- Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA)
JA are cooperatives, established under the Agricultural Cooperative Law, that conduct a wide range of businesses and activities in the spirit of mutual assistance. The principal business activities of JA encompass (1) offering guidance for improving members’ management of their farms and their standards of living; (2) providing economic support for farming, including gathering and selling of crops, and supplying materials needed for production and daily living; (3) providing mutual insurance, such as life insurance, automobile insurance, and (4) offering banking-related services, such as accepting deposits, making loans, remitting funds. 710 JA (as of April 1, 2012) throughout Japan have been contributing to the agricultural industry as well as the development of rural communities through their various businesses and other activities.
- Japan Fishery Cooperatives (JF)
JF are cooperatives established under the Fishery Cooperative Law with the objective of overseeing and protecting the businesses and lives of fishermen. The principal business activities of JF include providing (1) guidance for the management of marine resources, improvement of individual members’ management of their business and production technology; (2) economic support, such as for the storage, processing, and sale of caught fish and other marine products of individual members, and the supply of materials required for the businesses and daily lives of individual members; (3) banking services, including the acceptance of deposits and lending of needed funds; and (4) mutual and property insurance.
As of April 1, 2012, there were 988 JF throughout Japan that contribute to both the fisheries industry and to the development of fisheries communities through a broad range of activities.
As of April 1, 2012, there were 145 JF throughout Japan that conduct JF’s banking businesses. In addition to these JF, there are JF that act as agents of JFShingyoren providing their banking services for fisheries communities. They provide banking services for the fisheries industry in their respective prefectures.
- Japan Forestry Cooperatives (JForest)
JForest, established under the Forestry Cooperative Law, are cooperatives for private forest owners. The ownership structure of Japan’s forests consists mostly of small forest owners, and forestry cooperatives play an important role in organizing and representing their interests.
The principal business activities of JForest consist of planting, undergrowth removal, and thinning of forests owned by individual members as well as sale of forest products, such as logs and timber
Playing a central role in forestland improvement, 666 JForest (as of April 1, 2012) throughout Japan contribute to helping forests perform their diverse range of natural functions, including supply of timber and other forest resources, preservation of national land, protection of watersheds, maintenance of living environment, and provision of places for health and relaxation.
