The History of the ILO and Japan

Establishment of the ILO Tokyo Office and its shut down (1919-1939)

In 1919, the Peace Conference was held in Versailles, following the Paris Conference, after the WWI, and Japan participated in these Conferences as a member of conquering nations. The Peace Conference adopted the Treaty of Versailles, by which the establishment of the ILO under the League of Nations was also determined. Japan dispatched a delegate mission of some 60 members to the first session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) held in Washington D.C.

In November 1920, the Office of Japan Representative was set up in Geneva to liaison the ILO. At the 4th session of the ILC in 1922, Japan was officially nominated to be a permanent member of Governing Body (GB) as one of the eight biggest industrial countries. In the same year, Japan ratified two ILO Conventions for the first time (No.2 Convention on Unemployment and No.9 Convention on Placing of Seamen).

The 18th session of the GB in April 1923 decided to establish a branch in Tokyo. In line with the decision, the Tokyo Office was established in November 1923 and Mr. Junshiro AMARI, an officer at the Geneva Headquarter who previously worked for the Ministry of Agriculture and Business in Japan, was appointed as the first Head of Office. The Tokyo Office was located at Bousuirou Hotel at Omori and started business from next January. The Office made its initial effort to raise awareness of the ILO activities in Japan through several publications. At that time, concern was expressed many times in the ILC about the Worker member of Japan as it was selected by the Japanese Government. In 1924, Bunji SUZUKI, the president of Soudoumei, attended the ILC as the first Worker member elected in democratic process. In the same year, Japan Seamen's Union and Seamen's Association filed a case against the Japanese Government for the first time (regarding No.9 Convention), but the GB adopted the conclusion to express satisfaction with explanation by the Government. Mr. Albert Thomas, the ILO Director General, made his first visit to Japan and gave tremendous impacts on society.

In 1930s, Japan became isolated in the international community and finally dropped out of the League of Nations. International society pointed out alleged social dumping behind the remarkable economic performance in Japan but Mr. Mohlet, the Deputy Director General who came to Japan for inspection in this regard, published report in favour of Japan.

In July 1935, Mr. AMARI, the Head of Office in Tokyo, passed away and Mr. Gen AYUSAWA, an officer at Geneva Headquarter, succeeded his place. In November 1938, Japan finally announced to leave the ILO (enacted two years later).

In response to the announcement, the Tokyo Office was shut down in May 1939.

Promotion of Japan's Re-entry to the ILO after the war - The Period of Resident Officer in Japan (1947-1954)

After the WWII, resolutions regarding Japan were adopted in Fibre Labour Commission in 1946 and the Asian Regional Conference in 1947 and Japan's re-entry to the ILO was actively sought. In December 1947, Mr. Toru OGISHIMA, an officer in Geneva Headquarter, backed in Japan to boost the re-accession movement. In March 1948, he took an initiative to establish the ILO Committee in Japan and it started working for raising awareness of the ILO spirit as well as promoting the re-entry.

Mr. OGISHIMA was nominated to be the ILO resident officer in Japan in July 1949 and he opened the resident office in the property of Ministry of Labour. While the office issued several publications in an active promotion of the ILO, it started recruitment of Japanese specialists as well as acceptance of overseas fellows as a part of technical cooperation. In November 1949, the ILO Association of Japan, a private organisation with tripartite structure, was established to work jointly with the resident office and Mr. OGISHIMA took the post of Secretary General of the Association. The re-accession of Japan to the ILO was approved in the 34th session of the ILC in 1951. The decision came into force in November by the Diet approval. In September 1953, the 3rd Asian Regional Conference was held in Tokyo as the first ILO conference in Japan. Japan took the permanent seat in the GB again in 1954 and the ILC in the same year decided to elevate the resident office to the ILO Tokyo Office.

Re-open of Tokyo Office and the Period of Awareness Raising (1955-1976)

The ILO Tokyo Office was re-established in October 1955 and Mr. Yasuemon SAKURAI, who previously worked for the Office of Japan Representative in Geneva, was nominated as the first Head of Office after the War. The Tokyo Office put its major effort in introducing the ILO activities and overseas labour situations to Japan. In 1960s, while foreign fellows were invited to Japan, Japanese fellows, mainly from the Ministry of Labour, were also dispatched to Europe and the United States.

The case filed by Sohyo to the Commission on Freedom of Association in April 1958 ignited succeeding burst of filings by public unions in Japan to the ILO. This movement gathered attention to the ratification of No.87 Convention on freedom of association and the right of assembly and the ILO fact-finding commission on freedom of association was first dispatched.

The commission visited Japan in April 1965 (Drier Commission) and compiled a report. In response, Japan revised relevant regulations in accordance with the report and ratified No.87 Convention in June. In the same year, several ILO conferences were held in Japan such as the 2nd Asian Region Maritime Conference, Asian Region Social Security Seminar, and Asian Region Vocational Training Seminar.

