ARI Family Blog

This weekend is Marine Day in Japan. When you think of the sea, what comes to your mind?Today, we are thrilled to share a supporter’s voice from Nahoko Osawa of “Karatachi”, who has been graciously hosting our West Japan Study Tour in Minamata City, Kumamoto! “Karatachi” was founded by Nahoko’s parents to support Minamata disease patients, through cultivating and selling organic citrus fruits. “More than 40 years have passed since we first began hosting participants from ARI here in Minamata. As my parents grew older, I stepped in to carry … Read more

ARI partner organization Kibo Alliance (formerly American Friends of ARI) recently premiered a video showcasing the work of ARI graduates. Kibo Alliance provides yearly scholarships and institutional support to the Asian Rural Institute. In addition, they provide microgrants to selected ARI graduates through regional learning hubs, and additional grants and professional development through the Tarr Fellowship. Their work helps complete the cycle of rural development transformation: leadership training at ARI, followed by project implementation after returning home. Learn more about Kibo Alliance at their website.

Every October, ARI holds HTC (Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration). This year, it will take place on October 17th (Sat) and 18th (Sun). HTC is a day to share the joy of the harvest with everyone and God, and for the participants, it is also a process of learning leadership. The first HTC meeting was held on July 7th. After an orientation session where we learned “What is HTC?”, we split into groups to activities such as “Please draw what ‘celebration’ means to you,” “How can you contribute to HTC?”, and “What … Read more

Our Summer Donation Campaign: “Living Kindly with Neighbors” has officially kicked off!Today, we’d like to share a message from Mei Goto, the representative of the “Doshisha ARI Project”. The “Doshisha ARI Project (duari)” was born out of Doshisha University’s international volunteer club, the “International Habitat Association.” Deeply inspired by ARI’s values, duari works to support and raise awareness of ARI’s mission. Mei didn’t just spend time on campus at ARI—in February 2026, she also joined the ARI-organized study tour to Indonesia to visit our graduates! Witnessing their incredible work firsthand … Read more

Last week, Participants went on a short trip to Ogawa Town to meet 3 organic farmers who have supported ARI for a long time. The strong philosophy of promoting self-sufficiency and circulation guide many of the organic farming practices in Ogawa Town. Many participants noted the connections between turning waste into biogas and biogas liquid which further can be used on fields to promote soil health. They also learned core methods that promote biodiverse fields such as the use of banker plants and living mulch on land, and the work … Read more

In June, ARI Participants learned about Global Agroecology, taught by Dr Frida Endinjok, a guest lecturer from Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture (MESA). Participants learned what is agroecology, and how seed sovereignty is an important part of securing farmers rights and futures. This topic is important for participants because global projections indicate that over 90% of Earth’s soils could become degraded by 2050. When farmers have limited access to seeds, and their ability to save seeds is limited – due to laws, access to seeds, and types of seed (patented/terminator … Read more

On June 18, we were thrilled to welcome over 20 members of the Industry Co-Creation (ICC) community and local friends to ARI! ICC is a network of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and producers from across Japan who gather to learn and co-create new industries. As part of their fieldwork in the Nasu area, they also made a stop at ARI. Associate Director Oyanagi and I guided them on a campus tour, introducing ARI’s daily learning and sustainable practices. Following this, Tomoko Arakawa, our Managing Director, shared ARI’s philosophy of “Servant Leadership” … Read more

At our recent “Morning Gathering,” I shared my thoughts on “the meaning of waiting.” While I am by no means good at “waiting,” I have come to understand its importance at various turning points in my life. During a tree-planting project in Tanzania I participated in my twenties, I learned the hard way that because we prioritized efficiency and immediate results, the trees we brought and planted failed to take root in that land or among the people. In contrast, native trees grow slowly but steadily extend their roots until … Read more

With the cooperation of the Ecumenical Relations Committee of the National Federation of UCCJ Women’s Society, ARI has been running the “Kyodan Homestay Program” in the Tokyo metropolitan area since 1973. In June, just as the participants are starting to get used to life at ARI and begin to feel homesick, it all begins with the simple phrase, “Let’s go to ‘Japan’!” Rather than expecting anything special, host families welcome our participants as if they were “a daughter or son studying in Tochigi who has come home for the weekend.”Some … Read more

5 participants of MESA (Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture) program are currently taking part in a short-term training at ARI. This program brings together people working in the agricultural sector in the United States. Participants include individuals who have worked for years on farms that practice seed collection, those working on organic farms, and the accompanying professor who teaches agroecology. They are interested in the organic farming, community, and leadership practices implemented at ARI. They study and work on the farm together with ARI participants and occasionally attending sessions just … Read more