The 3rd Organic School Lunch Forum is coming to Oyama City, Tochigi Prefecture, on Saturday, July 25th, and Sunday, July 26th! This inspiring event will feature an incredible lineup of
Early in 2025 I had the chance to spend some days with our Graduate Roy David. During that time, I learned, first hand, about the plight of the Adivasi people
ARI community came together to participate in the rice transplanting activity. At ARI, we believe that community means working together, sharing responsibilities, learning from one another, and supporting each other
Participants successfully completed their first presentations at ARI! Their presentations explored the issues they hope to address in their communities, the work they are doing with their Sending Body organizations,
On May 12th, I attended the 43rd Niwano Peace Prize Presentation Ceremony held at the International House of Japan. This year’s recipient is Mr. Benki Piyãko, a spiritual leader of
The Bee Project at ARI has begun. What’s truly surprising is what happened behind the scenes. As we were discussing how to set up a shed to place the hives,
When I tell folks I work for ARI in Graduate Outreach, they can’t imagine what I do. When I try to explain, there is still no understanding. So, I decided
Update at 6:00 PM on May 14: The service has been restored. Thank you for your patience. Due to a communication outage that occurred on the morning of May 13,
Organic farming class has started. Participants learned about the ecosystem, circulation of organic matters and local resources in the classroom. Then they learned practical skills like rice husk charcoal, Bokashi,
Our annual Golden Week tradition, English Farm Camp, was a wonderful success again this year! Under the theme “Farm is Your Friend,” we had a packed program including a hands-on
For one week starting April 26th, we welcomed a delegation of eight visitors from the Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP), the organization that has produced the largest number of ARI
A few years ago, many participants expressed strong interest in beekeeping, creating a valuable learning opportunity for ARI. Fortunately, one of our dedicated volunteers, Mr. Takafumi Miyake—an expert in honeybee
This is where the community gathers to share meals and fellowship together. More than just a dining hall, it also serves as a venue for events, meetings, and learning activities. Koinonia is a Greek word meaning “fellowship” or “sharing.”
At peak times, meals are prepared for as many as 100 people at once. Students, staff, and volunteers all take part in cooking and meal preparation. The kitchen is not only a place for preparing food but also a space for learning, serving others, and building relationships within the community.
Participants attend classes in these classrooms throughout the training program. The library contains a wide range of English and Japanese books, audiovisual materials, and magazines covering agriculture, social issues, community development, and many other fields of study.
Participants and volunteers live in separate dormitories for men and women. The dormitory includes shared lounges, kitchens, showers, and laundry facilities. Wi-Fi is not available.
The poultry facilities include free-range chicken coops and a brooding house. More than 400 chickens are raised, producing over 80,000 eggs and approximately one ton of chicken meat each year.
Participants learn a variety of pig farming techniques through hands-on practice. Both deep-litter and concrete-floor systems are used, and manure is recycled into biogas and fertilizer.
Goat milk (over 200 liters annually) and meat are used for food, while manure is used as fertilizer. During the day, the goats roam freely in the pasture.
The forests surrounding the campus are managed through selective thinning for firewood and charcoal production. Leaves and other organic materials are collected for use in agriculture.
On 2.5 hectares of farmland, approximately 100 varieties of vegetables and crops are grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. The entire community helps manage the fields as part of its commitment to learning and self-sufficiency.
Rice is cultivated in paddies both on and off campus. Various organic rice-growing methods are studied and practiced, including weed control and fertilization using ducks.
The workshop is a space for repair and recycling activities. It contains machinery, welding equipment, woodworking tools, and a variety of materials.
Livestock feed is produced here using both manual and mechanical methods. Continuous efforts are made to improve feed quality and sustainability.
The first floor houses the reception area and administrative offices, while the second floor contains staff offices and the Director’s office. The Farm Shop (Agricultural Training Room) is located adjacent to the building.
The shop offers ARI-grown produce, processed foods, books, and handicrafts from the home countries of ARI graduates.
The facility serves as the hub of agricultural activities at ARI. It includes classrooms, storage for tools and farming materials, and facilities for drying and storing crops.
Originally a 100-year-old traditional farmhouse, the chapel has been renovated into a place of worship. Daily morning gatherings are held here, along with meditation, dialogue sessions, gospel choir practice, and other community activities. Oikos is a Greek word meaning “home.”
This facility is used for producing and storing processed foods such as cookies and jam. The ground floor also contains a poultry processing facility.
Fish are raised for both food and agricultural purposes.