In June 1966, Mr. Morio AOKI, the Government member in the GB, was elected as the chairperson of the GB with a duration of one year.

In January 1968, Mr. Shingo KAIDE, who has once attended the ILC as the Government delegate, succeeded Mr. SAKURAI. In September, the ILO Director General Mr. Morse participated in the Asian Regional Conference in Japan. In 1969, number of events was held in Japan to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the ILO establishment. Along with memorial forums, lectures and stamps, the winners of "I was born with the ILO" Contest were invited to the celebration party hosted by the ILO at Geneva Headquarter.

In November 1974, Mr. Yujiro OHNO, the Head of Occupational Safety and Health Department in Ministry of Labour, was nominated, as the first Japanese, to be the ILO Deputy Director General. Today, the Deputy Director General in charge of Asia Pacific Region (called the Regional Director today) is taken by Japanese. Between September and October in 1971, the Director General Mr. Jenks visited Japan as a distinguished guest of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Seiji EBITSUKA took office after Mr. KAIDE in January 1973.

In November 1974, the ILO purchased a Japanese ship for shipmen training in Bangladesh as a part of technical cooperation. In the same month, Asian Region Women Labour Administration Seminar was held in Tokyo, as the first project afforded by Japanese voluntary contribution to the ILO (ILO/Japan multi-bi cooperation). Japanese multi-bi cooperation has been widened year by year and it marks nearly 300 million JPY today.

At the 60th session of the ILC in 1975, Mr. Kazuo YOSHIMURA, an executive board of Nikkeiren and Mr. Yukitaka HARAGUCHI, an advisor for Sohyo, were elected together as a member of the GB and as a consequence three Japanese nationals from the Government, Workers and Employers took their own seats in the GB. This status is being kept till today.

The Period of Financial Crisis (1977-1980)

In January 1978, Mr. Seiji KUDO, who has once attended the ILC as delegate of the Japanese Government, succeeded Mr. EBITSUKA. In order to resolve the financial crisis due to dropout of the United States in January 1977, the Deputy Director General Mr. Jane visited Japan in March 1978 and requested cooperation of Japan. In response to the bid, the Government of Japan decided to offer voluntary contribution at amount of 1 million USD. In December 1979, the ILO Director General Mr. Blanchard was received as an official guest by the Japanese Government.

In January 1980, Mr. KUDO was succeeded by Mr. Ikumi KUNOGI, who has once attended the GB as the Government member. In February, the United States backed in the ILO. At the 66th session of the ILC in June, simultaneous interpretation in Japanese was attempted for the first time. In November 1979, the Asian Region Skill Development Project, co-funded by the Government of Japan and the ILO, was launched as seminar-type technical cooperation based on the Vocational Training Information Network in Asian Region (abbreviated as APSDEP after the Pacific region was added as target area). Japan hosted this seminar in October 1980 for the first time. Today, this seminar is held in Chiba several times a year in cooperation with Overseas Vocation Training Association (OVTA).

The Period of Promoting Technical Cooperation (1981-1999)

At the 68th session of the ILC in 1982, Ryoichi TANAKA, Secretary General of Domei, played the role of Deputy Chair. In January 1983, the ILO Director General Mr. Blanchard visited Japan to attend the Conference of Labour Ministers in Asian Pacific Region held in Tokyo.

In August 1985, Mr. Yoshiteru IWATA, who was once a member of the GB as well as the Government member in the ILC, took office. Between 1986 and 1987, the ILO dispatched twice investigation teams to Asian countries to examine the role of Japan in the field of technical cooperation. In March 1988, a seminar was held in Bangkok on industrial relationship and productivity as the first ILO foreign seminar funded by Japan. At the 75th session of the ILC in June, Mr. TSUJINO, an executive board member of Nikkeiren, was appointed to be the Deputy Chair. In July, Diet Members Federation for the ILO Promotion, consist of some 100 Diet legislators, was established. In October 1988, the first Asia Pacific Region Employers Summit, hosted by Nikkeiren and supported by the ILO, was held in Tokyo. Since then the Summit has been held in Asian countries at regular intervals.

In August 1990, Mr. Yasuo YASHIMA, the Deputy Director of Tokyo Office, took the place of Mr. IWATA. The ILO Director General Mr. Hansenne visited Japan as a distinguished guest of the Japanese Government.

