JCCU on June 17, 2016, held the 66th General Assembly in Tokyo. Out of the 655 representatives to the General Assembly, 436 attended in person, 9 by proxy and 210 by document.

The meeting was honored to receive congratulatory messages from many dignitaries including Ms. Monique Leroux, the President of ICA, Mr. YAMAMOTO Toru, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) and Mr. OKUNO Choe, Committee Chairman of the Japan Joint Committee of Co-operatives (JJC) and also the president of JA-ZENCHU (Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives).

All the five bills including “the 2015 business and financial reports”, the 2016 business plan and the budget” were passed by majority votes. 

At the opening remarks, the President of JCCU, ASADA Katsumi, expressed his appreciation to the co-ops nationwide for their effort in various ways towards the revival of the Kumamoto earthquake and further asked the co-ops to strengthen their effort to continue the reconstruction exercise of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

In addition he mentioned that, in 2015, the “Regional Protection Agreement” with the local governments which allow co-op to confirm the safety of the elderly and report any risk situation to the office of the local government in the town or village for appropriate action to be taken was quite successful. The recognition of the activity confirms once again the value of co-op as an organization of mutual help and the president urged the co-op to continue this goodwill.

There was a debate session after the bill was proposed, in which 16 representatives gave a remark.

Also among the major discussions that took place in a wide range of themes include, co-ops commitment to energy issues, initiatives towards regional development, peace efforts, the strengthening of business solidarity and management and the product development efforts.

Representatives from the co-ops in the areas affected by the 2011 earthquake also gave appreciation remark for the various assistance from co-ops nationwide.

(R) Opening remarks: ASADA Katsumi President JCCU / (L) Congratulatory message: Mr. YAMAMOTO Toru (MHLW)