일본생활협동조합연합회의 발전과정과 시사점 -전국조직으로서의 사업·운동기능의 분석-

Abstract

This article explores the historical development of Japanese Consumers’ Co-operative Union (hereafter JCCU) as a national federation of consumer co-ops with a legal status, especially how JCCU has been reinforced its leadership in the business operation with an initiative of movement. At the first stage, JCCU took a policy concentrating its efforts to enlarge member organizations and improve their businesses, on the other hand ran parallel with integration of purchase business through a separate national union named All Japan Consumer Cooperative Business Union established in 1958. AJCCBU developed many independent “CO-OP” brand products since 1960. Its success empowered JCCU to integrate with AJCCBU for draft expansion of Japanese consumer co-operative movement. The article argues that real development of JCCU came from successful integration of the two unions, also examines arguments on structural arrangement at that time. The relationship with JCCU and several business unions of consumer co-ops beyond prefecture boarders is mentioned in this article, too. Finally, implications for establishing a reliable and strong national center of Korean co-op movement based on revised Consumers' Cooperative Law of 2010 are suggested.