University Co-operatives in Japan: Building bridges for the future of their members and the co-operative movement
Introduction
Large and successful consumer co-operatives have existed in Japan for many years, and Japanese citizens are known for their positive attitudes towards co-operation. Recently, however, there has been apprehension that the co-operative values system is vanishing. Japanese society is changing rapidly because of globalisation and liberalisation. The majority of active co-operative members used to be housewives, but many housewives are now working and do not have the time to participate in co-ops that they once did. Younger members prefer greater participation in other voluntary groups based on common causes like ecology, welfare, and leisure, rather than the broad, traditional co-operative commitments. Hence, co-operative leaders are becoming increasingly concerned with how to increase member participation.
In addition, recent consumer studies suggest that Japanese youth are now individualistic, rather than collectivistic: for example, they often prefer to meet their socio-economic needs through individual undertakings rather than relying on groups. This may be attributed to incentives, like customized goods and services that are easily accessible, especially through the Internet. Also, a more benevolent government provides public services, and so the need to join any socio-economic enhancement organisations like co-operatives is not apparently as great as it once was. This may be why only a few legitimate youth co-ops can be found in Japan. The drawbacks of this situation for the enhancement of the nation’s civil society and for the co-operative movement is alarming, and raises questions about who will form the new generation of co-operators.
However, there is an institution that is continuously addressing this challenge and that particularly emphasizes how young people can meet their economic and social needs through co-operatives: it is the Japanese University Co-operative (Daigaku Seikyo in Japanese). These co-operatives existed in Japan even in the pre-Second World War period. Organized by both professors and the students, they were formed to help young people in particular to meet a wide range of economic, social, cultural and psychological needs. However, along with other types of co-ops, they were shut down by the militaristic government during the Second World War, only to reappear after the war was over.
Today, there are 225 strong university (public, private and inter-college) co-op societies in Japan. They are connected through a network, which represents 1.4 million members, including Japanese and international students (undergraduate and postgraduate). Students make-up 89 per cent of the membership and teaching and non-teaching staff 11 per cent. These co-ops employ nearly 2,000 people and in 2003 had close to $2 billion in turnover. With the help of the Federation of University Co-operatives Association of Japan (NFUCA), the apex organisation, they are organized and supported to promote the co-operative movement and unity among members as they improve the on-campus and off-campus welfare of their members. Members from various classes co-operate with one another, thereby creating the spirit of inclusion, independence, and collaboration.
Each co-op on a campus is immersed in an atmosphere of learning and encourages the exchanging of experiences as well as helping to promote the building of more positive communities. The co-ops strive to maintain such a unique environment as they work towards the vision of contributing to international student exchanges, peace activities and personal commitment; even as they help members realize their wishes and dreams.
Responding to the socio-economic needs of youth members
The university is not only the place for education and research advancement for students: it also serves as a training ground to help them learn how to undertake their potential future responsibilities as well. Along this vital path, students need guidance and support in every aspect of their life. In their daily living they are far from their families and they often have difficulty in accessing quality goods and services at reasonable prices.
The Japanese university co-ops exist primarily to help students meet these social and economic needs. Their businesses and activities have always been geared to reflect the needs of their members, especially the students.
The Japanese co-ops have several stores with a variety of goods and services, meeting practically all necessities. They sell furniture, appliances and consumer goods. They operate cafeterias that are open from morning until evening. They run bookstores and electronic shops that offer affordable devices and peripherals (in any form and brand) like software, printers, digital cameras, laptops -- and much more, depending upon member needs. Such stores accept staggered payments and online purchases.
University co-ops also serve as an entrusted agent, guarantor and consultant when students are looking for better places to live, applying for credit cards, purchasing discounted tickets when traveling inside and outside Japan, attending driving and review schools, and most notably, when they are looking for jobs. All these services may be available in a single university.
University co-ops organize various committees for student members, one of which is the committee of student representatives (primary and nationwide). These students are the officers in the general executive body of the co-op. They are expected to uphold and endorse the needs and wants of the rest of the student members. They are also given the highest number of seats in the decision-making process of that co-operative, thereby demonstrating how democratically controlled organisations work.
As for international students, adjustment with the Japanese culture, food, people and especially the language can be tough and may take months or even years; in response to this, co-ops have established the National Foreign Student Network committee. The goal of this committee is to help international students resolve problems that they encounter during their stay in Japan. It also promotes exchanges between Japanese and their fellow international students and with the community by providing offices for consultations and for sponsoring activities like camping, hiking, seasonal parties and field trips. The co-ops also work towards a more humane and environmentally friendly society, achieved through massive recycling campaigns, the supplying of ecological products, and participation in local and international peace and environmental movements.
Conclusions
Many people might agree with the saying that youth are the hope of the future. However, in what way and how it will be done is yet uncertain: that is, ideological movements like youth co-operatives can sprout everywhere in any mode, but without dependable structures and resources, this ideology too readily becomes a myth. This is a challenge for everybody; a challenge that the university co-ops in Japan are trying to conquer by serving as institutions that nurture and support the potential of the youth in a crucial period of their lives. These co-ops remarkably enhance students’ lives in every aspect, an immense foundation to build upon when they return to their respective communities and journey towards higher horizons. The students who experience the co-op’s impartial offerings are developing a deep sense of pride and honour as they are listened to and given importance. From this basis, it is not hard to believe that the youth may shape a desirable future for the Japanese co-operative movement. If they are given enough chances, faith, trust and guidance, they will eventually restore such values to the co-operative movement and to society as a whole.
Roderick Bugador, an international student from the Philippines, is currently a Ph.D. student in the Graduate School of Economics of Kyoto University in Japan. I am a member of the National Foreign Student Network Committee on Co-operatives and the Kyoto University Co-operative.
