The AOA Members’ Study Group Visit had been postponed for a while since the last visit to NTUC Income (based in Singapore) in September 2019 due to the global spread of COVID-19, but this year it was held in Tokyo and Chiba, Japan from May 22nd to 23rd. This time, 26 members from 11 organizations from five countries, namely the Philippines, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, South Korea, and Japan, participated in the members’ visit. Zenkyoren, together with Kokumin Kyosai Co-op and CO-OP Kyosai Ren, acted as the host organization, and the Japan Cooperative Insurance Association Incorporated accepted the visit as a cooperating organization.

The AOA Members’ Study Group Visit was held with the aim of explaining the current state of the mutual aid business in Japan and deepening participants’ understanding of the characteristics and efforts of the organizations of the three mutual aid organizations with different members and contract holders (workers, consumers, and farmers). Although it was a short two-day event, the participants gave it very high marks in the questionnaire survey conducted after the event.

 

Very Good	16
Good	0
Average	0
Poor	0
Very Poor	0

 

Main comments from participants

• • The latest seminar served as an eye opener to us especially on the aspect of how to prepare seriously for any eventuality like earthquake. The simulation exercise really helped us to feel how strong a magnitude 9 or 10 could be and how destructive it can be. Seriously, we need to prepare and adopt the strategy of self- awareness campaign to our members. We are now in consultation with other members of the the Kasagana-ka synergizing organizations to work hand in hand on mitigating response to risk that may have adverse effect on our operation.
  • Very enriching exchange of ideas especially that Philippines or KMBA for that matter is 50 years or more behind these organizations. They serve as our inspiration to do look deeply on what we have and how we can fill in the gaps. We are truly grateful for the study visit. We learned a lot and the welcoming environment you’ve all been doing for members like Kasagana-ka is very much appreciated.
  • We was able to personally expose and see how others were able to manage their risks and do things more efficiently.
  • An excellent visit. I learned a great deal and valued both the warm hospitality and the willingness to share exhibited by all of our hosts.
  • Field realities, knowledge updating.
  • An excellent visit. I learned a great deal and valued both the warm hospitality and the willingness to share exhibited by all of our hosts.
  • Enables the participants to associate with other insurance/mutual aid organizations and/or federation and learn about different types of services provided by those organizations.

 

Schedule/Contents

May 22: JA Kyosai Makuhari Training Center（Chiba)

About Mutual Aid Business in Japan	Japan Cooperative Insurance Association Incorporated（JCIA）
Business strategy and detailed initiatives of Zenkyoren 　～Importance of natural disaster response～	Zenkyoren
Zenkyoren’s Specific Iniciative   ~Contribution to regions and Agriculture~	Zenkyoren
Zenkyoren’s efforts to secure payment capacity and prompt and appropriate payment for huge natural disasters	Zenkyoren
Experiencing Disaster Preparedness Class using “Jishin The Vuton”	Zenkyoren
Initiatives to Reduce Agricultural Risk	Zenkyoren

 

 

 

JCIA explained the characteristics of the mutual aid business in Japan, including the fact that the laws regulating the business and the supervisory authorities differ from group to group, and that dual business in the life and non-life fields is permitted. He also explained, using specific figures, various issues surrounding the mutual aid business in Japan, such as the declining birthrate and aging population, the impact of frequent natural disasters such as the Noto Peninsula earthquake that occurred in January this year, and the severe investment environment under low interest rates.

 

    Explaining outline of Japan Cooperative Insurance Business（JCIA）

　

 

 

The participants visited the facility (Makuhari Training Center), which is a place for human resource development for underwriting and payment of “People, House, and Vehicle” of ZENKYOREN, and experienced “Professor Zabuton’s Disaster Classroom” and “Farming Accident Experience VR” to learn the key points of disaster preparedness and the overall picture of agricultural risk initiatives that the Society is developing.

 

    Business strategy and detailed initiatives of Zenkyoren / Contribution to regions and Agriculture　　

　

    Efforts to secure payment capacity for huge natural disasters and to make prompt and appropriate payments

　

     Experiencing Disaster Preparedness Class using “Jishin The Vuton”

　

    Farming Accident Experience VR　

　　

    Tour of Zenkyoren Makuhari Training Center　

　

  　Dinner (JA Kyosai Bldg. / Midori Shokudo)

Opening remarks(Zenkyoren Chair Mr.Yanai）　　Cheers (Kokumin Kyosai co-op Chair Mr.Uchikoshi)

　　　　

Closing speech (CO-OP Kyosai Chair Mr.Wada)

    Dinner Party

　

　

　

 

May 23: Kokumin Kyosai Co-op Building (Tokyo) / Komaba Campus, The University of Tokyo (Tokyo)

Organizational Briefing	YLP participants at Sydney aoa seminar
Response to Past Large-scale Disasters  Fire and Natural Disaster policy	Kokumin Kyosai co-op
Initiatives of Todai Co-op	University of Tokyo Co-op
Outline of CO-OP Kyosai	CO-OP Kyosai
Report on the efforts by university students for comprehensive mutual aid for students	National Federation of University Life Associations, Inc. University of Tokyo Co-op

 

 

   

Three staff members from Kokumin Kyosai Co-op, who participated in the Young Leaders Program of the AOA Seminar held in Sydney, Australia last September, gave an overview of the organization and business activities of Kokumin Kyosai Co-op, as well as an explanation of the social activities undertaken by Kokumin Kyosai Co-op. They explained in detail about the three pillars of their activities: disaster prevention and mitigation, sound upbringing of children, and environmental conservation. The history of Kokumin Kyosai co-op’s response to natural disasters was divided into five challenges, and the 70-year history of Kokumin Kyosai co-op, which has provided peace of mind through its mutual aid business and campaigns in response to social issues of the time, was explained.

   　Venue scenery

     About the organization overview of Kokumin Kyosai Co-op

　

  　Response to Past Large-scale Disasters / Fire and Natural Disaster policy

 

 

   

In addition to the “business overview,” CO-OP Kyosai explained about “the history of CO-OP Kyosai, which has grown to have more than 9.7 million members with four main product lines after repeated product revisions based on members’ opinions. National Federation of University Co-operative Associations and the University of Tokyo Co-op introduced the “general situation of university co-ops nationwide,” “efforts related to comprehensive student mutual aid,” and “examples of activities of the University of Tokyo Co-op.

  　Venue scenery

    Initiatives of the University of Tokyo Co-op

   　 About the organization overview of  CO-OP Kyosairen

 

       Introduction to student comprehensive mutual aid initiatives at the university co-op

 

     　Luncheon (The University of Tokyo/Student cafeteria)

 

 

      Thank you from the AOA Members’ Study Group to the host organization

Mr.P. A. Kiriwandeniya Vice-Chair（Sanasa Insurance）

Mr. Adam Heath Director　（FMG）

Ms.Jocelyn D. Dequito Vice-Chair（CARD MBA）

     Other photos