Reflection on My Journey to Japan's Cooperatives 

鄭以津

Visiting Japan with the Commons tour provided me with a unique opportunity to explore the intricate world of cooperatives that I would have never been able to visit myself. The tour took me through various types of cooperatives, including the Seikatsu Club, Co-op Mirai, the JA, and the university cooperative; as well as the visit to Suzuki-san’s farm and brewery in Nagano. Each experience deepened my understanding of the cooperative movement and local community economic development, but also sparked a range of reflections on the values and principles that underpin these organizations. 

The Seikatsu Club was our first stop, and Professor Kurimoto’s sharing gave me lots of historical and cultural context about cooperatives that prepared me for the visit that came after. The story of the “milk bottle” moved me as it was a relatively small and humble origin of what would come to be such a sizeable cooperative. It is a shining example of what can be achieved when individuals come together with a common purpose. The cooperative's vision of promoting safe, healthy, and environmentally friendly products resonated deeply with me. It was inspiring to learn about their member-driven approach, where decisions are made collectively, prioritizing the needs and well-being of community members over profit. As I walked through the cooperative's facilities, I was struck by the various facilities that obviously prioritised members’ welfare and wellbeing, such as the childcare facility. The staff that led us tour around childcare facility spoke passionately about their involvement with the childcare facility and how it could help the mothers in the neighbourhood to build parental knowledge and social capital through bonding with other community members. I also admired the transparency in their operations, from sourcing local ingredients to ensuring fair renumeration for producers. This dedication to ethical practices is something I believe more organizations should emulate.  

In contrast to the Seikatsu Club, the visit to the Co-op Mirai and the JA presented a more commercial side of cooperative organisations. While I appreciated the role that agricultural cooperatives play in supporting farmers and ensuring food security, I had questions about the extent to which they adhere to the foundational cooperative values of democracy, equity, and social responsibility. The focus seemed to be more on efficiency and business operation rather than fostering community ties. Even when they had some social projects, they seemed to me rather random and more as a PR effort. This experience made me rethink about the roles of cooperatives in a modern context, where bulk-purchase of milk delivery might not be so relevant and community-based as the time when Seikatsu Club was first founded. I wondered if, in their pursuit of commercial viability, some cooperatives risk losing sight of the very principles that define them. The contrast between the Seikatsu Club and these cooperatives highlighted the diverse interpretations of cooperative values and raised important questions about the future of the movement. 

Similarly, although the university cooperative was less commercial/business in nature, as it mainly focused on providing valuable services to students, such as affordable food and resources, the cooperative had very little focus on political or democratic representation on the students’ rights and interests. If anything, the cooperative seemed to operate more like a welfare society. Throughout our conversations with the university student representatives, their indifference or political apathy was also rather blatant, and they did not see the cooperative as having any role or position in political discourse. This left me feeling ambivalent about the impact of such cooperatives on student life and the fundamental nature of cooperative, versus a student welfare club.  

With the above questions in mind, the visit to the farm in Nagano turned out to be the most enriching experience of my journey. This hands-on opportunity to engage in farming activities, particularly in a paddy field, allowed me to connect with nature in a profound way that I have never experienced as a very typical Hong Kong-born kid. As I helped out with picking up the rice from the field, I felt a sense of unity with the land and the community. The experience was not just about agriculture; it was also about understanding the rhythms of nature and the importance of sustainable practices. Suzuki-san’s sharing was the most memorable after all: the importance of preserving traditional farming techniques that should go hand in hand, but never be replaced by machinery; his emphasis on connecting with nature, the people and showing gratitude was also clear from how he farmed and brewed the sake without much artificial intervention. It was a reminder that the essence of community lies in bonding and relationships—not only among people but also between people and the nature. 

Reflecting on my journey through Japan's cooperatives has left me with a deeper appreciation for the complexities of this movement. The Seikatsu Club embodied the ideals of consumer cooperation, whereas the other cooperatives raised questions about the balance between commercial success /business viability, and adherence to cooperative values, which should include championing democratic participation and representation. Interestingly, the farming experience in Nagano served as a powerful reminder of what community really means and could be, when stripped of the different modes of organisation or entity. It reinforced the idea that cooperatives are not just about economic transactions; they are about building relationships and creating a better world for all. 

Overall, I am grateful for the CCRD team for organising and hosting the tour, which is no easy task; I have also learnt a lot about my fellow tour-mates who come from all walks of life and have vastly different yet no less interesting experiences, and who often have thought-provoking ideas. As I move forward, I carry with me the lessons learned from these visits. I am inspired to continue to engage in community projects in my current position.