RENGO
The Japanese Trade Union Confederation, commonly known as RENGO, is the largest national trade union center in Japan, with over six million members as of 2011. It was founded in 1989 as a result of the merger of the Japan Confederation of Labor, the Federation of Independent Unions and the National Federation Of Industrial Organisations. In 1990, the General Council of Trade Unions of Japan also joined RENGO.
As of July 2012, RENGO has 54 affiliate unions and 47 local organizations.
Party affiliation
RENGO was historically affiliated with the Democratic Party of Japan, but on June 28, 2012, president Nobuaki Koga made a speech at the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters stating that the confederation may reconsider its future.In 2014, it endorsed LDP-supported candidate Yoichi Masuzoe for the Tokyo gubernatorial election.
Affiliated organizations
Current affiliates
Many unions are affiliated with RENGO:| Abbreviation | Union | Founded | Membership | Membership |
| UA ZENSEN | Japanese Federation of Textile, Chemical, Commerce, Food and General Services Workers' Unions | 2012 | 1,780,000 | 1,767,000 |
| JICHIRO | All-Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers' Union | 1954 | 887,174 | 785,445 |
| JIDOSHA SOREN | Confederation of Japan Automobile Workers' Unions | 1972 | 741,747 | 784,777 |
| DENKI RENGO | Japanese Electrical, Electronic and Information Union | 1953 | 616,571 | 569,285 |
| JAM | Japanese Association of Metal, Machinery and Manufacturing Workers | 1999 | 370,256 | 341,681 |
| KIKAN ROREN | Japan Federation of Basic Industry Workers' Unions | 2003 | 248,781 | 265,130 |
| JPGU | Japan Postal Group Union | 2007 | 216,186 | 243,754 |
| SEIHO ROREN | National Federation of Life Insurance Workers' Unions | 1969 | 241,967 | 233,614 |
| NIKKYOSO | Japan Teachers Union | 1947 | 290,857 | 230,475 |
| DENRYOKU SOREN | The Federation of Electric Power Related Industry Workers' Unions of Japan | 1981 | 214,019 | 208,996 |
| ICTJ | The Federation of Information and Communication Technology Service Workers of Japan | 1991 | 220,730 | 199,135 |
| UNYU ROREN | All Japan Federation of Transport Workers' Unions | 1968 | 128,407 | 128,095 |
| SHITETSU SOREN | General Federation of Private Railway and Bus Workers' Unions of Japan | 1947 | 111,944 | 113,253 |
| JFU | Federation of All Japan Foods and Tobacco Workers' Unions | 2000 | 97,762 | 105,909 |
| JEC RENGO | Japan Federation of Energy and Chemistry Workers' Unions | 2002 | 158,958 | 104,038 |
| SONPO ROREN | Federation of Non-Life Insurance Workers' Unions of Japan | 1967 | 68,027 | 94,696 |
| KOKKO RENGO | Japan Public Sector Union | 2001 | 110,766 | 79,621 |
| JR RENGO | Japan Railway Trade Unions Confederation | 1992 | 63,000 | 74,602 |
| SERVICE RENGO | Japan Federation of Service & Tourism Industries Workers' Unions | 2001 | 44,029 | 47,454 |
| KOTSU-ROREN | Japan Federation of Transport Workers' Unions | 1964 | 53,835 | 45,579 |
| KAIIN KUMIAI | All-Japan Seamen's Union | 1945 | 45,000 | 45,000 |
| KOKU RENGO | Japan Federation of Aviation Industry Unions | 1999 | 36,183 | 41,419 |
| GOMU RENGO | Japanese Rubber Workers' Union Confederation | 1992 | 43,481 | 41,023 |
| KAMIPA RENGO | Japanese Federation of Pulp and Paper Workers' Unions | 1988 | 30,713 | 25,453 |
| ZEN DENSEN | Japan Federation of Electric Wire Workers' Unions | 1946 | 28,205 | 24,757 |
| ZENKOKU GAS | The Federation of Gas Workers' Unions of Japan | 1946 | 25,676 | 23,248 |
| JR SOREN | Japan Confederation of Railway Workers' Unions | 1987 | 55,046 | 22,561 |
| INSATSU ROREN | Federation of Printing Information Media Workers' Unions | 1989 | 20,667 | 20,730 |
| CERAMICS RENGO | All Japan Federation of Ceramics Industry Workers | 1995 | 18,900 | 19,610 |
| ZEN SUIDO | All Japan Water Supply Workers' Union | 1951 | 25,998 | 16,281 |
| ZENGIN RENGO | All Japan Federative Council of Bank Labours' Unions | 1967 | 15,590 | 15,008 |
| ZENKOKU-NODANRO | National Federation of Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Corporations' Workers' Unions | 1989 | 15,446 | 13,725 |
| MEDIA ROREN | Japan Federation of Media, Advertising, Motion Picture, and Theater Labor Unions | 2017 | N/A | 9,577 |
| ZENJIKO ROREN | National Federation of Automobile Transport Workers' Unions | 1947 | 35,285 | 9,515 |
| ZEN ROKIN | Federation of Labour Bank Workers' Unions of Japan | 1956 | 6,397 | 8,871 |
| HEALTH CARE ROKYO | Japanese Health Care Workers' Union | 2002 | 7,777 | 8,500 |
| SINRIN ROREN | Japanese Federation of Forest and Wood Workers' Union | 1989 | 8,295 | 5,362 |
| ROSAI ROREN | Federation of ZENROSAI Trade Unions | 3,378 | 4,296 | |
| ROKYO ROREN | Confederation of Labour Supply Trade Unions | 3,860 | 4,228 | |
| ZEN INSATSU | All Printing Bureau Labour Union | 1947 | 4,568 | 4,060 |
| JICHI ROREN | National Federation of Prefectural and Municipal Workers' Unions | 1970 | 3,302 | 2,970 |
| ZENKOKU UNION | Japan Community Workers Union Federation | 2002 | 3,350 | 2,800 |
| ZENKOKU KEIBA RENGO | National Federation of Horse-racing Workers | 3,032 | 2,599 | |
| JA RENGO | All Japan Agriculture Cooperative Staff Members' Union | 1,296 | 1,354 | |
| KOUN-DOMEI | Japanese Confederation of Port and Transport Workers' Unions | 1987 | 1,200 | 1,200 |
| ZEN ZOHEI | All Mint Labour Union | 995 | 766 |
Observer affiliate:
- DOKIRO Hokkaido Seasonal Workers' Union
- NIKKENKYO Council of Japan Construction Industry Employee's Unions
Former affiliates
Local organizations
RENGO also has local organizations for each of Japan's 47 prefectures.Leadership
General secretaries
- Seigo Yamada
- Etsuya Washio
- Kiyoshi Sasamori
- Hiroyuki Nagumo
- Rikio Kozu
- Naoto Omi
- Yasunobu Aihara
- Hideyuki Shimizu
Presidents
- Akira Yamagishi
- Jinnosuke Ashida
- Etsuya Washio
- Kiyoshi Sasamori
- Tsuyoshi Takagi
- Nobuaki Koga
- Rikio Kozu
- Tomoko Yoshino