General Assembly for Kyosairen (Prefectural Mutual Insurance Federation) of Kanagawa of Agricultural Cooperatives was held and the beginning of kyosai (mutual insurance) was declared.
In Nagano Prefecture, people had also wanted to establish the kyosairen (prefectural mutual insurance federation of agricultural cooperatives) as Hokkaido in future. Looking at this movement, Kyosairen Hokkaido reached out the hand of partnership to them. Shigeyoshi Okuno, associate director of Kyosairen Hokkaido, went to Nagano. He encouraged saying, “Please begin the businesses also in Nagano early so as to support our Hokkaido struggling lonely.”
Reference = Prefectural Mutual Insurance Federation of Hokkaido of Agricultural Cooperatives “Five decades history of Kyosairen Hokkaido” and “Two decades history of Kyosairen Hokkaido” the Federation, National Mutual Insurance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives ed. “Five decades history of JA insurance” and “Evolution History of Agricultural Cooperatives Mutual Insurance” the Federation, Taiichi Kurokawa “A path in the desert, 50 years of medical care and mutual insurance movement,” Ienohikarikyokai