Ready to Grow at ARI? Calling Japanese Participants for the 2026 Academic Year!
Application Deadline: Saturday, February 28, 2026
News
[Restored] Notice Regarding the Resumption of Website and Payment Services
Thank you for your continued support of the Asian Rural Institute. Recently, we experienced technical difficulties that resulted in unstable access to our website and the unavailability of certain pages and payment functions. We are pleased to report that system recovery work is now complete, and all services have returned to normal operation. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and concern this caused, particularly to those of you who were considering making a donation during our campaign period. All systems are currently operating normally, including the following: ARI Winter Donation … Read more
St. Olaf College Students Explore Environmental Learning and Community Life at ARI
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
Apology and Report Regarding System Failure and Partial Service Suspension
To our community and partners, Thank you very much for your continued understanding and support of our school’s activities. We have recently detected unauthorized access (malware infection exploiting a system vulnerability) on some of the web servers operated by our school. In response, we have performed an emergency shutdown of the affected servers, prioritizing the safety of our users. We sincerely apologize for any concern or inconvenience this may cause. We would like to report on the current status and our subsequent actions as follows: 1. Incident Overview and Timeline … Read more
To our dear supporters who walk alongside us: Report on the conclusion of our Winter Fundraising Campaign
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
As an open place of learning
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
Thank you for joining ARI Friends Day 2026!
On January 17th, we successfully held ARI Friends Day with the generous support of many people. Thank you very much to everyone who attended! Training Assistants Veh and Jeremiya hosted a talk session, where they shared stories of their powerful work and passion within rural communities in their home countries. Many attendees also enjoyed the cakes they made and sold as the culmination of their training. Many first-time visitors participated in Tree Climbing®, immersing themselves in nature within our forest. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Jun Tree Service for … Read more
New Year mochi pounding
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.
“People & Places:Tomoko’s Report”
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
Preparations for Friends Day are in full swing!
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/
