# RENGO

The Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC) (日本労働組合総連合会, Nihon Rōdōkumiai Sōrengōkai), commonly known as RENGO (連合, Rengō), 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 (Dōmei), the Federation of Independent Unions (Chūritsu Rōren) and the National Federation Of Industrial Organisations (Shinsanbetsu). In 1990, the General Council of Trade Unions of Japan (Sohyo) 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 (2009) | Membership (2020) |
| 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 (2,660 members as of 2009)
Friendly affiliate:
* NIKKENKYO Council of Japan Construction Industry Employee's Unions (35,624 members as of 2009)

### Former affiliates

| Abbreviation | Union | Founded | Left | Reason not affiliated | Membership (1996) |
| ZENSEN | Japanese Federation of Textile, Garment, Chemical, Mercantile, Food and Allied Industries Workers' Unions | 1946 | 2002 | Merged into UI ZENSEN | 577,362 |
| ZENKIN RENGO | Japanese Metal Industrial Workers' Union | 1958 | 1999 | Merged into JAM | 314,693 |
| CSG RENGO | Japanese Federation of Chemical, Service and General Trade Unions | 1995 | 2002 | Merged into UI ZENSEN | 237,474 |
| KINZOKU RENGO | National Metal and Machinery Workers' Union | 1989 | 1999 | Merged into JAM | 200,000 |
| TEKKO ROREN | Japanese Federation of Iron and Steel Workers' Unions | 1951 | 2003 | Merged into JBU | 193,472 |
| ZENTEI | Japan Postal Workers' Union | 1946 | 2007 | Merged into JPGU | 158,691 |
| ZOSENJUKI ROREN | Japan Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Workers' Unions | 1972 | 2003 | Merged into JBU | 133,407 |
| SHOGYO ROREN | Japan Federation of Commercial Workers' Unions | 1970 | 2001 | Merged into JSD | 129,043 |
| SHOKUHIN RENGO | Japan Federation of Foods and Tobacco Workers' Unions | 1995 | 2000 | Merged into JFU | 116,747 |
| GOKA ROREN | Japanese Federation of Synthetic Chemistry Workers' Unions | 1950 | 1998 | Merged into KAGAKU LEAGUE | 91,242 |
| ZEN YUSAI | All Japan Postal Labour Union | 1965 | 2007 | Merged into JPGU | 77,718 |
| KAGAKU SOREN | Japanese Federation of Chemical Workers' Unions | 1978 | 2016 | Disaffiliated | 67,629 |
| ZENKOKU IPPAN | National Union of General Workers | 1955 | 2006 | Merged into JICHIRO | 60,096 |
| LEISURE SERVICE RENGO | Japan Federation of Leisure-Service Industries Workers' Unions | 1970 | 2001 | Merged into SERVICE RENGO | 46,900 |
| TOSHIKO | All Japan Municipal Transport Workers' Union | 1947 | 2013 | Merged into JICHIRO | 43,767 |
| KOKKO SOREN | Japan Central Federation of National Public Service Employees' Unions | 1989 | 2001 | Merged into KOKKO RENGO | 43,697 |
| CHAIN RENGO | Chain Store Labor Unions Council | 1970 | 2001 | Merged into JSD | 40,944 |
| KOKUZEI ROSO | Japanese Confederation of National Tax Unions | 1958 | 2001 | Merged into KOKKO RENGO | 40,128 |
| SEIROREN | Labor Federation of Government Related Organizations | 1960 | 2001 | Merged into KOKKO RENGO | 33,392 |
| SEKIYU ROREN | Japan Confederation of Petroleum Industry Workers' Unions | 1947 | 2002 | Merged into JEC | 29,505 |
| HITETSU RENGO | Japanese Metal Mine Workers' Union | 1964 | 2003 | Merged into JBU | 23,500 |
| SHOKUHIN ROKYO | Food Industry Workers' Unions Council | 1989 | 2000 | Merged into JFU | 21,826 |
| KOKU DOMEI | Japanese Confederation of Aviation Labour | 1974 | 1999 | Merged into KOKO RENGO | 15,178 |
| ZENCHURO | All Japan Garrison Forces Labor Union | 1946 | 2001 | Merged into KOKKO RENGO | 14,314 |
| KENSETSU RENGO | Japan Construction Trade Union Confederation | 1990 | 2014 | Merged into JBU | 13,413 |
| NHK ROREN | Federation of All-NHK Labour Unions | 1988 | 2017 | Merged into MEDIA ROREN | 11,584 |
