National Co-op Donations: Approximately 81 Million Yen Donated to Ishikawa Prefecture for Noto Reconstruction

The Japanese Consumers' Co-operative Union (JCCU, Chairperson: Chitose Arai) and the Ishikawa Prefectural Federation of Consumers' Co-operatives (Ishikawa Co-op Federation, Chairperson: Manabu Otani) donated approximately 81 million yen to Ishikawa Prefecture's 'Noto Reconstruction Support Fund' on June 2, 2026. The donation ceremony was held on the same day at the Ishikawa Prefectural Government Office. JCCU Chairperson Chitose Arai presented a certificate of donation to Ishikawa Governor Yoshiyuki Yamano. The Co-op Disaster Support Center has been engaged in long-term support activities for the victims and areas affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake and the Okunoto heavy rain, in cooperation with co-ops nationwide. In fiscal year 2025, under the slogan 'Longer and more detailed support than anywhere else,' the center called for donations, collecting approximately 123 million yen from 36 co-ops nationwide. Combined with donations from fiscal year 2024, the total amount reaches 2.326 billion yen. *The Co-op Disaster Support Center was established under the Ishikawa Co-op Federation by Co-op Ishikawa and the JCCU after the earthquake on January 1, 2024, with the aim of supporting the disaster-stricken areas by connecting with local governments and organizations, and is advancing support efforts with the cooperation of co-ops nationwide. From left: Managing Director Yoshimoto (Ishikawa Co-op Federation), Chairperson Arai (JCCU), Governor Yamano (Ishikawa Prefecture), Chairperson Otani (Ishikawa Co-op Federation), Vice Chairperson Hamakami (Ishikawa Co-op Federation) - Scene of discussion at the donation ceremony. In fiscal year 2026, the center will continue its support activities for the affected areas under the new slogan 'Longer and more detailed support, and from support to co-creation,' together with co-ops and their members nationwide. Overview of Donation Usage No. Overview Amount (JPY) 1 Donation to Ishikawa Prefecture 'Noto Reconstruction Support Fund' for reconstruction support projects 81,229,742 2 Co-op Ishikawa support activities: Volunteer bus, salon activities, joint food distribution, invitation events (Peace Concert, Harvest Experience, Tsuna♥Noto Trip Project), use of 'Noto Peninsula Support Activity Grant System', etc. 12,716,968 3 Toyama Prefectural Co-op Federation: Continued support for moving assistance by Himi City Social Welfare Council in FY2026, donations to 6 organizations continuing reconstruction support 1,100,000 4 Donation to Ishikawa Prefectural Social Welfare Council: Support activities by prefectural and municipal social welfare councils 5,000,000 5 Donations to support organizations (14 organizations): New connections made through Co-op Disaster Support Center activities in FY2025 or ongoing connections; donations to organizations that will continue Noto Peninsula support in FY2026 14,000,000 6 Co-op Disaster Support Center activities: Costs related to SNS 'Noto Note', local writer interviews and article creation commissions, part of the costs for operating 'Action to Make Noto Smile with the Power of Connections', etc. 9,113,265 Total 123,159,975 [Co-op Ishikawa Support Activities] Regular volunteer bus operations for food distribution and salon activities in the Noto area with member volunteers, the Noto Reconstruction Support Christmas Peace Concert, parent-child harvest experience events, and other initiatives to bring smiles to the people of Noto. The 'Noto Peninsula Support Activity Grant' is implemented to support local organizations. Continuous support includes free home delivery fees in 3 cities and 3 towns in Okunoto for those facing shopping difficulties. [Co-op Disaster Support Center Activities (with National Co-ops)] 'Tsuna♥Noto Trip' Project: An initiative inviting affected Noto co-op members and residents to various regions across Japan, hosted by 10 co-ops nationwide, aiming to heal minds and bodies tired from prolonged evacuation and foster human connections. Social Welfare Council × Co-op Collaboration Project: 1,659 sets of gifts with messages were delivered to social welfare councils in 9 southern prefectural cities and towns monitoring wide-area evacuees, with cooperation from 14 co-ops, for use in monitoring and salon activities. Matching was done between social welfare councils in 10 affected cities and towns with 15 co-ops to sequentially provide necessary supplies. Initiatives to Understand the Current Situation and Foster Long-Term Support: In September 2025, the 'Action to Make Noto Smile with the Power of Connections' was held, gathering 185 co-op officials, employees, and members from 45 co-ops and organizations nationwide for local learning and fieldwork exchanges. Three times a year, the 'Meeting to Make Noto Smile with the Power of Connections' is held for co-op officials, employees, and members to share the situation in the affected areas and the efforts of each co-op. Social Dissemination Initiatives: To continuously disseminate information about the affected areas to society even as media coverage decreases over time, the SNS account 'CO-OP Noto Note' was established and is being operated.