Shin Kumazaki, Representative Director and Chairman of the Board, Co-op Mirai Consumers' Cooperative

2026.10.01

Together with the voices of our members, we are working towards the important lives of each and every individual.

■ Profile
Born in Chiba Prefecture. Joined Funabashi Citizens' Cooperative (formerly Chiba Co-op, now Co-op Mirai) in 1984. After serving as Managing Director of Chiba Co-op and Managing Director of Co-op Mirai (concurrently serving as Managing Director of Co-op Deli Federation), he assumed his current position in 2023 (concurrently serving as Chairman of the Board). As the core cooperative of the Co-op Deli Group, which shares the same philosophy and vision, Co-op Mirai promotes integrated management with the Co-op Deli Federation, which supports the business infrastructure.

Co-op Mirai, a consumer cooperative known for its adorable character "Hopetan" painted on trucks that drive around town, operates a wide range of businesses related to daily life, including home delivery and retail stores. This time, we interviewed President and CEO Kumazaki about Co-op Mirai's business, strengths, future prospects, and a message for university students.

In high school, I was a member of the soccer club and dedicated myself entirely to the sport. I also enjoyed mathematics, so in college, I joined the accounting research department and studied accounting. After that, I started working at an accounting firm, and it was through the fact that the firm's advisor was a consultant for a consumer cooperative that I learned about the existence of consumer cooperatives. I had the opportunity to actually ride in a delivery truck and accompany the team on deliveries to members for a day. What surprised me was how close the staff and members were. It started with a "hello," and they knew each other well. What impressed me most was when they said "thank you" when I delivered the goods. I thought it would be great to do a job that makes everyone smile, so when I returned after finishing deliveries that day, I asked, "Please let me work here."
My experience playing soccer in high school has been very helpful in my work. In soccer, it's important to pass the ball to a position where your teammates can easily play, and I believe the same is true in work. There is always someone who will do the work after I've finished it. I still value finishing my work in a way that makes it easy for that person to do their job.
After joining the company, I was in charge of deliveries for the first two to three years. Since then, I have gained experience in various roles such as accounting, human resources, mutual aid, store manager, and product and logistics, which brings me to where I am today. What left the biggest impression on me was the mutual aid system. It is a system of shared relief where everyone contributes money to support each other when something happens, and I strongly felt the original spirit of the cooperative: "helping each other."

■Co-op Mirai is supported by 390 million members.

Co-op Mirai was formed in 2013 through the merger of three consumer cooperatives located in Tokyo, Chiba, and Saitama prefectures. It currently has approximately 3.9 million members.
I believe that our greatest strength lies in the fact that we possess both the characteristics of a business and a consumer organization. Our members readily provide feedback on even the smallest details about our products and services, and this feedback leads to future improvements. The connections we have with each other are also a unique strength of our cooperative.
Currently, Co-op Mirai's core business is home delivery, which accounts for approximately 70% of its revenue. Another pillar is its retail store business, with 124 stores located in Tokyo, Chiba, and Saitama prefectures. In addition, it operates a wide range of other businesses, including welfare services, service businesses, and mutual aid businesses. In its welfare business, it provides services such as home care, day care, and assisted living facilities for the elderly. In its service business, it handles tickets, provides housing services such as the construction and renovation of detached houses, and funeral services, offering a variety of services related to daily life.

■ Contributing to daily life through the connection between products and people　

We value direct-from-the-farm products and Co-op products. Direct from the farm doesn't simply mean delivering products directly from the production area; it's closer to the idea of "connecting directly with the production area." It's about producers and members interacting, conveying consumers' thoughts to the producers, and members learning about the producers' struggles and feelings. That relationship is important.
When we sold "Kokonoe Kuri Pumpkins" directly from the producers in Chiba Prefecture, our staff and members visited the production area to learn about the hard work and ingenuity of the producers. Our staff created a newsletter to convey the appeal of the pumpkins to our members, and we sold approximately 50,000 pumpkins in one week. The ability to deliver products together with the producers is also a characteristic of our cooperative.
Co-op products number over 4000 items, and are created through the collaboration of consumer cooperatives nationwide. In particular, the "Co-op Quality" series is evaluated by members as monitors, and products are not released unless they meet the standard of being "delicious" with a rating of over 8% from the monitors. Even the opening of milk cartons has been improved based on feedback from members, making it easier to open. Continuous improvement together with members is the strength of Co-op products.
Another rewarding aspect of this job is the ability to enrich the community. The profits generated by the combined efforts and wisdom of 15,000 employees are not just for the cooperative, but also for the future of our members and the local community. It is our pride in enriching the community that motivates us to work so hard. And when that feeling comes to fruition, we believe we will experience a true "thank you!"

■ Mechanisms to support children and families

In addition to products, we also focus on supporting child-rearing. "Hajimete Bako" is an initiative that delivers free gifts in cooperation with local businesses, stemming from the desire to celebrate newborn babies throughout the community. Furthermore, with COOP Mutual Aid's "Pre-Birth Application," a system has been established that allows you to receive coverage regardless of the baby's health condition after birth by applying before 22 weeks of pregnancy.
Furthermore, there is a non-repayable scholarship program for high school students from single-parent families. This year, approximately 1700 students received 12 yen annually, and the funds for this are covered by monthly donations from more than 3 union member supporters.

■ Becoming a valuable resource for the lives of union members

Co-op Mirai currently has a vision called "Vision 2035." It was created by 31 young staff members over approximately one year, through discussions and surveys of staff and members. It embodies the desire to "address the important lives of all people and be a cooperative that suits each individual's lifestyle." We want the cooperative to be a helpful presence in each person's life and way of living.
For example, in product development, we frequently use products that can be prepared in a short amount of time, such as meal kits and ready-made meals that can be eaten simply by heating them in a microwave. It is important to keep thinking about what problems people are currently facing and what kind of products or services can solve them. We sometimes hear from older generations, not just younger ones, that "I could make this myself for my family." We believe that our goal is to create products that are useful in the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds.

■Message to university students

I always tell the co-op staff that I want them to treat the members with gratitude for the "thank yous" they give them.
The same applies to all of you students. As you interact with many people, you may encounter disagreements, but you will also experience many moments of shared joy. Throughout these experiences, I hope you will be grateful for the encounters and relationships you have and actively engage with a variety of people.

Interview with Student Newspaper Online on November 26, 2026, Haruna Shoji, a second-year student at Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences

Kyohei Nakazawa (3rd year, Waseda University) / Haruna Shoji (4th year, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences) / Emari Oike (1st year, Japan Women's University) / Tatsushi Harada (2nd year, Nihon University) / Mio Ozawa (2nd year, Seijo University) / Chiharu Yamada (2nd year, Information Management Innovation Professional University) / Hinano Shinoda (3rd year, Tokyo Kasei University)