Research Center for Solidarity-based Society
Seeking a node of research, education and practiceYaesu-Ichigaya Bldg. 5F
2- 17 Ichigaya-Tamachi, Shinjuku-ku, TOKYO, 162- 0843, JAPANTEL +81 3 6265 0202 FAX +81 3 6265 0213 http://recss.jp/

2015.5Developing the Human Resources ofFuture Generations to Build a Better WorldThe Research Center for Solidarity-based Society or ReCSS,
a part of the Japan Labor Culture Foundation (JLCF),
will work in close cooperation with the Institute for
Solidarity-based Society of Hosei University (ISS-HU)
and support the latter’s educational activities.

Supporting the Development ofHuman Resources who will Lead Civil Society
ReCSS was established in April 2014 prior to the opening ofISS-HU, a unique two-year graduate school that aims to nurture

the future leaders of trade unions, co-operatives and nonprofits,
who will not only have wider perspectives transcending theseorganizations but will also serve general interests.

ReCSS has the mission of supporting the development of stu-ReCSS aims to play a part in developing the future leadersof trade unions, co-operatives, nonprofits and social
enterprises through supporting the research activities of studentsenrolled in ISS-HU and organizing conferences on social issues.

dents in collaboration with ISS-HU. As an open center, weintend to organize forums and conferences not only for ISS-HU
students but also for those who are involved in trade unions, co-operatives, nonprofits, social enterprises, as well as for citizens
who are active in the public sphere.

We wish to provide opportunities for a wide range of people,

and to deliberate issues relating to civil society, looking deeply
into the background of issues while discussing how to solve them.

Prof. Keisuke Nakamura
Director of ReCSS

WHAT ReCSS DOES
Supports ISS-HU'seducational activities

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE of ReCSS
Researches into the theory
and practice of social solidarity

Connects research andeducational programs

Collects reference materials anddocuments, disseminates information

Japan Labor Culture Foundation

Hosei University
Graduate School

Collaboration
SupportHolds open forums andconferences

Publishes academic
literature and reports

Conducts exchanges for building
a solidarity-based society

Implements activities aimed ataccomplishing ReCSS's objectives

Institute for
Solidarity-based
Society (ISS)All About ISS-HU
ISS-HU is a master course program established within Hosei University inApril 2015 in collaboration with RENGO ( Japanese Trade Union Confederation)and the Japan Labor Culture Foundation.

ISS-HU is composed of three programs for
trade unions, co-operatives and nonprofits.
These collaborate to develop the humanresources who will assume the leadershipof the new public commons.

NPOs play the role of changing thesocial system, thereby contributing to
the resolution of community/socialproblems. Social relations for developing NPOs, ranging from their history
and theory to networks and collaborations, are studied.

Prof. Hideo Yamagishi

Specialist in nonprofits,NPO platforms and social system

1

Trade Unions
Program3

Nonprofits
Programmessage
How should trade unions respond to changing
circumstances as a member of civil society?
Trade unions are studied historically as well asinternationally in order to understand the theories
and stances required to tackle issues thatprioritize fairness and equality as key concepts.

Prof. Keisuke Nakamura
Specialist in labor relations,trade unions andpersonnel management

2Prof. Yuko Tanaka

President,
Hosei University

The Institute for Solidarity-based
Society of Hosei University (ISSHU) was inaugurated in April 2015.
ISS-HU has the very important taskof embracing a variety of social

Co-operatives
Programmovements, i.e. trade unions,
co-operatives and nonprofits, andleading them on to future activities
from this wider perspective.

Japanese co-operatives are world-class organizations in size, but now face multi-faceted
challenges under globalization. Their history
and theory, governance and social responsibility, relations with politics and public policies
and roles in civil society are studied.

Prof. Akira Kurimoto

Development of human resources who willassume leadership roles in the new public commons

Toward a society thatunderstands what work is

Specialist in co-operatives,
institutional frameworks andinternational comparison

The ISS-HU Master’s Program isdesigned for adult students to learn
about social movements in a varietyof ways by taking evening lecture
courses. Through ISS, I expect thecommon consciousness of “work-ing” rather than “career education”

will be generated among both students and teachers, and disseminatedto a wider society. I also hope thenotion of a “Solidarity-based Society” will be widely understood andfurther developed.

message

The Solidarity-based Society that
ReCSS Aims to Build
Reconstructing Living Security
through Citizen Solidarity

The Solidarity-based Societythat Present-day Japan Needs

Solidarity stands for co-operation among dif-Japanese society currently faces increasing iso-ferent individuals and groups based on independence. It includes the two dimensions ofsolidarity of citizens as consumers and solidarity of citizens as producers. While the interestsof these citizens may be matched or opposed,

solidarity means co-operating to seek common
elements while recognizing differences.

