Obu City becomes eighth certified Fair Trade Town in Japan

Fair Trade Forum Japan (FTFJ) officially certified Obu City in Aichi Prefecture as a Fair Trade Town on 25 February. This designation makes Obu the eighth municipality in Japan to receive the status, following a rigorous evaluation of its community-led efforts to promote ethical consumption and sustainable regional development.

After the application submition by Obu City in September 2025, on-site inspection by the FTFJ certification committee was conducted in December 2025, and the city’s status was approved. The movement in Obu originated in 2019, gaining significant momentum in 2021 with the establishment of the Obu Fair Trade Town Promotion Committee. This organisation facilitated collaboration between citizens, local government, educational institutions, and private businesses.

Obu City met the six required criteria for certification, which include the establishment of a promotion organisation, widespread community awareness, and the availability of fair trade products in local shops. The city also secured official backing through a unanimous resolution by the city council and a formal declaration of support from the mayor. These actions integrated fair trade principles into the city’s broader “Sustainable Health City Obu” vision, which encompasses local production for local consumption and support for persons with disabilities.

Till date, Obu has advanced fair trade in a number of activities, including fair trade markets, workshops, and the use of fair trade products in public facilities. These initiatives successfully connected international cooperation with local social welfare and environmental protection.

Obu joins a select group of Japanese municipalities committed to the global Fair Trade Town movement. The network currently includes Kumamoto, Nagoya, Zushi, Hamamatsu, Sapporo, Inabe, and Kamakura.