The Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, or JA-Zenchu, elected Choe Okuno as its new president during an extraordinary general meeting Tuesday.
Okuno, 68, head of the agricultural cooperative union in Mie Prefecture, defeated one opponent, Toru Nakaya, head of the union in Wakayama Prefecture.
He will hold the post for two years. He is replacing Akira Banzai, who resigned one year into a three-year term.
JA-Zenchu also picked new vice presidents. They are Toshiyuki Morinaga, head of the union in Miyazaki Prefecture, and Toshiaki Tanami, who leads the union in Fukui Prefecture.
Okuno said at his inaugural news conference that he wants to create an open organization, expressing his intention to pursue reform of the umbrella body.
– JIJI