| ZENKOKU KAGAKU | All Japan Chemistry Workers' Union | 1987 | 1998 | Merged into KAGAKU LEAGUE | 10,540 |
| SHINKAGAKU | National Organization of All Chemical Workers | 1958 | 2002 | Merged into JEC | 8,313 |
| ZENROKIN | Federation of Labor Bank Workers' Unions of Japan | | | | 7,617 |
| ZENKOKU SEMENTO | National Federation of Cement Workers' Unions of Japan | 1947 | 2002 | Merged into JEC | 7,263 |
| ZEIKAN ROREN | Federation of Japanese Customs Personnel Labour Unions | 1965 | 2001 | Merged into KOKKO RENGO | 5,524 |
| SEN-I SEIKATSU ROREN | Japan Federation of Textile and Clothing Workers' Unions | 1948 | 2002 | Merged into UI ZENSEN | 5,127 |
| SHIN UNTEN | FIO-Drivers' Craft Union | 1959 | | | 4,435 |
| ZENZOSEN-KIKAI | All Japan Shipbuilding and Engineering Union | 1946 | 2016 | Dissolved | 3,226 |
| ZENKAIREN | All Japan Shipping Labor Union | 1947 | | | 2,750 |
| JIUNRO | Japan Automobile Drivers' Union | 1958 | | | 2,109 |
| NICHIRINRO | National Forestry Workers' Union of Japan | 1965 | 2006 | Merged into SINRIN ROREN | 2,020 |
| ZENTANKO | National Union of Coal Mine Workers | 1952 | | | 1,750 |
| TANRO | Japan Coal Miners' Union | 1950 | 2004 | Dissolved | 1,460 |
| ZEN-EIEN | National Cinema and Theater Workers' Union | 1947 | 2017 | Merged into MEDIA ROREN | 473 |
| TOKEI ROSO | Statistics Labor Union-management and Coordination Agency | 1962 | 2005 | Dissolved | 200 |
| ZENSHIN ROREN | All Japan Community Bank Labour Union Association | 1961 | 2018 | Disaffiliated | N/A |
| SHOKUHIN ROREN | All Japan Federation of Food Industries Workers' Unions | 1965 | 1995 | Merged into SHOKUHIN RENGO | N/A |
| HITETSU KINZOKU ROREN | All Japan Federation of Non-Ferrous Metal Workers' Unions | 1982 | | Merged into HITETSU ROREN | N/A |
| KENSETSU DOMEI | Japanese Federation of Construction Industry Workers | 1978 | 1990 | Merged into KENSETSU RENGO | N/A |
| JSD | Japan Federation of Service and Distributive Workers' Unions | 2001 | 2012 | Merged into UA ZENSEN | N/A |
| UI ZENSEN | Japanese Federation of Textile, Chemical, Food, Commercial, Service and General Workers' Unions | 2002 | 2012 | Merged into UA ZENSEN | N/A |
| ZENKA DOMEI | Japanese Federation of Chemical and General Workers' Unions | 1951 | 1995 | Merged into CSG RENGO | N/A |
| KAGAKU LEAGUE | Japanese Federation of Chemistry Workers' Unions | 1998 | 2002 | Merged into JEC | N/A |
| ZENTABAKO | Japan Tobacco and Allied Workers' Union | 1985 | 1995 | Merged into SHOKUHIN RENGO | N/A |
| ZENDENRYOKU | National Council of Japanese Electric Powers Workers | 1965 | 1996 | Merged into DENRYOKU SOREN | N/A |
| ZENYOREN | National Federation of Ceramic Industry Workers' Unions | 1949 | 1995 | Merged into CERAMICS RENGO | N/A |
| ZEN SHOKUHIN DOMEI | National Federation of Food Industry Workers' Unions | 1947 | 1995 | Merged into SHOKUHIN RENGO | N/A |
| IPPAN DOMEI | National Federation of General Workers' Unions | 1966 | 1995 | Merged into CSG RENGO | N/A |
| GOMU ROREN | National Federation of Rubber Industry Workers' Unions | 1965 | 1992 | Merged into GOMU RENGO | N/A |

## Local organizations

RENGO also has local organizations for each of Japan's 47 prefectures.

## Leadership
### General secretaries

* Seigo Yamada (1989–1993)
* Etsuya Washio (1993–1997)
* Kiyoshi Sasamori (1997–2001)
* Hiroyuki Nagumo (2001–2013)
* Rikio Kozu (2013–2015)
* Naoto Omi (2015–2017)
* Yasunobu Aihara (2017–2021)
* Hideyuki Shimizu (2021—present)

### Presidents

* Akira Yamagishi (1989–1995)
* Jinnosuke Ashida (1995–1997)
* Etsuya Washio (1997–2001)
* Kiyoshi Sasamori (2001–2005)
* Tsuyoshi Takagi (2005–2009)
* Nobuaki Koga (2009–2015)
* Rikio Kozu (2015–2021)
* Tomoko Yoshino (2021—present)