Articles of Organization

Japan Family Farmers Movement (NOUMINREN)

The Japanese agribusiness and farmer's management have been forced to face a crisis brought about by the policies of their governments who has been greatly influenced by U.S. and Japanese economic circles. To overcome this crisis and rebuild Japanese agriculture, we will promote the following; (i) establish independent sustainable family farm; (ii) establish strong solidarity with groups having various beliefs and principles based on their demands and develop a nationwide movement; (iii) be free from any political party; (iv) respect the purpose of each member organization and; (v) build solidarity among all peoples. Based on these five principles, we will promote various activities and movements. We will struggle to make Japan a peaceful and democratic nation.

I. Name and Members

  1. This organization's name in English is "Japan Family Farmers Movement, NOUMINREN" (Japanese abbreviation), with the main office located in Tokyo.
  2. We consists of independent and democratic organizations from each prefecture and all member organizations agreed with each item in the Action Agenda and the Articles of Organization. We admit any national organization as long as it agrees with the Action Agenda and the Articles of Confederation. Also, any individual who agrees with the Action Agenda and the Articles of Organization can be a Supporting Member.

II. Objectives and Projects

  1. Our main objective is to make Japanese agriculture independent and farmer's livelihood more sustainable. We support farmers who want to have a better economical and social status and their rights.
  2. To achieve the object, we take the following actions:
    1. Daily activities to protect farmer's management, livelihood, and rights
    2. Research and political requirements of agriculture and agricultural policies
    3. Negotiation with the national governments, local authorities, and others
    4. Publication of a newspaper, magazine, and others
    5. Any other project that helps to achieve the object

III. Affiliation and Withdrawals, Rights and Obligations

  1. To be a member, each applicant should follow proper procedures by filling out the specified documents including payment of the affiliation fee defined in a different document.
  2. The autonomy of each member organization should be respected and treated equally under the Articles of Organization. Each member can participate as a delegate in the Conference. Also, each member organization and its members have a right to discuss projects of this organization and can freely contact any organizational structure of this organization.
  3. Each member organization and Supporting Member should pay a membership fee. If a member does not pay after one year, it loses its member status.
  4. Each member should follow the Action Agenda and the Articles of Confederation and make effort to develop movements based on the decisions of the organizational structure of this organization.
  5. Any member who prevents projects of this organization or ignores its obligations will be subject to certain procedure based on regulations defined in another document.
  6. Any member who decides to withdraw from this organization can do so after submitting a written resignation. The paid membership fee is not refundable.

IV. Organizational Structures

  1. The organizational sutractues of this organization are the Conference, Central Committee, and Executive Committee.
  2. The Conference is held every two years. The Conference is the highest decision making institution, and matters are discussed and evaluated by follows.
    1. Report on actions and activity plans
    2. Budget and account statements
    3. Election of the Steering Committee members and Auditors, and approval of the National Committee members and Advisors
    4. Revisions of the Articles of Organization
    5. Other matters that are needed for operation of this organization
  3. The Conference is managed by delegates from each member's organization, the Executive Committee members, and Auditors. The Conference can only be held if the majority of delegates approve. Every resolution of the Conference must be approved by a majority of the participating delegates. In the case of the revision of the Articles of the Organization and the revision of the procedure punishing members, approval of more than or equal to two-thirds of the participating delegates must be obtained.
  4. Regulations for electing delegates are defined by the Executive Committee.
  5. The Executive Committee convokes the Conference. The Extraordinary Conference should be held when the Central Committee decides to do so or more than or equal to one third of members request such a conference.
  6. The Central Committee is the second highest decision-making organizational structure and consists of the Central Committee and Steering Committee members and Auditors. The Central Committee discusses and specifies matters based on the decisions of the Conference.
  7. The Executive Committee elects the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary-General, Vice Secretary-General, and Financial Director.
  8. (1) The Executive Committee conducts daily activities based on the decisions of the Conference. (2) The Executive Committee can convoke the Block Meeting of each area and the National Delegate Meeting if these meetings are needed. Also, the Committee can establish special departments. (3) The Executive Committee should specify and initiate the decisions of this organization based on exchanging with each area our experience and learned. The Committee can establish a council in each area (Block). (4) The Executive Committee supports the activities of youth and women for protecting agricultural production and the farmer's movement. In addition, the Committee assists them to organize the Women's Association and the Youth Association.
  9. The Executive Committee is responsible for decisions of the Conference and the Central Committee.
  10. Any meeting except the Conference is formed only if 50% or more of the members are present, and any decision from this meeting requires a majority vote of the participants.

V. Representative of Organizational Stuctures

  1. This organization has following executive posts.
    Name of PostNumber of People
    Chairperson1
    Vice Chairpersonfew
    Secretary-General1
    Financial Director1
    Vise Secretary-Generalfew
    Executive Committee Memberfew
    Auditorsr3
    Central Committee MemberAt least one person from member's organization,
    the Women's Association and Youth Association
  2. Advisors should be recommended by the Executive Committee and then introduced and approved by the Conference.
  3. Term limits of the Executive Committee members, Auditors, and Advisors are from Conference to the next Conference. Reinstatement is possible.
  4. The Chairperson represents and coordinates all projects and activities.
  5. The Vice Chairperson supports Chairperson and assumes the post in his/her absence.
  6. Each Executive Committee member should work on his/her own appointed task on a certain subject.
  7. In order to manage the daily activities, this organization has the Secretary Office that is directed by the Secretary-General.
  8. The Financial Director controls the finances of this organization.
  9. The Auditor monitors the finances and reports to the Conference. Depending on the monitoring, each Auditor can express his/her opinion on certain organizational structures of this organization.
  10. The appointment of every member of the Secretary Office should be discussed in the Executive Committee and assigned by the Chairperson.
  11. The regulation regarding the election of executives is defined in another document.

VI. Finances

  1. This organization's fiscal year is from November 1 to October 31. Accounting measures are defined in another document.
  2. This organization's expenses are covered by membership fees from member organizations and Supporting Members, income, donations, and other financial sources.
  3. The fee is decided at the Conference depending on the number of members.

VII. Additional Articles

  1. Matters not defined in these Articles can be managed by the Executive Committee based on the decisions of the Conference and the principles of these Articles.
  2. These Articles came into effect on January 26, 1989. They have been partially revised on January 14, 1993, January 14, 1995, January 17, 2001, January 16, 2002, and January 14, 2003.