Makiko Abe

On September 16, ARI held a worship service to commemorate its 54th anniversary. This year’s guest speaker was Mr. Isao Nozaki, who served ARI for a total of 17 years as both a staff member and director. He first arrived at ARI in 1974, its second year of operation. Reflecting on those early struggles, he shared, “I would leave home before my two sons woke up and return long after they had fallen asleep. Looking back, my wife said it felt like running a single-mother household. Salaries couldn’t be paid, … Read more

What are low cost but effective ways to raise livestock? Why is livestock nutrition important? How do you select, clean, and store seeds for your farm? These questions and more were answered through theory and practice by our guest, Shaun Snoxell from ECHO Asia Impact Center. Participants especially enjoyed learning about practical feeds and ways to calculate nutrition. In addition, they could make fermented banana stem feed with local resources and are now looking forward to using it. We are grateful for ECHO Asia’s continued partnership with us as we … Read more

In September, we will be highlighting the global impact of ARI’s training through the work of our graduates! For our first story, we introduce Jonah, who is promoting environmental education through educational programmes in Namibia, southwestern Africa, where climate change poses a significant challenge. [Achieving 100% Recycling Through ARI Learnings] Our organization, the Namib Desert Environmental Education Trust (NaDEET), aims to inspire people to understand and actively contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each year, we host more than 800 participants through our five-day residential environmental … Read more

One month has passed since the launch of our crowdfunding campaign. Thanks to your warm support, we have successfully achieved our goal of raising 2.2 million yen for the Western Japan Study Tour expenses. We extend our deepest gratitude to all of you. While we introduced the destinations for the study tour last month, in September, we would like to share the activities of ARI graduates. The true impact of our training programs—including the Western Japan Study Tour that you are supporting—is demonstrated in the dedicated work our graduates carry … Read more

We held our midterm presentations. The theme was “What is your biggest learning so far?” As usual, the use of computers is prohibited during presentations at ARI. Participants used the back of used calendar, drawing pictures and writing explanations; one participant even drew a picture of a goat and wore it around her neck. We’ve already reached the midpoint of our training at ARI. The topics which they chose ranged widely—from agricultural techniques and what they’d learned in class to insights gained from daily life, the philosophy they’d learned holistically, … Read more

“About ten years ago, I had the privilege of connecting with ARI and have been involved as a commuting volunteer ever since. From a volunteer’s perspective, I have actively proposed and brought to life various initiatives over the years. These include crafting original ramen using ingredients grown at ARI, demonstrating the martial art of Hokushin Itto-ryu, planting cherry blossoms in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, and assisting with local beekeeping.I truly believe that these experiences will leave a lasting impression on Participants’ hearts, travel back with them … Read more

On August 12, we visited Hidamari Farm and NPO Bato Noson Juku, run by Yohei Hamanaka, a 2013 graduate. He said, “using local resources,” “the importance of nurturing the next generation rather than seeking only profit,” “following the laws of nature,” “not pushing too hard, but engaging in activities suited to one’s own capabilities,” and “There’s no need to aim for 100%, right? I think 30% is enough for me.” We learned about his farm management and NPO activities, which are packed with what he learned at ARI and his … Read more

Since its founding in 1973, ARI has welcomed 1,472 graduates from 63 countries. The countries with the highest number of graduates include India, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Myanmar. Notably, these are also countries that suffered deep scars from Japan’s invasion during World War II. The late Rev. Toshihiro Takami, one of the founders of ARI, previously served at the Southeast Asia Course (SEAC) of the Theological Seminary for Rural Mission —the predecessor to ARI. There, he met participants from Taiwan, South Korea, Myanmar, and the Philippines who had personally experienced … Read more

Thanks for our commuting volunteers, the preparations for the used book market are well underway ahead of Friday’s start.Best sellers, paperbacks, picture books, art books, and many more, all donated from across Japan, will be available for 100 yen and up.We are looking forward to seeing you all! Fri, August 14 – Sat, 22 *Closed on Sun, August 16OPEN 11:00-16:00Venue: Former Missionary House Adjacent to the Nasu Seminar House ■ On the final day, Sat, August 22 from 10:00 to 15:00, we are also hosting our exciting “ARI Friends Day” … Read more

On August 8, ARI participants sold cookies they made as part of their summer individual projects at the Ohinata Marche. Food processing is a popular project among many participants, as processing agricultural products extends their shelf life and adds value. In fact, many graduates have brought these skills back to their home communities to empower women and low-income households. This year’s participants created their own brand called “5 Bread (Loaves) and 2 Fish” and experienced selling at the event as part of their practical learning.The brand name comes from the … Read more