NPO ETIC. Begins Operational Support for Japan CO-OP Federation's 75th Anniversary Project "CO・OP Regional Co-creation Lab"

NPO ETIC. (ETIC., Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) will provide operational support for "CO・OP Regional Co-creation Lab" (common name: Ugotake), a new project launched by the Japan CO-OP Federation (abbreviation: JCCU) in response to its 75th anniversary in 2026.

Based on the expertise of its "Local Venture Lab" program, which promotes the development of entrepreneurs rooted in local communities, ETIC. aims to provide know-how for business concept support to CO-OPs nationwide and jointly increase the number of individuals addressing regional issues.

Photo credit: Nanako Ono

What is "CO・OP Regional Co-creation Lab"? Background to the Implementation Cooperation

"CO・OP Regional Co-creation Lab" (common name: Ugotake), which supports and disseminates the initiatives of CO-OPs nationwide, was created to realize the "Region where people can continue to live with peace of mind" as set forth in the 2030 Vision of Japanese CO-OPs. Specifically, the project aims to achieve the following three goals:

Promote Exchange: Foster relationships where staff and executives from CO-OPs nationwide involved in community building and regional issue resolution can interact, support, and consult with each other.

Support for Practice: Support the creation of new co-creation business plans between CO-OPs and their communities that contribute to "regions where people can continue to live with peace of mind," and provide a stepping stone for their implementation.

Social Dissemination: Disseminate the practices of CO-OPs nationwide in community building together with the generations who will lead the future.

In late May 2026, the "Regional Co-creation and Practice Program," planned for practical support, kicked off. This is a six-month program from May to November 2026, recruiting participants from CO-OPs nationwide, aiming to create new businesses and activities that contribute to solving regional issues by utilizing CO-OP resources.

Thirty individuals from 17 CO-OPs nationwide are participating in the program. In the first half of the program, they will create business proposals, and in the latter half, they will focus on internal proposals and revisions for implementation, as well as building cooperative relationships with local governments and various organizations.

Furthermore, through the implementation process, tools and case studies useful for launching co-creation businesses with local communities will be developed and made available for use by CO-OPs nationwide even after the 75th anniversary. Additionally, a network of staff involved in solving regional issues will be formed among CO-OPs nationwide, creating relationships for ongoing cooperation and consultation beyond organizational boundaries.

While the Japan CO-OP Federation offers training and exchange meetings on various themes such as home delivery, retail, welfare, direct sales, environment/sustainability, and legal/accounting for its member CO-OPs, this is the first time they are supporting business concept development focused on solving regional issues. Accordingly, ETIC. will be involved in the overall advisory for "CO・OP Regional Co-creation Lab" (common name: Ugotake), and particularly for the "Regional Co-creation and Practice Program," the "Local Venture Lab," which has accumulated expertise in practical, locally-rooted business concept support programs, will provide implementation cooperation.

"Regional Co-creation and Practice Program" Overview

Nanako Ono. The kickoff was held at Haneda PioPARK at the end of May. Report articles are being published on the "CO・OP CONNECT - Ugotake -" note account.

"Regional Co-creation and Practice Program" Lecturers and Mentors

Strong lecturers, who are also practitioners, will be invited to teach participants how to approach business concepts rooted in local communities, how to create businesses that leverage the power of members and citizens, producer perspectives, leadership, how to build cooperative and trusting relationships, how to overcome challenges, and practical examples for increasing local understanding.

Furthermore, entrepreneurs from regions that continue to generate innovative examples will serve as mentors, providing monthly mentoring and supporting participants' business concepts.

<Mentoring and Seminar Mentor List>

Daisuke Hara, CEO of Co.Lab / Representative Director of NPO Seisho wo Asobu Kai, and others

Genyo Nakagawa, Representative Director of NPO bankup

Rie Shirokuzu, Representative of Yokokawa kito General Incorporated Association

Akinori Kasuya, CEO of Think Happiness Inc. / Physical Therapist

<Lectures and Instructor List>

Takuji Hiroishi, CEO of Empublic Inc.

Ken Shimizu, CEO of Hitokoto Design Inc.

Hiroshi Abe, Representative Director of Kaze to Tsuchi to Co., Ltd.

Michiko Yamaguchi, Senior Managing Director and Secretary-General of Higashiomi Sampoyoshi Foundation

Tomohiro Maeo, Standing Director of Shimin CO-OP Nara CO-OP

What is the "Local Venture Lab," a six-month entrepreneurship development and business concept support program specialized for local regions?

Launched in 2016, the "Local Venture Lab" is based on ETIC.'s knowledge, which has produced approximately 2,200 entrepreneurs. Instead of the mass production/mass consumption business models of urban areas, it supports the creation of "local ventures" that focus on the sustainability of local satoumi and satoyama (coastal and mountainous rural areas) and the happiness of people's lives, by utilizing underutilized local resources and creating systems for welfare and education that support livelihoods.

Over the past nine years, it has produced over 400 graduates, including entrepreneurs, regional revitalization cooperation members, and successors to family businesses. More than 70% are in their 20s to 40s, with participants from over 160 municipalities nationwide. Of these, 61.7% are from outside the Kanto region. Furthermore, a current status survey of graduates from the 1st to 7th terms conducted in fiscal year 2024 shows that business sales have grown 9.75 times from before participation to the present. Employment has also increased 5.8 times (excluding self-employment).

A diagram illustrating the autonomous decentralized regional ecosystem that Local Venture Lab aims to foster together with local communities. This collaboration aims to enrich this ecosystem together.

Organization Overview

NPO ETIC.

Move Forward. ETIC.

Accompanying people who take action, connecting them, and creating a "new society" together.

Founded in 1993, became an NPO in 2000, and obtained certified NPO status in 2017. ETIC. engages in entrepreneurship development, coordination of co-creation between different sectors such as corporations and local governments, and training of coordinators. Approximately 19,000 people have participated in the practical internship and entrepreneurship support programs it has handled, and about 2,200 have started businesses.

Website: https://etic.or.jp/

Japan CO-OP Federation

The Japan CO-OP Federation (abbreviation: JCCU) was established in March 1951 as the national federation of Japanese CO-OPs under the banner of "For Peace and a Better Life." It is Japan's largest consumer organization, with 302 member CO-OPs and federations as of the end of fiscal year 2025, with a total business volume of approximately 3.8 trillion yen and a total membership of approximately 31 million people.

As the central organization for CO-OPs nationwide, it engages in exchanges with various organizations and makes policy recommendations for the improvement of social systems. It also develops CO-OP products and supplies them to member CO-OPs, supports the businesses of member CO-OPs such as home delivery, retail, and welfare, supports activities related to the environment, sustainability, community building, and peace, and provides support for organizational management and internal controls.

Website: https://jccu.coop/