Due to a communication outage that occurred on the morning of May 13, our telephone lines are currently down. We expect service to be restored in the afternoon of May 14 at the earliest. We apologize for any inconvenience this
Due to a communication outage that occurred on the morning of May 13, our telephone lines are currently down. We expect service to be restored in the afternoon of May 14 at the earliest.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.
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, compost, IMO (Indigenous Microorganism), WCA (Water-soluble calcium), etc.
Those are the basic skills of farming in ARI foodlife work. Participants enjoyed learning. They also came to learn fundamental philosophies such as “Follow the laws of nature” and “What you need is around you.”
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 experience building raised beds called “Hugelkultur”, a special curry workshop led by ARI staff Vero, and the chance to share meals and farm work with the ARI community. While most participants were visiting ARI for the first time, both children and adults bonded quickly. It was a high-energy, soul-nourishing three days for everyone involved.
A huge thank you to each and every person who joined us from near and far. We are so grateful for the wonderful encounters we shared!
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 graduates. Based in North Sumatra, HKBP is the largest Protestant church in Indonesia. Among the visitors was a graduate who is a coffee farmer from the Lintong region, famous for its delicious coffee, and they kindly brought a generous gift of their beans for us.
Of the eight visitors, four were graduates from the classes of 2006 to 2014, and two were spouses of graduates. As all eight members work at disability support facilities under the umbrella of HKBP, they requested to visit local social welfare institutions during their stay at ARI. To fulfill this, we conducted consecutive visits to several facilities: Nishi-Nasuno Kindergarten “Shalom” (a child development support center), Ma Maison Kosei (a support facility for persons with disabilities), and Elm Fukushikai (which operates facilities for people with disabilities, the elderly, and after-school care). It was a week filled with immense learning for both our director, Osamu Arakawa and myself, Tomoko Arakawa, as we accompanied the group to provide transportation and interpretation.
On their final evening, an “Indonesian Night” was held, where our guests delighted the ARI community with authentic Indonesian cuisine and traditional songs.
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 cultivation—generously offered to establish a beekeeping initiative at ARI.
This initiative not only provided hands-on training in sustainable honey production, hive management, and pollination practices, but also opened pathways for environmental education, livelihood development, and community engagement.
Through this effort, ARI gained the capacity to both learn and teach beekeeping, empowering participants with practical skills, promoting biodiversity, and supporting local food systems.
At ARI, we aim to live in harmony with nature and are working to create a climate-resilient SATOYAMA campus. It all began a few years ago with the creation of a “Meditation Path” in the forest, followed by the development of grazing areas for goats, the planning of events to foster a connection with the forest, etc. And recently, I worked alongside our young staff to build a stage (an outdoor classroom) in the forest. While it is, of course, a joy to see the forest preserved and nurtured, it is also a great blessing to witness our young staff actively contributing ideas and working with such vitality. As for myself, I am striving to become a nurturing presence—like the soil—that helps cultivate the next generation.
Related Topic: « Living Kindly on Wounded Land: Our Initiatives ④ » posted on April 23
A heartfelt thank you to everyone for your incredible support and encouragement! Our Spring Campaign, which began in March, has finally reached its final day.
The Asian Rural Institute (ARI) is a community where rural leaders from Asia, Africa, and around the world gather to build a society where we can truly “Live Together.” Your generous donations provide the vital strength needed to support their studies in social issues and leadership, as well as their hands-on training on our organic farm.
Your single step today connects to a giant leap for leaders who will transform the future of rural villages worldwide.
Thank you so much for your support.
This spring, ARI is reflecting on climate change through the stories of our graduates.
For our third feature, we highlight ARI’s activity for climate change.
At ARI, we have the Climate Change Action Committee, a voluntary group of staff members which include our director. They work on various projects to protect the environment, both within ARI and in the local community.
Key achievements from last year include:
• Creating educational panels about Hügelkultur*.
• Reducing plastic use in agricultural activities.
Manosi Abe Chatterjee, our Curriculum Coordinator and a committee member, says:
Moving forward, the committee plans even more unique projects, such as better utilizing the forest next to ARI and raising funds through recycling. We hope to achieve our actions and uphold our committee’s motto: “Slow, Simple, Small”.
Slow = follow the rhythm of nature
Simple = understand what is enough
Small = act locally
*Hügelkultur comes from the German word for “hill or mound culture” It is a farming method where you grow vegetables and plants by layering logs, branches, leaves, and compost into a mound.
☆ Easter & Spring Fundraising Campaign
Join us to support leaders who work to heal wounded land!
https://ari.ac.jp/en/donate/a-time-to-heal-spring-2026
Watch all our online events again!
Join the ARI life with family and friends!
We're looking for on-campus volunteers
