Danran Nippon – The Miracle of Aichi Minami Medical Co-op(Japan, 2011)

Aichi Insurance Physicians’ Newspaper

Most of the 5,000 victims of the Ise Bay Typhoon were residents of Minami Ward. The Minami Medical Co-op was born out of the relief efforts that followed the disaster. Led by Dr. Noboru Muroo as a pioneer, and supported over half a century by dedicated medical staff and co-op members, the organization grew from a small clinic into a hospital. Eventually, the hospital—originally located below the riverbed level of the Tempaku River—was rebuilt and relocated to a hilltop in Odaka, visible from the Shinkansen.

This documentary, edited by Nagoya-born film producer Kunio Takeshige and directed by Masato Koike, does not feature a famous protagonist. Rather, the heroes are the 60,000 anonymous co-op members. It is not a story of groundbreaking achievements in public health or medicine, nor is it about resisting market fundamentalism to preserve the local townscape. Confronted with inadequate medical care and poor welfare for the elderly, co-op members responded with volunteer service. This form of participatory cooperative life requires commitment and effort from its members. Yet through ongoing group discussions, a shared consciousness about protecting one's health is nurtured—making any label of “inefficiency” a misjudgment.

The most striking feature of this work is its portrayal of local residents evolving from passive consumers of healthcare into proactive advocates for the kind of care they truly need. While this movement can be seen as a welcome supplement to inadequate public policy, in the long run, it may become a transformative force capable of fundamentally reshaping how government functions.

The Italian film, "Si può fare", depicted how worker cooperatives promote self-reliance through unanimous decision-making. To call the journey of Aichi’s Minami Medical Co-op a “miracle” may be premature by a hundred years.

With deep respect for all who have supported Minami Medical Co-op over the past half century.