Thank you for celebrating ARI 50th anniversary with us.

September 21, 2023
Raku Izawa

We are deeply grateful that many of you remember us and joined our commemorative ceremony on Saturday, September 16.

Sharing our joy with so many people is the first step towards moving ARI’s “Peace from the Soil” initiative forward in its quest for world peace.

You can view the ceremony livestream archive on our 50th anniversary website.
https://ari.ac.jp/en/50th-anniv

50th Anniversary Commemorative Site

We hope you enjoy the unique stories and feelings expressed by the ARI community. Our keynote address was delivered by Mr. Ardhendu Chatterjee ’76, with a sermon by Rev. Robert Witmer of United Church of Canada. We hosted gospel music performed by MARISA and our participants from Liberia welcomed guests with their songs.

ARI believes that sharing food is deeply connected to living together.

We will be opening a Harvest Thanksgiving Cerebration event on Saturday, October 14. We would be delighted if you would take the opportunity to come and join us around the table and be a part of our community.

We hope that you will take the opportunity to participate in our crowdfunding campaign in time with our anniversary celebration.

Overseas, donations will be collected through GlobalGiving’s travel expense support campaign at https://goto.gg/60943,
In Japan, we are supporting training and educational content campaigns on ReadyFor https://readyfor.jp/projects/ari.

ARI is committed to nurturing future leaders and graduates who will continue to promote “Peace from the Soil” in rural communities around the world.

Men's Dormitory & Guest House

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.

Poultry House

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.

Pig Pen

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 House

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.

Forest

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.

Fields

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 Paddies

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.

Workshop

The workshop is a space for repair and recycling activities. It contains machinery, welding equipment, woodworking tools, and a variety of materials.

Feed Mixing Room

Livestock feed is produced here using both manual and mechanical methods. Continuous efforts are made to improve feed quality and sustainability.

Administration Building

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.

ARI Shop

The shop offers ARI-grown produce, processed foods, books, and handicrafts from the home countries of ARI graduates.

Farm Shop (Agricultural Training Room)

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.

Oikos Chapel

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.”

Manna House (Food Processing Room)

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 Ponds

Fish are raised for both food and agricultural purposes.