#Japan #Dairy Farming #Palsystem #Kushiro #towel donation

Celebrating 40 Years of the Towel Donation Movement

On March 10th and 11th, the Pal System Cooperative Federation held the 40th anniversary ceremony for its Towel Donation Movement in Kushiro City, Hokkaido. This movement, which aims to gather towels essential for dairy farmers, began in 1985 and has since resulted in the donation of a staggering 2.86 million towels to support milk producers.

Pal System's Executive Director, Masakazu Tsuji, opened the ceremony by expressing gratitude for the initiative's success, highlighting that the movement symbolizes the connection between producers and users. He emphasized that the popularity of the high-temperature short-time sterilization (HTST) processed "Konsen 72 Milk" directly relies on consumers' generous contributions alongside the towels.

Naoharu Ohata, the head of the Akankai Agricultural Cooperative, acknowledged the significance of these towel donations, stating that they were crucial in enabling the production of "Konsen 72 Milk." Despite tough economic circumstances, he pledged to continue delivering safe, secure, and delicious milk to consumers.

During the ceremony, Yoko Nishimura, chairwoman of Pal System Tokyo, presented a list of contributions to Kazumi Itosuna, the vice-chair of the JA Kushiro-Ota Women's Section. Itosuna shared her journey from a management dietitian working with international food products to becoming a producer in Hokkaido. She expressed a strong commitment to supporting local agriculture through Pal System's initiatives, affirming her dedication as a dairy farmer.

The challenges faced by the dairy industry in Japan were further underscored by Sakura Koijima, a staff member of the Pal System Livestock Department, who mentioned that the number of dairy farm households has fallen below 10,000. The importance of mutual support through visible connections such as local production was highlighted.

Embracing Technology in Dairy Production

On March 11th, participants visited M&S Co., Ltd. in Shirakawa Town, Hokkaido, to witness firsthand the current state of dairy production. The farm has integrated cutting-edge technology including automated milking robots to address labor shortages and rising costs while ensuring the quality of milk remains intact.

As attendees donned protective clothing to tour the barn, they discussed the balance of efficiency and passion in dairy farming. The visit underscored the concept of “new ways to support”—an initiative that aims to adapt the Towel Donation Movement to current industry needs, including the introduction of automated systems.

At the conclusion of the anniversary, Shigeko Kofuya, chair of the Pal System Direct Sales Committee, reflected on the historical significance and the bonds cultivated between people through this movement. She reaffirmed the organization's commitment to continue fostering these connections while enhancing local dairy farming in Japan.

Pal System will keep driving community support for dairy production, working alongside producers to shape the future of Japanese dairy farming through its consumer initiatives.

Related Resources

• - Supporting Local Production

Pal System Cooperative Federation
Location: 2-2-6 Okubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Chairman: Atsuyuki Shibusawa
Annual Total Business Volume: 260.42 billion yen
Total Members: 1.762 million (as of March 2025)
Cooperatives: Pal System Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gunma, Fukushima, Shizuoka, Niigata, Kumamoto, and others.