Iwate Central Agricultural Cooperative

What Iwate Central Agricultural Cooperative does

JA Iwate Central (岩手中央農業協同組合) is a private agricultural cooperative headquartered in Shiwa Town, Iwate Prefecture, serving a fixed geographic catchment of one city (Morioka) and two towns (Yahaba, Shiwa) in central Iwate. The cooperative operates as a multi-service platform for member farmers and local residents, integrating agricultural production guidance and material supply (6 Green Center stores plus a Material Order Center), direct-sales of local produce through its wholly owned subsidiary JA Shin-Sera, banking distribution (JA Bank, Tohoku Finance Bureau Registration No. 147), mutual aid insurance (JA Kyosai), LP gas and fuel distribution with 24-hour wireless leak monitoring and three service stations, agricultural machinery and automotive inspection/maintenance (~1,500 vehicles/year), health checkups, childcare, and free employment matching for agricultural labor.

The cooperative's technology footprint is conventional rather than differentiated: JA Net Bank online banking, JA-direct ecommerce, a QR receipt tool, and the "Anshin Catch 24" LP gas safety telemetry system. Distribution is entirely direct through owned physical storefronts and service infrastructure within the 1-city/2-town perimeter, with no third-party reseller or external logistics layer. Go-to-market relies on a multi-channel mix of social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X, note.com), a bimonthly printed PR magazine, community events (spring/autumn festivals, Chagurin School, matchmaking tours), and the JA Group cross-promotion network.

Revenue is generated across recurring streams (banking deposits/loans/iDeCo commissions, insurance premiums, fuel/energy delivery, agricultural input margins), transactional streams (vehicle inspections, machinery repair, direct produce sales, funeral services), and unit-priced services (Human Dock health checkups at ¥45,100–¥45,650). Membership recruitment, community programming (Youth/Women's Divisions, Piyopiyo childcare circle), and producer-support tools like the Apple Forecast Information service underpin member retention and demand generation. Apple exports to the USA, Canada, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Thailand indicate produce-market reach beyond the domestic service area, while inbound foreign remittance services were discontinued in December 2019.

Name

Iwate Central Agricultural Cooperative

Legal name

岩手中央農業協同組合 (Iwate Central Agricultural Cooperative)

Website

https://ja-iwatechuoh.or.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

JA Iwate Central is a private Japanese agricultural cooperative serving Morioka City, Yahaba Town, and Shiwa Town in central Iwate Prefecture, providing member farmers and local residents with banking, mutual aid insurance, agricultural supplies, direct produce sales, fuel and LP gas distribution, machinery services, health checkups, and community programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Cooperative Services

NAICS

Farm Management Services (115116)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Farmer Cooperatives & Co-op Retail (AFABAJAB)

Keywords

• Agricultural cooperative services
• Community banking services
• Mutual aid insurance
• Agricultural supply retail
• Direct produce sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Shiwa

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Agricultural Production Guidance & Supply: JA Iwate Central provides agricultural guidance to member farmers, supplies fertilizers, pesticides, agricultural materials, and machinery through its 6 Green Center stores and Material Order Center. The cooperative also operates direct-sales stores (JA Shin-Sera / San Fresh Tonan) for local produce. Revenue is generated through product sales margins and service fees.
2. JA Bank (Financial Services): Banking services including deposits, savings, loans, JA Net Bank online banking, and iDeCo individual pension plans. JA Iwate Central is a registered financial institution under the Tohoku Finance Bureau (Registration No. 147). Revenue generated from interest spreads, account fees, and financial product distribution commissions.
3. JA Kyosai (Insurance / Mutual Aid): Comprehensive mutual aid / insurance covering 'people, homes, and automobiles' (ひと・いえ・くるま). Revenue from insurance premiums and contribution fees.
4. Health Checkup (Human Dock) Services: Comprehensive health examination services (approximately 70 items) offered to members and general public at JA Iwate Prefecture Welfare Federation facility. JA members receive a 3,000 yen subsidy. Fee-based at 45,100 yen (male) / 45,650 yen (female).
5. LP Gas, Fuel, and Energy: LP gas supply and delivery with 24/7 safety monitoring system, plus gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and heating oil distribution through 3 JA-SS (service stations) and a distribution center. JA-denki (electricity) service also offered.
6. Automotive Inspection, Agricultural Machinery & Vehicle Services: Designated automotive inspection and maintenance (approx. 1,500 vehicles/year), agricultural machinery repair at 2 factories, and vehicle center operations. Licensed as a specific used goods dealer (Registered No. 211030000880).
7. Funeral Services (JA Shin-Sera): Subsidiary JA Shin-Sera operates the Chuo Sousai Center with Shin-Sera Halls (Yahaba / Shiwa) for funeral services and a flower center. Revenue from funeral service fees and related merchandise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Iwate Central Agricultural Cooperative is a member-owned agricultural cooperative (JA) that delivers a bundled suite of services to farmers and rural residents in central Iwate Prefecture, including JA Bank deposits and loans, JA Mutual Aid life and automobile insurance, agricultural inputs and A-COOP food retail at Green Centers, fuel and LP gas at JA-SS stations, agricultural machinery sales and service, direct-sales produce and funeral services via its Shin Sera subsidiary, and human-dock health checkups. It also runs member-facing content and community programs such as recipe collections, the PR magazine Jamp, and the Childcare Circle Piyopiyo, while operating a free employment agency for member producers.

