Overview of the University of Tokyo Co-op

I am Toru Fujiwara, and I have been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the University of Tokyo Consumer Cooperative Association, effective from the 2026 academic year. I look forward to working with you all. I feel a great sense of responsibility upon being elected as Chairman

For me, the University of Tokyo Co-op was a familiar and valuable presence throughout my undergraduate and graduate studies, providing everyday necessities and meals. I was able to purchase books at a discount, and the receipt rebate system that existed at the time was also a great help to students with limited financial resources. As I was researching experimental science in the Faculty of Agriculture, I typically spent long hours in the lab during my graduate studies, and the Co-op, located very close to the lab, provided inexpensive meals both day and night, which was a great help. Beyond the financial aspect, the Faculty of Agriculture's store and cafeteria were also a place of relaxation between experiments. Even after becoming a faculty member, it remains a convenient place to purchase stationery and computers using university funds, and I have held many social gatherings for research meetings and other events at the Faculty of Agriculture Co-op. On the other hand, I think that in recent years I have used it less frequently than when I was a student or younger

During the tenure of my predecessor, Chairman Genda, efforts were made to improve the cooperative's financial situation through measures such as the introduction of meal passes. Furthermore, with the global recognition of the negative impact of food production and supply on the environment and society, and the growing desire to reduce so-called food waste, I understand that the University of Tokyo Co-op has also been working on measures to reduce food waste. I would like to express my sincere gratitude and respect to all those involved in these activities. I also understand that the University of Tokyo Co-op is facing financial difficulties, and improving its management is an urgent matter. Convenience stores, cafes, and restaurants that are not affiliated with the Co-op have opened on campus, which were not there when I was a student, and online purchases of goods have become commonplace. In addition, I feel that undergraduate and graduate students are spending less time at the university, perhaps due to an increased emphasis on "time." In response to these new circumstances, I believe that improving the convenience of the Co-op and helping members feel a stronger sense of its significance will lead to improved management. I myself will work together with all of you to improve management, and I sincerely ask for your cooperation. I believe it's especially important to reflect the opinions of our student members, who make up a large portion of our union, and to respond to the needs of younger generations

While improving profitability is important, the cooperative is not an organization whose sole purpose is to generate profit. Its purpose is to create a better living environment through mutual assistance. The environment surrounding the University of Tokyo is constantly changing, and various reforms are being implemented in order to achieve higher competitiveness. Amidst these various changes, the University of Tokyo Cooperative is a place of peace and tranquility for minds and bodies tired from studying, research, and work, and I believe it should continue to be so. This also applies to the cooperative staff who support our daily operations. It is also important for the cooperative to continue to be a management organization that can meet the efforts and expectations of everyone involved, and to be a better place for activities. We would like to continue working together with everyone to make the University of Tokyo Cooperative even better, while deepening our cooperation with the University of Tokyo and related organizations. Thank you for your continued support