ICMIF member the Japan Cooperative Insurance Association Incorporated (JCIA) has recently published the English version of its 2025 Kyosai in Japan Fact Book.
JCIA is a general incorporated association in Japan, established to promote coordination among member societies and contribute to the development of cooperatives and cooperative insurers. Its main activities include research and studies relating to cooperatives and cooperative insurers, human resources development and training for member societies, and public relations. JCIA also publishes a monthly journal, Cooperative and Commercial Insurance, which has been issued for over 50 years. In addition, it provides consultations to support enquiries and complaints from policyholders and their related persons.
JCIA’s purpose is to promote the sound development of kyosai* businesses operated by cooperatives in Japan, thereby contributing to stabilising lives and improving the welfare of people engaged in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, as well as employees, workers in local communities and small and medium-sized business owners.
JCIA joined the International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF) in 1994 and is an associate member of the Federation.
The Kyosai in Japan Fact Book (formerly known as the Cooperative Insurance in Japan Fact Book) is compiled annually to share the business results of the major cooperative insurers in Japan for the previous fiscal year – in this case, fiscal 2024 – as well as the activities of JCIA and its member societies.
According to the new publication, the main kyosai organisations operating under cooperative laws in fiscal 2024 achieved the following results:
- Number of members: 78 million
- Number of policies: 129 million
- Amount insured: JPY 776 trillion
- Premium income: JPY 6,136 billion
- Claims paid: JPY 4,502 billion
- Total assets: JPY 66,490 billion
Kyosai insurance products offered by JCIA member cooperatives include both life and non-life products, providing protection against risks such as natural disasters, road accidents, illness and old age. The five most typical products are fire, life, personal accident, automobile and annuity.
The Fact Book highlights the important role kyosai organisations continue to play in supplementing Japan’s social security system by providing mutual support among members. It also emphasises their commitment to fulfilling their social responsibilities through products that meet members’ needs and the prompt payment of claims.
Some of the member initiatives to provide mutual support mentioned in the Fact Book include:
- Disaster prevention classes and the distribution of free disaster-relief tarpaulins and emergency kits by Zenkyoren
- Kyosuiren visits all insured households in the disasterstricken areas to assess any earthquake and typhoon damage and works to provide relief payments as quickly as possible
- Kokumin Kyosai co-op has been developing the Future Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Project since March 2021 to further promote the development of disaster prevention/mitigation and network building based on the lessons learned from disaster responses to date
- Kyoei Fire & Marine Insurance is creating location-specific risk maps to raise disaster prevention awareness and help communities and clients prepare for increasing storm and flood risks
At present, JCIA consists of 12 full members, one first-class supporting member and four second-class supporting members. The full list of member organisations and further details can be found in the Fact Book.
There are seven ICMIF full members which are also members of JCIA: Zenkyoren, Kyosuiren, Kokumin Kyosai co-op, Saikyosairen, CO-OP Kyosai, Nikkaren and The Kyoei Fire & Marine Insurance Company.
*Kyosai refers to cooperative insurance provided by cooperative organisations in Japan.
