Question

Review the history and growth of co-operative movement in Japan.

Answer 1

The first Japanese consumer co-op was established at the end of the 19th century on the model of the Rochdale Pioneers Co-operative. In the late 1940s, consumer co-ops spread across the country to deal with the poor livelihoods of citizens after the Second World War.

There was a time when consumer co-ops faced difficulties. However, they expanded their business into the areas of supermarkets and home delivery services to protect consumers from inflation and meeting their requirements regarding food safety during Japan's rapid economic growth in the 1960s and 70s.

Today, consumer co-ops have 28 million members nationwide with a total turnover of over three trillion yen.