The Latest

ARI Participants Learn to Make Dishwashing Soap from Used Oil!

This week, ARI participants learned how to make dishwashing soap using only three ingredients: caustic soda, water, and used cooking oil. This method, shared by an ARI graduate, is both eco-friendly and cost-effective.

By reusing old oil that would otherwise be discarded, the participants practiced a sustainable way of living that they can bring back to their home communities. The activity was not only a practical skill-building session but also a step toward reducing environmental waste and promoting self-reliance.

The soap takes several weeks to cure, but once ready, it will be used in daily life at ARI.

Diverse Voices Resound: First Participants Presentation

ARI Participants gave their first presentation of the school year this week. Each participant gave a presentation about their home cultures, agricultural practices, and various social issues they experience. The audience was lively as well, asking many questions to each presenter.

Through this opportunity, the participants were able to reflect on their individual missions, and their future contributions are eagerly anticipated.

ARI Holds Special Dignity Workshop

Last week, ARI held a special workshop on the topic of “Dignity”.

The instructor was Jeffrey Mensendieck, an associate professor at Oberlin University, with whom ARI has had a longstanding relationship, and the class provided an opportunity to learn deeply about human dignity.

During the class, participants shared with each other situations and experiences in their own countries and discussed how poverty, discrimination, and conflict affect human dignity. They also deeply examined what is lost when dignity is taken away, and conversely, how healthy and sustainable a society can be when dignity is protected.

ARI will continue to work toward the realization of a society where people from diverse cultural backgrounds understand and support each other through this kind of dignity education.

Participants learn how to make FPJ (Fermented Plant Juice) at ARI!

FPJ is a natural farming technique, also called “Tenkei Green Juice”, which is a liquid fertilizer made by extracting and fermenting plant nutrients, and is a method of growing crops without relying on chemical fertilizers.

Though the class started early in the morning, the participants showed great concentration and enthusiasm.

ARI will continue to train rural leaders who can contribute to the sustainable development of local communities and the world while learning environmentally friendly agricultural technologies, and making FPJ is a practical learning opportunity for participants to realize such a vision, providing them with a deep learning experience.

Community Building in the Forest of the Asian Rural Institute

 As part of community work at the Asian Rural Institute, we participated in the “Forest Community Work” activity.
Through this activity, we learned the importance of living in harmony with nature through hands-on experience. Specifically, we helped maintain the forest by thinning trees, clearing fallen logs, and maintaining pathways—supporting the balance between humans and nature. Although the forest work was physically demanding, cooperating with our peers gave us a strong sense of accomplishment and allowed us to feel deeply connected to the rhythms of nature.
After the work, we had a reflection session where everyone shared their thoughts and what they had learned. Then we enjoyed a relaxing time together over homemade cake, creating a warm and comforting moment.

Children Explore Nature and Language at ARI’s 2025 English Farm Camp

This Monday and Tuesday, the ARI welcomed children and their families, from several areas in Japan, for its annual English Farm Camp, a two-day program designed especially for children to learn English through outdoor activities on the farm.

The camp invited children to connect with nature while naturally using English. Activities included hugging trees, answering questions in English, drawing pictures of seeds, and making soil balls. These playful, hands-on experiences helped children absorb language while deepening their awareness of the natural world. The children also got to learn about the concept of Foodlife Work.

Through field activities, food, and community interaction, ARI’s English Farm Camp offered children a fun and meaningful way to learn language while experiencing the richness of nature and shared living.

Learning from the Soil: Organic Farming Class at ARI

Each year at ARI, we harvest thousands of kilograms of rice, soybeans, carrots, potatoes, and other vegetables—grown entirely without chemical fertilizers—in pursuit of a healthier environment. Maintaining soil health is a top priority for the ARI training programs and for our Participants’ farms around the world.

A key practice in achieving this goal is the production of Bokashi fertilizer, made from organic materials at ARI. Many Graduates report that introducing Bokashi has been transformative for their home farms. In April, Participants began organic farming training in sessions covering Bokashi production and the use of indigenous microorganisms (IMOs) to restore soil vitality, promote plant growth, and protect crops from disease naturally. The photos depict making IMO2, where microorganisms grown on rice are mixed with rice powder and molasses to multiply and grow stronger.

The foundation laid during these early weeks not only equips Participants with practical skills but also instills a deeper respect for the interconnectedness of nature, community, and leadership.

Life at ARI: The First Few Weeks

Earlier this month, we welcomed this year’s participants to the Asian Rural Institute. In just a few short weeks, they’ve begun to settle into life here – learning routines, names, and the unique rhythm of a community built on shared labor and mutual respect.

The Rural Leaders Training Program is now in full swing. Participants have started engaging in daily fieldwork, animal care, and kitchen duties, while also reflecting deeply on themes of leadership and sustainable living. There’s a lot to take in, but already they are learning to work with their hands and their hearts.

The seeds planted in recent days will soon sprout into food for our tables. Sakura petals are fading, but new life is everywhere: in the green tips of sprouting vegetables, in the playful energy of newborn animals, and in the quiet bonds forming between people.

As they grow, the students are learning skills that will not only strengthen their communities here at ARI but will also have a lasting impact in their home countries. The journey ahead is long, but already, we’re walking it together.

We’re thankful – not only for the safe arrival of our participants, but also for the patience, joy, and quiet courage they bring into this space.