News

From November 4th to 7th, I was invited to speak a total of 10 times over 4 days: as a preacher for the Special Worship Service during the Autumn Religious Week at Doshisha Junior and Senior High Schools, for the Chapel Hour at Doshisha Women’s College, and as a lecturer for the Doshisha Junior and Senior High School Faculty Religious Education Workshop. The total number of students at Doshisha Junior and Senior High Schools, combined with attendees at other lectures and events, exceeded 5,000. It was my first time speaking … Read more

This year again, the hard work of our farm staff and volunteers bore fruit, yielding plump, sweet potatoes. The total harvest amounted to a whopping 916kg!!We store the sweet potato in a dedicated storage at the perfect temperature, so that they will sustain the community through spring.

On the 28th of October, I was able to attend the Sri Lankan graduates gathering held in Negombo on the west coast of Sri Lanka. Eight board members and associates from AFARI (American friends of ARI) also joined us, so many graduates gathered from all over the country. Including 27 graduates from 1977 to 2018 (one from Bangladesh) and their families, plus us -participants from the US and Japan- the total attendance exceeded 70 people. Prior to the gathering, we conducted field visits to three graduate projects funded by AFARI. On the … Read more

From the 22nd to 24th of October, ARI staff Osamu Arakawa and Steven Cutting attended the ECHO Conference on Agriculture and Community Development in Chiang Mai, Thailand and met over 20 graduates in fellowship and knowledge exchange. Over the 2-day conference, experts, practitioners of the field, and interested people were able to attend workshops, plenary sessions, and direct demonstration on ECHO’s farm, deepening their understanding and sharing their knowledge about community development and agriculture practices. Osamu emphasized the importance and opportunities of collaborations between ARI and other networks, pointing out … Read more

Hello from ARI. Starting this week, we are launching a new series on our Facebook and Instagram Stories, capturing daily life on the ARI campus through photos! “Daily Life” at ARI: A Charm That Captivates ManyWe often receive wonderful comments from volunteers and visitors to ARI, such as: “I love the life and atmosphere here.” “It’s so healing to see the fields and the changing seasons.”Therefore, to share this charm with more people and convey what ARI is like “right now,” we decided to deliver photos that capture ARI “in … Read more

Today, the fall Used Book Market started! Best sellers, paperbacks, picture books art books, and many more, all donated from across Japan, will be available for 100 yen and up. On November 1, 3, and 8, come enjoy Indian curry and chai produced by our skilled ARI chef. Fall is the season for reading. Why not seek out new words in the quiet former Missionary House, away from the noisy world? Fri, October 31 – Sat, November 8 *Closed on Sun, November 2 OPEN11:00-16:00 Venue: Former Missionary House (adjacent to … Read more

ARI conducts evacuation drills three times a year for the entire community.For many international participants and volunteers, this is their first experience with disaster preparedness training.Therefore, learning how to respond when a disaster strikes is critically important. That day, following an evacuation drill, we conducted a shelter management simulation based on the scenario that ARI campus became an evacuation shelter. We thought together about the responses required in an emergency, using a game-like method.

Best sellers, paperbacks, picture books art books, and many more, all donated from across Japan, will be available for 100 yen and up.On November 1, 3, and 8, come enjoy Indian curry and chai produced by our skilled ARI chef.Fall is the season for reading. Why not seek out new words in the quiet former Missionary House, away from the noisy world? Fri, October 31 – Sat, November 8 *Closed on Sun, November 2OPEN11:00-16:00Venue: Former Missionary House (adjacent to Nasu Seminar House) 420-33, Tsukinukizawa, Nasushiobara, Tochigi Indian Curry & Chai … Read more

We received wonderful photos taken by students at the Nippon Photography Institute in May. Each year, they visit ARI for a week to live alongside the ARI community and practice their photo-taking skills.Thank you so much for portraying ARI through your fresh, outside perspective!We look forward to your visit next year!

This month, ARI will publish the next issue of its English-language newsletter, Take My Hand. We’ll be looking at ARI participants and graduates working to nurture the next generation of rural leaders, thanks to the training they received at ARI. Want to know more about how ARI’s leadership model impacts future generations? Receive the next issue with a donation to ARI’s US partner, American Friends of ARI. Follow this link to donate!https://ari.ac.jp/en/donate-from-usa/