Resolution to
Promote Cooperatives Adopted at the 217th Ordinary Session of the Diet
In response to the United Nations’ designation of 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives, a resolution calling for the promotion of cooperatives to mark the International Year of Cooperatives was adopted at the plenary sessions of the House of Representatives on 27 May, and of the House of Councillors on 28 May.
The resolution acknowledges that the International Year of Cooperatives aims to promote cooperatives and raise awareness of cooperatives’ contributions to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to overall social and economic development. It calls on the government to promote cooperatives, respect the definition, values, and principles set forth in the ICA Statement on the Cooperative Identity, position cooperatives as key actors in the creation of sustainable local communities, and note the development of cooperatives as private, non-profit organizations democratically managed and operated by many people as members.
Following the adoption of the resolution in both Houses, the Minister of State for Special Missions, Ms. Junko Mihara, expressed her views, stating that the government takes the intent of the resolution seriously and will work to further push forward initiatives by cooperatives aimed at addressing social issues.
“It is highly significant that both Houses of Japan’s National Diet, in line with the United Nations, have called on the government not only to promote the cooperatives, but also to respect and uphold the definition, values, and principles of cooperatives as set out in the ICA Statement on the Cooperative Identity,” said Toru Yamano, Chairperson of the IYC2025 Japan Committee and President of the Japan Co-operative Alliance (JCA). “The cooperatives participating in this Committee reaffirm their mission and will live up to the expectations expressed by the UN and both Houses of the National Diet. We are determined to work even harder to make it happen – more sustainable and vibrant local communities.”
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Photo courtesy of Japan Agricultural News
Japan’s legislators adopt resolution calling for promotion of co-ops