Anthill
Newsletter of the British Columbia
Institute for Co-operative Studies

BCICS was delighted to host nine representatives from the Seikatsu Club, a Japanese consumer co-operative, from October 16 to 22. The delegation included Mr. Eiji Kono, its President, Mr. Yoshiyuki Fukuoka, the managing director of the Club's central union, three board members from clubs located in Yokohama and Tokyo, the executive director from Nagano, a member of the planning department at the Saitama Club, and two members of Seikatsu's Policy Making by the Citizens' Sector.

The Seikatsu Club is one of the most interesting co-operatives in the world. It was formed in 1965 by housewives concerned about the quality of the milk in local stores and has since grown to include 230,000 households in eighteen co-operatives that are associated in a central union. Most of the food sold through the co-operatives is delivered in special vans to neighbourhood groups of 8-12 families called hans.

Seikatsu is particularly concerned about the quality of the food its members eat, about reducing the costs of goods by eliminating advertising, and by presenting a limited but adequate choice of quality goods. Having established close relationships with farmers and farm organisations the Seikatsu Club has special programmes to deliver high quality, organically produced milk, poultry and pork products to its members. Members can choose to go to the countryside and talk to farmer suppliers about their crops and the issues confronting rural societies. This procedure is part of what the club calls a "mass audit" approach, in which members play a significant role in appraising the co-operative's daily activities.

Seikatsu has undertaken special campaigns to reduce the use of soaps harmful to the environment and it has sponsored candidates in local elections who are interested in enhancing environmental practices in communities and resisting the development of genetically modified foods. The club has been successful in placing 150 people, many of them women, in local councils and assemblies.

Women form about 99 percent of the memberships of the club and many of the board members of the local co-operatives and the central organisation are women. The club has undertaken special programmes to address issues confronting Japanese women. It has, for example, organised 150 worker co-operatives, (called collectives in Japan because there is no law covering working co-operatives), most of which employ women in service industries. In recognition of its outstanding record in environmental, business and social areas, the Seikatsu Club received the Right Relationship award, the "alternative Nobel Prize," in 1989.

While in Victoria, the delegation made a public presentation at the university, entitled "Food Security and the Conscious Consumer" and two members of the group spoke to a class in Japanese Studies within the Asia and Pacific Studies Department. The presentation was repeated in Vancouver, where the group also visited B.C. Wood Co-op on Granville Island, Vancouver City Credit Union and Mountain Equipment Co-operative. The visitors attended the annual co-op luncheon, sponsored by CCA BC Region and made a short presentation.

For the last three days of the visit the delegation the group, along with BCICS Director Ian MacPherson and Research Co-ordinator Kathleen Gabelmann, travelled to several coastal communities where they learned about some of the activities of both new and old co-operatives. On Cortes Island the group visited several of the many oyster and clam operations owned and operated by members of the Cortes Island Shellfish Co-operative, who provided detailed explanations about the shellfish operations. Following a luncheon of locally grown foods at an island home, where members exchanged more information about their co-ops, the group went on to see the displays at an environmental home show at the Manson's community hall.

On the second day of the islands tour the group made its way to Telegraph Cove and embarked on a day-long boat trip to see, and learn about, the marine, air, and land ecology of Johnstone Strait, Blackfish Sound, and the lower reach of Queen Charlotte Strait.

On the final day the group journeyed to Malcolm Island and the town of Sointula, a place famous for its co-operative activities. There they toured the Malcolm Island Shellfish Co-operative, which is developing a land-based abalone fishery using new technologies.

Following this the group enjoyed a delicious luncheon at the bakery/café part of the Wild Island Foods Co-operative and heard the story of the co-op's development from two of the co-op's founding directors. Manager Jean Hadley gave a guided tour through the co-op's various operations. Wild Island is a community co-op that is establishing an ethical, innovative food processing facility and product development services.

The group then visited the Sointula Co-operative Store, the oldest co-op in British Columbia, having started in 1909. In telling the story of the co-op Pat Roper, co-op director, tantalized the curiosity of the Japanese co-operators about the co-operative history of Malcolm Island, and she graciously escorted the group to the local museum, a lively and active place filled with an incredible array of artifacts.

All the visits were featured by enthusiastic discussions and thoughtful exchanges. Much was learned and many friendships were formed.