National Council of Citizen Welfare Organizations

What National Council of Citizen Welfare Organizations does

Shiminkyō (市民福祉団体全国協議会, National Council of Citizen Welfare Organizations) is a certified NPO (認定NPO) federation founded in 1992 that serves as the nationwide coordinating council for approximately 900-1,100 welfare and nursing-care NPO member organizations across Japan. Headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, the organization functions primarily as a member-services and advocacy body — providing policy updates from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, professional training (annual Leaders' Training at Fujisawa), disaster relief coordination (Collaborative Disaster Training, Noto relief), and housing support services to its member base. It also distributes consumer-facing products such as the 'My Uniqueness Note' end-of-life planning booklet (¥1,000/copy) and the 'Life Hundred Pages' digital photo/movie service.

The organization generates revenue through four streams: recurring membership dues from NPO member organizations, donations (including the 'Tsunagaru Bokin' connecting-donation program and the E-Rex 'Kusanone Denki' electricity partnership), product sales (publications, magnet sheets for welfare transport vehicles, digital memory services), and service fees from housing support ('KuraSapo') and comprehensive welfare-business compensation ('AnSapo' / 'Yorisoi'). Its go-to-market is community-led — relying on a mail-magazine newsletter (distributed via Google Groups), the seniornet.ne.jp website, annual general meetings, regional caravans, and member referrals rather than commercial marketing channels.

The organization holds no proprietary technology platform; its digital infrastructure consists of a WordPress website, email newsletter, and standard office tools. It maintains strategic alliances with Zenrosai/Kokumin Kyosai (cooperative insurance), E-Rex (renewable energy), Silver Service Shinko-kai (industry association liaison to MHLW), and the closely related CWC. Following the 2024 passing of former Representative Director Tanaka Naoki, leadership transitioned in 2025 to a three-representative-director structure with co-representatives Washio Kimiko and Toyoshima Ryosuke, with academic chair Adachi Kiyoshi (Kyushu University emeritus) chairing the Research Committee.

Name

National Council of Citizen Welfare Organizations

Legal name

認定特定非活動法人市民福祉団体全国協議会

Website

https://seniornet.ne.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Shiminkyō is a certified Japanese NPO federation founded in 1992 that coordinates approximately 900-1,100 welfare and nursing-care NPO member organizations nationwide, delivering advocacy, training, disaster relief, housing support, and insurance/compensation services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Welfare NPO Federation Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Health and Welfare Funds (525120)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300), Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & PEO Group Health Plans (AHP/PEO-Sponsored) (FSAIAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Emergency Response Team (ERT) Staffing & Incident Management Support (BPABANAD)

Keywords

• Welfare NPO federation
• Membership nonprofit services
• Social welfare advocacy
• Housing support services
• Disaster relief coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Shinjuku

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The organization collects membership dues from its approximately 1,100 member welfare NPO organizations across Japan. Member organizations pay periodic dues to belong to the national council.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The organization raises funds through donations, including disaster relief donations and the 'つながる募金' (connecting donation) program. Donations are used to support member organizations and disaster-affected areas.
3. Publication Sales: Sales of books and guides such as the 'わたしらしさノート' (End-of-Life Notebook) for 1,000 yen per copy (or 800 yen per copy for orders of 10 or more), and training materials. Also sales of '人生百葉' digital photo/movie production services.
4. Service Fees (KuraSapo, AnSapo): Fees from specialized services including 'くらサポ(R)' housing support services and 'あんサポ' (comprehensive welfare compensation program), formerly known as the grass-roots insurance scheme.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The organization is a certified nonprofit federation (市民協 / Shimin-kyo) that coordinates a nationwide network of approximately 1,100 welfare and nursing care NPO member organizations across Japan. Its product and service portfolio includes housing support services (KuraSapo), a welfare business compensation program (Yorisoi), leadership training programs, digital memory creation services (Life Hundred Pages), end-of-life planning publications (Watashi-rashisa Notebook), and a social electricity donation program (Kusanone Denki) delivered in partnership with EREX.

Product overview

市民協 (Shimin-kyo / National Council of Citizen Welfare Organizations) operates as a federation of welfare NPOs offering a portfolio of interconnected services focused on community welfare, housing support, and disaster preparedness. The core offerings include Life Hundred Pages (人生百葉) digital memory creation service, My Uniqueness Note (わたしらしさノート) end-of-life planning tools, and the Grassroots Electricity (草の根でんき) social electricity program. Additional services include housing support (くらサポ), welfare business compensation (市民協よりそい), vehicle magnet sheets, and collaborative disaster training programs. The organization serves as a national network of approximately 1,100 welfare NPO member organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KuraSapo (くらサポ(R)) — Living Support Housing support service offering assistance for housing-related challenges including moving assistance, consultation, and property management, targeted primarily at member welfare NPOs and individuals with housing difficulties.
• AnSapo (あんサポ) — Daily Safety Support Daily safety and emergency support service program (万一の安心) offered through the organization to provide welfare businesses and their clients with rapid-response safety assistance.
• Yorisoi (市民協よりそい) — Comprehensive Welfare Compensation Comprehensive welfare business compensation system designed for Shiminkyō member welfare organizations, formerly known as the grass-roots insurance scheme (草の根保険), providing liability and operational coverage tailored to welfare business activities.
• Welfare Transport Magnet Sheets (マグネットシート) Vehicle magnetic sheets required by law for fee-based welfare transport (福祉有償運送) service vehicles, sold to member welfare NPOs to identify compliant transport vehicles.
• Leaders Training (市民協リーダーズ研修) Annual leadership training program for welfare professionals hosted in Fujisawa, addressing topics such as the 10th-term nursing care insurance plan and preparing member organizations for the 2040 care horizon; co-organized with member NPOs including Group Fuji.
• Collaborative Disaster Training (協働型災害訓練) Annual collaborative disaster training program conducted in Sugito that brings together Shiminkyō member organizations and other stakeholders for disaster preparedness education and joint exercise drills.
• Life Hundred Pages (人生百葉) Digital photo and movie creation service that helps customers — primarily seniors — organize photos from their life, build digital slideshows with background music, and produce personalized DVD-based life-story movies; offered across multiple course tiers from trial to special.
• Watashi-rashisa Notebook (わたしらしさノート) — End-of-Life Planning Notebook End-of-life planning booklet/book designed to help individuals — particularly seniors — organize their thoughts about living, aging, and end-of-life preferences in order to express their 'uniqueness' (わたしらしさ) to family members; sold at 1,000 yen per copy, with bulk pricing of 800 yen per copy for orders of 10 or more.
• Kusanone Denki (市民協草の根でんき) — Grassroots Electricity Electricity service partnership with EREX (biomass power generation) under which a portion of subscriber electricity fees are donated to Shiminkyō as a social fundraising mechanism; subscribers receive electricity service, and the organization receives donations.

