Japanese Consumers' Cooperative Union (JCCU), the Japan CO-OP Insurance Consumers’ Co-operative Federation (JCIF) and the Japanese Health and Welfare Cooperative Federation (HeW COOP JAPAN) co-organized a new year reception on January 16, 2018.

About 1,200 people, including coop stakeholders, co-operative organizations, leaders from various institutions including cabinet members, political parties and local government attended.

Following the opening address by HONDA Eiichi, President of JCCU, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) Mr. KATO Katsunobu took turn and expressed that the Government acknowledges the role co-ops play through their businesses and activities in creating communities based on the view point of consumers and still expects coops to continue this goodwill.

In addition Mr. SAITO Juro, Chairperson, Japan National Council of Social Welfare addressed the participants saying that he would further advance the cooperation between the consumer co-ops and the councils of social welfare in the community.

At the breaking open the New Year’s sake barrels, each political party, friendship organizations, business partners and representative from various coops went on the stage and a toast was proposed by Mr. KAWAMURA Kazuo, Chairperson of the association of business partners of JCCU to declare the opening of the New Year.