The Latest

Welcoming New Training Assistants & Preparing for New Participants!

The ARI community is happy to welcome two new Training Assistants TAs) who recently arrived to support this year’s Rural Leaders Training Program; Jeremiya (2019 ARI Graduate) from India and Veh (2018 ARI Graduate) from Malawi. They will spend the next year to deepen their knowledge through working at a particular section of ARI to tackle the problems of their community.
TAs play a vital role in the ARI community, working alongside participants in farm work, food processing, and community-building activities. Their presence brings fresh perspectives, and we look forward to learning from and with them throughout the year.
Meanwhile, excitement is building as we prepare to welcome a new group of participants at the end of March! These future rural leaders will embark on a transformative journey of learning, sharing, and growing together.
With new TAs and new participants joining, the ARI community continues to thrive as a place of learning, service, and mutual support.
Let’s welcome them warmly and look forward to the season ahead!

ARI Staff Training in Non-Violent Communication

In January, while the campus is closed, ARI staff convened with professional trainers to undertake an intensive 5-day course in non-violent communication.
NVC starts with understanding ourselves. Trainers taught ARI staff the skills in observing our situation including others’ actions, savoring our feelings based on the situation, seeking and understanding our needs, then making a request of others to fulfill that need.
ARI staff also practiced conflict resolution based on the skills of NVC, seeking to understand the feelings and needs of aggrieved members of the group. Even in a workshop-style safe space, it was intense activity! But a powerful tool for building empathy for others.

At ARI, a diverse community of members live together in an equitable and inclusive environment. While this vision reflects powerful ideals, it is incumbent upon the staff to actually live those ideals in their daily life. With tools such as NVC, we come one step closer to making it a reality.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for the financial support for this workshop.

New Life at ARI: 7 Piglets Join the Community

A new group recently arrived at the ARI campus – piglets!

At ARI, we practice self-sufficient sustainable agriculture. This means that over 90% of the food we serve in our dining hall is grown and raised on our campus. This includes almost all our proteins: soybeans, chicken, and pork.

We do not merely raise livestock, but raise life which sustains many other lives. These piglets are part of that cycle of life. At ARI, we learn to appreciate their role in sustaining life across campus and beyond. They will stay with us for a year as they grow up, but now we get to enjoy their cuteness!

Complete Travel Log from ARI Staff visit to Malawi & Zambia!

ARI Graduate Outreach staff Steven Cutting traveled to southern Africa last August, and the complete series finished publication two weeks ago.
The series is a combination of humor and beautiful photos of 23 ARI graduates’ hard work at home. Stories from the 3 weeks of travel bring you right into their local life, with all the ups and downs of community leadership.
Some of the people Steven met will be training at ARI this year. Perhaps, if you’d like to visit, you can read about them first, then meet them…!

Want to warm up in this cold winter season? Take a trip to Africa with our stories from ARI graduates and more!

Click here to read the series: https://ari.ac.jp/en/africa-graduate-journey-vol-0-prologue?ari=news

Winter Fun: ARI Community Enjoys Snowshoeing and More

Winter is a time for fun and adventure, and the ARI community recently embraced the season with a special community event—snowshoeing! We traveled to a beautiful snow resort in Fukushima, where we rented snowshoes and set out on a snowy adventure.

Walking through the sparkling white landscape, we enjoyed the fresh winter air, breathtaking views, and the crunch of snow beneath our feet. Along the way, we stopped to share delicious sweets, had playful snowball fights, and simply soaked in the joy of being together in nature.

At ARI, we believe that community is built not just through work, but also through shared experiences and laughter. This snowshoeing trip was a perfect reminder of the importance of taking time to connect, explore, and enjoy the beauty around us.

As we return to our daily activities at ARI, we carry with us the warmth of this winter adventure—proof that even the coldest season can bring the warmest memories!

Learning Together for the Rural Future: ARI releases the 7th Edition of Euodoō – Journal of Rural Future Study

The Asian Rural Institute released the 7th edition of Euodoō – Journal of Rural Future Study in early December 2024, continuing its tradition of sharing profound insights and reflections that resonate with ARI’s mission.

Marking the seventh annual publication, this special edition coincided with ARI’s 50th-anniversary celebration, featuring a collection of essays and reflections that highlight the organization’s focus on sustainable farming, community building, and servant leadership. Through these pages, contributors share their learnings and experiences, inspiring readers to join the journey toward building a resilient and equitable “rural future.”

Highlights of the 2024 edition include:

• Ardhendu Sekhar Chatterjee (Graduate of 1976, India): ARI 50th Anniversary Celebration Address
• Dr. Ayyapan Shanmugam (Graduate of 1992, India): My Learning at ARI
• Osamu Arakawa (Associate Director, Chairman in Education, Farm Staff): History of the Asian Rural Institute’s Farm
• Ikumi Kanamori (FEAST Staff): Food Education and Sustainable Table – The Kitchen and Dining Hall at ARI
• Jakob Siringoringo (Graduate of 2023, Indonesia): Curiosity Upon Servant Leadership

These contributions explore themes at the heart of ARI’s work, providing thought-provoking perspectives on how rural communities can thrive through intentional leadership, sustainable practices, and shared values. The journal also reflects on ARI’s rich history, celebrating half a century of empowering individuals from around the globe.

Whether you’re an ARI graduate, a supporter, or simply curious about how sustainable practices intersect with leadership and community development, this edition offers valuable insights to inspire action. The price is ¥800 + ¥430 shipping all over Japan. Please reach out to ARI if you are interested in buying the journal.

A Day of Connection at ARI Friends Day 2025

On January 25, the Asian Rural Institute welcomed supporters, families, and nature lovers for ARI Friends Day x Oohnata Marche Winter Festival. With the theme “Let’s Connect with Nature and People”, the event brought together learning, hands-on experiences, and community spirit.

The Friends Market was filled with fresh organic produce, handmade goods, and delicious local treats. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to support relief efforts for the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, extending ARI’s commitment to helping communities in need.

In the Forest Experience, participants of all ages enjoyed tree climbing and orienteering, discovering ARI’s beautiful natural surroundings in a new way. Exciting lectures also took place, including one by Thi Thi Win (ARI 2014 graduate) on her work with farmers in Myanmar, and another by Yoshihiro Kimijima, who spoke about sustainable food education in schools.

Throughout the day, new friendships were formed, ideas were exchanged, and a shared appreciation for nature and sustainability grew. ARI Friends Day once again proved to be a meaningful space for connection and learning.