TOKYO, June 7, 2025 — Japan’s House of Representatives has officially adopted a resolution calling for the active promotion of cooperatives as the world prepares to mark 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives, designated by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2023.
The resolution acknowledges cooperatives as critical vehicles for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] and highlights their unique role in supporting both social and economic development.
“Cooperatives are not merely economic entities,” the resolution states. “They are expressions of mutual aid, self-reliance, and community solidarity — values that are urgently needed in today’s Japan.”
Promoting a “humane society”
The resolution echoes the Government of Japan’s SDGs Implementation Guiding Principles, which emphasize that cooperatives and other locally-rooted, citizen-led organisations are essential in revitalizing regional ties and building a more humane society.
“Cooperatives reflect the spirit of Japan’s traditional mutual support culture,” said Representative Akiko Tanaka, a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Regional Revitalisation. “They offer people the chance to take part in shaping their own communities, in a way that is democratic, inclusive, and economically sustainable.”
Aligning with international standards
The House called on the government to align cooperative policy with international frameworks, including the 2001 UN Guidelines on Cooperatives, the 2002 International Labour Organisation [ILO] Recommendation on the Promotion of Cooperatives, and the 1995 International Cooperative Alliance [ICA] Statement on the Cooperative Identity.
“These international standards provide a solid foundation for governments to enable cooperative growth, while preserving the democratic and nonprofit nature of such organizations,” noted Prof. Kenji Yamada, a cooperative studies expert at the University of Tokyo.
Policy principles outlined
The resolution outlines three key policy principles:
Create a supportive policy environment
Recognise and respect the definition, values, and principles of cooperatives as laid out by the ICA, and ensure that cooperative policy aligns with UN and ILO frameworks.
Sustainable community development
Acknowledge the critical role that cooperatives play in building resilient local communities and treat them as key actors in sustainable development efforts.
Support for nonprofit democratic models
Emphasize the importance of nonprofit, member-controlled cooperatives within Japan’s broader social and economic systems.
Looking ahead
As countries around the world prepare to celebrate the International Year of Cooperatives in 2025, Japan’s resolution serves as a signal of intent to revitalize cooperative movements nationwide.
“From agriculture to elder care, from finance to disaster recovery, cooperatives have shown time and again that they can deliver results while putting people over profit,” said Representative Koji Nakamura, a longtime advocate for cooperative legislation. “We need to give them the tools and support they need to thrive.”
The resolution is expected to lead to a series of government initiatives and legislative efforts in the coming months, as Japan joins the global community in reaffirming the cooperative model as a pathway to inclusive, sustainable development.
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