Solidarity is also deeply concerned withlation, exclusion and poverty, while social ties

in families and communities are weakening

and traditional job security based on companies is threatened. ReCSS aims to contributeto the creation of a sustainable society basedon people’s solidarity.

Strengthen the capacity of social movements toadvocate social justice and decent work for all
First of all, let me convey to you the greetings and best
wishes of the International Labour Organisation forthe success of the Institute for Solidarity-based Society,
ISS, also known as the RENGO Graduate School. I
am very glad to learn that after its long-standing
efforts, RENGO is successfully launching this important institution within the graduate school system of
Hosei University.

This is not an easy time for trade unions around theworld. They are facing the challenges of rapid economic and social changes in an era of increasing globalization and very difficult labour market conditions.
So, trade unions need to strengthen their analyticalcapacity, their organisational efficiency, and theirpolitical ability to represent working people effectivelyand to promote job-centred and pro-poor social andemployment policies.

And I am sure that the ISS will strengthen tradeunions’ capacity to advocate social justice and decent
work for all. So, I look forward to ISS students con-tributing to the further development of the labour andsocial movement at the national level and the international level as well.
I also hope that the ISS will consider working with
the Global Labour University (GLU) that is operated
by the Workers’ Activities Bureau of the ILO.
The ILO stands ready to assist the ISS in the successful development of its courses, and our Tokyo
office will be at your disposal to arrange that support.

Once again, I would like to congratulate RENGOfor its achievement and wish the Institute for Solidarity-based Society every success.

Guy Ryder

ILO Director-General
2 February 2015social security. Mutual societies were set up by

A Society of Independent Citizens

ployment, old age, illness or accidents in theSolidarity-based society means a civil society

century, their functions were largely taken

obliged to make a choice in the debate re-

WHAT ReCSS HAS DONEand market. We are also facing choices regard-

Symposia for Solidarity-based Society

Serial Lectures on Solidarity-based Society

1st Symposium on Dec. 11, 2013Lecture 1 “The future that ISS seeks”
by Prof. Akira Hamamura
Lecture 2 “How to draw out the potential of social movements”
by Prof. Marshall Ganz

1st Lecture, Oct. 18, 2014
“The lost three decades: Final proposal for a turnabout”
by Prof. Naohiko Jinno

workers to secure against the risks of unemwake of the industrial revolution. In the 20thbased on people’s solidarity. We are often

over by welfare states, which sought to estab-garding the dichotomy between government

workers accepted this change as a shift froming global or local, liberty or equity, and effi-lish universal pension and health care, but

small solidarity among mutual society mem-ciency or democracy. However, such dichoto-bers to large solidarity that covered the wholemies cannot be resolved by making trade-offs;

However, now that welfare states through-and establish a solidarity-based society withpopulation.

out the world have been set back due to financial deficits, public welfare programs are being

curtailed and privatization is underway. Reconstructing living security through the voluntary solidarity of citizens is therefore once
again being seen as a viable alternative.

what is needed is to balance competing goals

distinctive values and criteria. It is also imperative for a variety of organizations to work

together in a friendly manner and create networks to solve social problems.

2nd Lecture, Dec. 6, 2014
“Toward the creation of a mutual help society”
by Prof. Sawako Shirahase

2nd Symposium on Apr. 21, 2014
Lecture “The HRD that ISS is expected to offer”
by Prof. Toru Shinoda
Report“The background and concept of ISS”
by Mr. Koji Yamamoto
Panel discussionCoordinated by Prof. Ikuro Takagi
with Prof. Keisuke Nakamura, Mr. Akira Kurimotoand Prof. Hideo Yamagishi

5th Lecture, Feb. 7, 2015
“Democracy and solidarity” by Prof. Takenori Inoki

3rd Symposium on May. 30, 2014 in Fukushima
Lecture “The welfare state and civil democracy”
by Prof. Victor Pestoff

6th Lecture, Mar. 14, 2015
“The governance of life security from gender perspectives”
by Prof. Mari Osawa

3rd Lecture, Dec. 13, 2014
“What is political thinking?” by Prof. Atsushi Sugita
4th Lecture, Jan. 24, 2015
“Creating democracy” by Prof. Shigenori UnoPublication of booklets
Symposium for Solidarity-based Society
1st / 2nd / 3rd