In July 1992, Ms. Kiyoko FUJII, the Deputy Director of Tokyo Office, succeeded Mr. YASHIMA. In January 1993, Officers of the Human Resource Department at Headquarter came to Japan with the aim of recruiting more Japanese personnel. Lectures were held in Tokyo and Kobe in 1994 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the ILO establishment as well as the 50th anniversary of the Philadelphia Declaration. In the same year, the Project to Network Asian Institutions for Labour Studies was launched in cooperation with Japan Institute for Labour Studies. In July and August 1997, a workshop was held in Africa, in cooperation with Rengo, for local union leaders on improvement of productivity and workers' interest. Changing the target areas in Africa, the workshop is continued yet and the 3rd was held in 2000.

In August 1997, Mr. Nobuhiro HAYASAKA, a standing director of Japan Vocational Ability Development Association, took office. In October, the 9th International Academic Conference on Occupational Respiratory Diseases by the ILO was held in Kyoto for the first time in Asia. In November, the Director General Mr. Hansenne visited Japan to attend the employment conference in Kobe. At the 86th session of the ILC in 1998, Mr. Yutei ITO, an executive of Rengo, was appointed to be the Deputy Chair. At the 272nd session of the GB in June, Mr. Nobutoshi AKAO, the delegate of the Government, was elected to be the Chairperson for a duration of one year.

Toward the 21st Century: Promotion of Decent Work (1999- )

In June 1999, the ILO Director General Mr. Juan Somavia, in his first report submitted to the ILC, suggested "Decent Work for All" as the purpose of the ILO in the 21st century and raised four pillars of the ILO activity to realise this general goal.

• Promote Standards and Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
• Create greater opportunities for women and men to secure decent employment and income
• Enhance the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all
• Strengthen tripartism and social dialogue

In November, Mr. Somavia visited Japan for the first time after his taking office and made a lecture to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the ILO Association of Japan. In April 2000, Mr. Wild, the Head of Human Resource Development Department, came to Japan with the aim of recruiting more Japanese personnel and held lectures and interview examination.

In January 2001, Ms. Mitsuko HORIUCHI, the ILO Regional Director in Asia and Pacific, became the Head of Tokyo Office as well as Special Advisor on Gender Issues. At the same time, Tokyo Office was restructured from under the Asia Pacific Regional Office to direct under Office of the Director General. Since 2002, the ILO has set June 12th as World Day against Child Labour and held events across the world to attract attention to this issue. Tokyo Office has also launched several events such as photo exhibitions on and around the day every year, some of which are organised in cooperation with NGOs.

Review was made in organisational structure with the aim of coherent and effective administration and Tokyo Office was renamed on 1st April, 2003 as the ILO Office in Japan. In May 2003, the Government of Japan decided to contribute about 1.21 million USD to the ILO project on "Protection of Human Trafficking of Women and Children at Community Level in Cambodia and Viet Nam", through the United Nations Human Security Fund. In December, in cooperation with University of Tokyo, the ILO serial lecture on social policy was held in Japan for the first time, under the theme of "globalisation and the future of work". The serial lecture, counted 6 times, is held in every two years co-hosted with major universities in the world and afforded by the interest arose from the Nobel Peace Prize Fund established when the ILO took the honour in 1969. Mr. Ronald Dour, professor at University of London, was invited as main lecturer and other Japanese and foreign eminent academics gave lectures as well.

In December 2004, Asia Symposium on Globalisation and the Future of the Youth was co-hosted by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the UN University and the ILO, and Mr. Somavia visited Japan as his second time to make a keynote speech.

In September 2005, photo exhibition on the ILO history and symposium on "Changing World of Work and Significance of the ILO Today" was held to commemorate 50th anniversary of the ILO Office in Japan.

In January 2006, Ms. HORIUCHI was replaced by Mr. Shinichi HASEGAWA, the ILO Regional Director in Asia Pacific Region. The share of Japanese contribution to the ILO regular budget in 2006 was the second largest of 72,375,815 CHF (19.485%), following that of the United States (22%). Besides, voluntary contribution (multi-bi technical cooperation), which was started in Fiscal 1974, marked 210 million JPY in Fiscal 2004.

At the time of January 2005, the ILO has 33 Japanese officers working as specialist or higher post. Some other personnel are working as associate expert, who are afforded by the Government of Japan as a part of technical cooperation. Japan has secured the place of permanent member of the GB since the establishment of the ILO, except the period of dropout, as one of major industrial countries. As for the delegate of Worker and Employer, Mr. Toshio SUZUKI, an executive of Keidanren International Cooperation Centre, and Mr. Shigeru NAKAZIMA, the Head of International Affairs Department of Rengo, are both elected as a member of the GB. It is rare that all the three delegates of one country secure their own seats in the GB.

The number of Conventions that Japan has ratified is 47. The latest is No.162 Convention on Asbestos ratified in August 2005.

Conferences by the ILO have received many Japanese participants and, in return, the ILO officers are often invited to labour related conferences in Japan. Japan has created a close and active relationship with the ILO since early days of the history as a founding member of the Organisation.