Raku Izawa

Thank you for your warm support for our Christmas & Winter Donation Campaign! The Winter Campaign at ARI has now come to a close. We would like to express our deepest gratitude for your heartfelt donations and words of encouragement. The contributions we received will be carefully used to support the activities of rural leaders from Asia, Africa, and beyond, as they learn together and work toward self-reliance. This winter has been a poignant reminder that our journey toward “That We May Live Together” is made possible only through your … Read more

St. Olaf College’s (Minnesota, USA) fifth January special program at the ARI, since 2016, began on January 13 with 20 St. Olaf students and two faculty members. Focusing on the theme of Japanese food, agriculture, environment, and sustainability, the program involves living at the ARI while fully utilizing its curriculum and environment. This includes visits to farms and facilities, as well as field studies such as learning about the Nasu Canal. On 17th January, the group travelled to Fukushima Prefecture to learn about the realities of the effects of the … Read more

We’ll be sharing the beautiful scenery of ARI Campus in Nasushiobara and the “now” of our farm. We hope these glimpses of daily life at ARI bring you a moment of peace and make you feel connected to us. Please check out our Stories (and Highlights)!

Thank you for always supporting the Asian Rural Institute. We are thrilled to announce that ARI has been awarded the “Grand Prize” in the General Category of the 15th Kubota-Mainichi Earth Future Award, organized by The Mainichi Newspapers. This award honors organizations and individuals tackling the 21st-century global challenges of “Food,” “Water,” and the “Environment.” We were recognized for: 🌱 Practicing a life of “Living with the Soil” with rural leaders from developing countries for about 50 years. 🌱 Maintaining a food self-sufficiency rate of over 90% through organic, chemical-free, … Read more

Thank you for your continued support! We are excited to announce the main event schedule for Academic Year 2026 (April 2026 – March 2027). We look forward to sharing the joy of “Living Together” with you again this year through encounters with Rural Leaders from around the world. AY 2025 is not over yet! Don’t miss these upcoming opportunities to visit ARI: Jan 17 (Sat): ARI Friends Day (Next week!) Feb 7 (Sat): JOCS Report Session (Details coming soon) AY 2026 Annual Schedule Spring March: Arrival of New Participants April: … Read more

The Asian Rural Institute (ARI) opens its doors to Japanese participants through the Rural Leader Training Program, offering a unique opportunity to learn together with people from around the world.At ARI, participants learn side by side with farmers, social workers, pastors, priests, and others from around 15 countries across Asia and Africa. Through hands-on experience, participants explore servant leadership, sustainable agriculture, and community building.Living and learning together for nine months while sharing differences and perspectives becomes a journey of self-discovery. What is community? Why does organic agriculture matter? What does leadership mean? What does … Read more

Why not enjoy your “first climb of 2026” in the rich forests of Nasushiobara at ARI?On 1/17(Sat), during ARI Friends Day, we will hold a “Tree Climbing” experience where you can climb safely using specialized ropes and saddles! The world viewed from the treetops is sure to be full of new discoveries! You will wear professional safety gear and receive a lecture on how to climb, so beginners can participate with peace of mind. With the cooperation of the local “JUN TREE SERVICE Co., Ltd.,” professional Arborist® instructors will teach you carefully, so first-timers and children … Read more

On January 17, as part of ARI Friends Day, ARI will host a screening of a recent documentary about Native American rights and protesting nuclear proliferation. Ways of Knowing is a 25-minute immersive documentary about Navajo resilience to protect health, tradition, and land after enduring extensive uranium mining by the United States government, beginning in the late 1940s and lasting until the 1970s. Eight decades after the Manhattan Project which birthed the nuclear-industrial complex, Navajo and other Indigenous communities of the American Southwest continue to suffer from contaminated land and waterways, … Read more