Named customers7 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Zenrosai Co-op / Kokumin Kyosai (こくみん共済coop / 全労済)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerA long-standing co-marketing partner. Zenrosai and Shiminkyō co-develop and co-promote welfare insurance products for member organizations. They co-organize training programs and the organization advertises Zenrosai's car insurance and Kokumin Kyosai products to members. Co-sponsored the Leaders' Training events.
• E-Rex (イーレックス)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerE-Rex is a renewable energy company that partnered with Shiminkyō to launch the 'Kusanone Denki' (草の根でんき) program, where a portion of electricity fees paid by subscribers is donated to Shiminkyō as a fundraising mechanism. E-Rex provides the electricity service; Shiminkyō receives donations.
• CWC (全国市民福祉支援協議会 / 一般社団法人全国市民福祉支援協議会)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWC is a closely related organization offering 'AnSapo' and 'KuraSapo' services. Both organizations share leadership and represent member NPO interests in national policy discussions. The relationship is described as a 'closely related organization' in official communications.
• Silver Service Shinko-kai (シルバーサービス振興会)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShiminkyō participates in the Minsei Kyouai Jigyou Suishin Iinkai (Civil Welfare Enterprise Promotion Committee) whose secretariat is operated by Silver Service Shinko-kai. The organization uses Silver Service Shinko-kai as a hub for communication with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
• NPO Fukushima Grapple藤 (NPO法人ぐるーぷ藤)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey member organization that serves as a board/steering member of Shiminkyō. Co-organizes training programs (e.g., Leaders' Training at their Fujisawa facility), research projects, and disaster response activities. The organization's representative (鷲尾公子) serves as a co-representative director of Shiminkyō.
• NPO Ari Care Support Network Center ARASHI (NPO法人介護者サポートネットワークセンター・アラジン)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey member organization that co-organizes educational seminars, publishes books, and conducts caregiver support activities. Shiminkyō jointly publishes and sells ARASHI's caregiver training DVDs.
• General Incorporated Association Regional Care Sogo Kenkyusho (、一般)

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Civic Force: A Japanese NPO focused on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, working with corporate and civil society partners. Comparable through shared disaster relief advocacy and coordination with member welfare organizations affected by natural disasters.
• Florence (認定NPO法人フローレンス): A leading certified NPO that provides childcare and welfare services while also engaging in policy advocacy and social entrepreneur support. Comparable as a certified NPO operating in welfare services with policy advocacy engagement, though focused on a different sub-domain (childcare).
• Japan NPO Center (日本NPOセンター): A national intermediary support organization for NPOs in Japan that provides capacity building, training, advocacy, and information services to member organizations. Directly comparable as a membership-based NPO support network serving civil society organizations nationwide.
• Sawayaka Welfare Foundation (さわやか福祉財団): A welfare-focused foundation that supports citizen-led welfare activities, training, and the establishment of welfare NPOs. Comparable in mission of strengthening welfare NPOs and supporting community-based welfare service providers.
• JANIC (日本NGOセンター): A network of international cooperation NGOs that engages in policy advocacy, information sharing, and capacity building. Comparable as a national NPO/NGO coalition with government liaison and policy advocacy functions, though focused on international cooperation.
• Silver Service Shinko-kai (シルバーサービス振興会): An industry association that promotes welfare services for the elderly and serves as a communication hub with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Comparable as a national welfare industry association that Shiminkyō explicitly uses as a bridge to MHLW.
• National Council of Social Welfare of Japan (全国社会福祉協議会 / Zenshakyo): The largest national federation of social welfare organizations in Japan, providing policy advocacy, training, and member services to welfare and social welfare organizations. Directly comparable in mandate, membership model, and policy engagement with Shiminkyō, though it operates at a larger scale and broader social welfare scope.
• CSO Network Japan (CSOネットワーク): A network of civil society organizations that engages in policy advocacy, research, and capacity building for NPOs and NGOs in Japan. Comparable as a membership-based civil society coalition operating at the national level with strong policy advocacy focus.

Broad incumbents

• Nippon Foundation (日本財団): One of Japan's largest philanthropic foundations, supporting welfare, education, and social innovation through grants and programs. Comparable as a major welfare-focused organization, though operating at vastly larger scale as a grantmaker rather than a membership federation.

Others

• Japan Fundraising Association (日本ファンドレイシング協会): A national association that supports fundraising professionals and NPOs through training, certification, and advocacy. Comparable as an NPO support organization focused on a key operational function (fundraising) that Shiminkyō also relies on for donation revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Council of Citizen Welfare Organizations