The Consumer Affairs Agency organizes "Consumer Support Achievement Award" every year to recognize the contribution of individuals, organizations and groups with outstanding achievement in consumer support activities and for defending, promoting and improving consumer interests. The award prizes are in three categories namely, Prime Minister's Commendation Award, Minister of State for Special Mission Commendation Award and the Best Consumer Support Achievement Award.

This year, a total of 62 individuals, organizations and groups were awarded. Among them, Hokkaido Consumers’ Co-operative Union and FCO･OP Consumer Co-operative won this year's Minister of State for Special Mission Commendation Award while the Best Consumer Support Achievement Award was won by U CO-OP, Co-op Aichi and Okayama Co-op.

The award ceremony for Okayama Co-op was held at the Okayama Prefecture Government Office on May 16, 2018, and was attended by Ms. KANETAKA Saori a Member Director of Okayama Co-op.

Okayama Co-op supports a wide range of consumer education such as dietary education, environmental education and child monetary education by co-op members. The Co-op also widely promotes consumer education, support the management of qualified consumer organization Okayama Consumer Network. The co-op received appreciation for being engaged in preventing consumer damage through information dissemination and organizing workshops and learning sessions.

 (From right) Ms. KANETAKA Saori Member Director Okayama Co-op, Mr. KOBAYASHI Manager of Department of Civic Life, Okayama Prefecture, Ms. KITAMURA Counselor Okayama Prefectural Consumer Affairs Center