Makiko Abe

On February 7th and 8th, a two-day activity report session by Ms. Naomi Iwamoto from Japan Overseas Christian Medical Cooperative Service (JOCS) was held at ARI and UCCJ Nishinasuno Church. Despite the cold snap that hit over the weekend, many people attended. We listened intently to the profound life stories Ms. Iwamoto shared, as she spoke about each child by name. In Bangladesh, children with disabilities often have no choice but to be tied to a pillar in their homes, kept locked away, or left to wander the streets during … Read more

In wintertime, the ARI campus typically gets quiet. Participants have returned home, the farm fields are frozen, and ARI community members recharge while preparing for the next class. This year, however, the ARI community was abuzz with a different type of learner: college students from St. Olaf College, based in Northfield, Minnesota, USA. Undergrads specializing in environmental science and Japanese area studies, the students came for a winter session special class on environmental issues in Japan, and ARI played the host for two weeks of the course. St. Olaf students … Read more

At ARI, alongside the nine‑month Rural Leaders Training Program, we also welcome trainees from a variety of organizations, including sending bodies of overseas graduates and the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers. One student from the specialized agriculture Ainō High School, Ōsuke, has been training at ARI since last spring. On January 27, he presented the results of his learning to the community. While living alongside people from diverse cultural backgrounds, he deepened his studies on the farm, focusing especially on pig raising. Another long‑term farm trainee this year, Kōshi, is a … Read more

On January 19, ARI community held its New Year mochi(rice‑cake)pounding. Students from St. Olaf College, who are currently training at ARI, joined in as well. Taking turns with the kine (mallets), everyone warmed up as they pounded the rice, and then enjoyed the freshly made mochi together.

Today, our entire community came together for a grand spring cleaning ahead of Friends Day. We dusted the walls, cleared away cobwebs, and used shovels to scrape off the ice from the shaded areas on the grounds and the path leading to ARI. While the weather looks promising for the weekend, we recommend wearing shoes with good grip (deep treads) if you are concerned about slippery spots. All of us in the community are looking forward to seeing you there! About ARI Friends Day: https://ari.ac.jp/en/friends-day-2026/

Thank you so much for supporting the Asian Rural Institute throughout this year! For our final post of the year, we have two special updates for you. 🎥 End-of-Year Update (1) New Reels on Instagram and Facebook! We have posted a special compilation of the daily Stories we shared throughout December. This video brings together all the smiles of our 2025 graduates as they share “the gift of hope they want to take back to their communities.” Please don’t miss it on our reel! 💻 End-of-Year Update (2) Christmas & … Read more

On December 24, the online news site Catholic Japan News published an article titled “A Community that Cultivates the Soil and Shares the Table: Asian Rural Institute – Training Servant Leaders for Rural Communities.” The piece warmly and carefully portrays the daily life of participants nearing graduation, their classes, and the final presentations at ARI, accompanied by photographs. It is written in a way that is accessible even to readers learning about ARI for the first time.We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the journalist who created such a wonderful … Read more

After the graduates had left, the now smaller ARI community held its traditional Christmas celebration. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men in His favor!”Luke 2:14