National gathering of cooperation in Japan toward sustainable future

Japan’s National Gathering of Cooperation took place on the shores of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture on 7 - 8 October 2017. This is a biennial gathering where good practices of cooperation toward strengthening solidarity are shared. During this edition the theme was on creating a better society where “no one is left behind” as outlined in the frame of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Co-organized by a wide range of cooperators including the Japanese Worker Cooperative Union (JWCU), Shiga prefectural federations of agricultural cooperatives, consumers’ cooperatives and workers welfare associations, civil groups and researchers the close to 1,000 participants joined this gathering.

At the opening session, Mr Taizo Mikazuki, Governor of Shiga Prefecture touched upon Shiga’s traditional business philosophy “Sanpo-yoshi” which refers to a “triple-win” for buyers, sellers, and the society as a whole. He called for cooperation toward building a sustainable society in harmony with the natural environment amid the declining birth rate and the aging population, pressing issues facing Japan today. Simel Esim, Head of ILO’s Cooperatives Unit also greeted participants with a video message, highlighting the potential of cooperatives in responding to the challenges raised by the rapid changes in the world of work. She also emphasized that such potential will be recognised when cooperatives localize the global targets and indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with their activities in partnership with related organizations.

After the opening session, Prof Juichi Yamagiwa, President of Kyoto University made a keynote speech. As a leading researcher and expert in the study of primatology and human evolution, he reflected on the nature of cooperation in human society and its dilution caused partly by technological innovations and called for rebuilding cooperation and communities through the smart use of technologies and communications associated with physical sensations. A series of exchanges with practitioners engaged in the community-based economies including through social finance for local community, advancement of local renewable energy and development of sustainable agriculture and food businesses followed.

On the second day, over 1,000 participants took part in elective workshops corresponding to the 17 SDGs and exchanged their experiences and ideas toward future collaboration. The next edition of the National Gathering of Cooperation will take place in Tokyo in the fall of 2019.