XIII ENAPEGS JAPAN AND THE SOLIDARITY ECONOMY:

AN EXPERIENCE REPORT BASED ON A TRIP

Abstract

This experience report is based on a trip to Japan carried out between February and March 2025, initially motivated by personal interests. However, throughout the journey, one of the authors, a student in the Specialization in Solidarity Economy, Innovation, and Social Management (ESIGS), began to observe everyday and cultural practices that resonate with the principles of the Solidarity Economy. Using the direct observation technique, examples were recorded in the cities of Tokyo, Sapporo, and Kyoto that highlight forms of valuing artisanal production, preserving traditional knowledge, strengthening local commerce, and circulating information through community networks. Although these practices are not formally recognized in Japan as part of the Solidarity Economy, they align with concepts discussed by authors such as Paul Singer, Jean-Louis Laville, and Genauto França Filho, particularly with regard to plural economy, democratic solidarity, and collective construction. The text also reflects on the possibilities for comparison with the Brazilian context, acknowledging the weaknesses and challenges involved in valuing similar practices in the country. Finally, it highlights the formative role of the specialization program, which made it possible to transform a personal experience into a process of critical analysis. The main takeaways include: the importance of cultivating an investigative perspective beyond the obvious; recognizing that the Solidarity Economy is present in various forms of life organization, even when not institutionalized; and the conviction that academic education can—and should—contribute to the re-signification of experiences, whether locally or around the world.