Product overview

Iwate Central Agricultural Cooperative (ＪＡいわて中央) is an agricultural cooperative serving Morioka City, Yahaba Town, and Shiwa Town in central Iwate Prefecture, offering a comprehensive portfolio of agricultural and community services. The cooperative operates as a unified platform combining financial services (JA Bank banking and JA Mutual Aid insurance), agricultural supply services (Green Centers for fertilizers/pesticides, Agricultural Machinery Center, Gas/Petroleum/SS), direct sales operations (JA Shin Sera subsidiary), and community services (health checkups, childcare, recipe collections, employment agency). The core offering centers on supporting local agriculture through production information, special product sales, and farmer training programs, complemented by lifestyle services that enhance community wellbeing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• JA Bank (banking services)

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• DCM Holdings Co., Ltd. (ＤＣＭ（株）)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 July 2021JA Iwate Central entered into a business partnership with DCM Holdings (which operates DCM Home Pro stores) on July 21, 2021. This was the 6th such JA-home center partnership nationwide and the first in Iwate Prefecture. The partnership aims to improve services for members and local residents by combining JA's agricultural expertise with DCM's retail network. DCM's 6 stores in the region were named as an area for enhanced service collaboration.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• AEON Agri Create Co., Ltd. Corporate farming and agricultural subsidiary of AEON Group, operating commercial farms and produce sales. Comparable in agricultural production and produce direct-to-consumer sales, though as a private corporate operator rather than a member cooperative.

Others

• DCM Holdings Co., Ltd. Home center operator (DCM Home Pro, DCM Kahma, DCM Sanai) and the strategic partner of JA Iwate Central since 2021. Comparable as a retail competitor and partner, though operating as a private-sector chain rather than a cooperative.

Broad incumbents

• JA Bank (Jabank): Nationwide banking system operated by the JA Group, of which JA Iwate Central's banking business is a member. Provides the platform, products, and regulatory framework that JA Iwate Central's JA Bank operations run on.
• JA Kyosai (Zenkyoren): National mutual aid / insurance arm of the JA Group, offering the life, property, and automobile insurance products that JA Iwate Central distributes. Same business model and product suite, executed at national scale.

Regional players

• JA Hokkaido Federation (JA Hokkaido Rengo-kai): Prefecture-level federation of agricultural cooperatives in Hokkaido, similar in governance and structure to JA Iwate Central's relationship with the JA Iwate Group. Comparable as a regional cooperative umbrella organization.
• Hokuren (Hokkaido Nosan Kogyo Kyodo Kumiai Rengo-kai): Hokkaido's economic federation for agricultural cooperatives, performing collective marketing, supply, and processing functions. Operates the same multi-service cooperative model as JA Iwate Central but in a different (and larger) geography.

Direct peers

• Komeri Co., Ltd. Listed Japanese home center chain focused on rural and suburban markets, with a strong agricultural-supplies assortment (Power Pro, HARD&GREEN). Competes directly with JA Iwate Central's Green Centers for agricultural input and gardening spend from farmers and rural residents.
• JA Zen-Noh (Zenkoku Nogyo Kyodo Kumiai Rengo-kai): National federation of agricultural cooperatives in Japan, providing member JAs with collective marketing, supply, and economic services. Directly comparable to JA Iwate Central's cooperative economic and marketing role, though at a national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ja_iwatechuoh
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGlCBNa5evJjTr4qJoQQNqg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ja.iwatechuoh
• Instagraminstagram.com/ja_iwatechuoh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Iwate Central Agricultural Cooperative