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 Asháninka indigenous people from the Brazilian Amazon. He is
Sharing a meal around the round tables at Koinonia Dining Hall is a precious time here at ARI. We share the fruits of our daily labor at every meal, express gratitude for each other’s work, and celebrate the bountiful harvest.
Would you like to join us at our table and share moments of fellowship?
During the campaign period, those who make a donation to ARI via the special campaign page can participate free of charge in a mini eco-tour program with lunch, held in September 27 (Sat) or November 22 (Sat).
(Please note that transportation costs to ARI are the responsibility of each participant.)
For details, please visit the special campaign website: https://ari.ac.jp/donate/peace2025/en
“Nutritious meals nourish both body and soul.”
So says Debora, an ARI graduate who now volunteers. She repeated these words carefully and emphatically, time and again.
For Debora, eating is not merely an act of survival. It is a vital practice that cultivates inner peace.
In a painting she created, vibrant fruits like mangoes, bananas, and dragon fruit—grown in her homeland of Indonesia—are vividly depicted.
Being nourished—it nurtures not only the body but also the soul, and it creates connections between people.
This simple yet truly vital lesson is what we are learning from Debora.
Interviewed & Written by Konoha Yamanaka (ARI Volunteer)
Click here to read the series of articles
“Peace from Food” Cooking for Peace Vol. 1
“Peace from Food” Cooking for Peace Vol. 2
“Peace from Food” Cooking for Peace Vol. 3 ← Now, you’re here.
We have uploaded more details about the Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration (HTC) on the following page. Please check it out!
Here is the information on the above page.
Dates: October 18 & 19 (Sat & Sun) 10:00-15:30
Theme: Sowing the seed of love for a peaceful tomorrow
Time Schedule:
10:00 Entry open
10:15-11:15 Harvest thanksgiving worship
11:30-15:30 Food stall, stage performances, games, etc. open
Shuttle Buses:
Departure from Nasushiobara Sta. West Exit (bus rotary): 09:45
Departure from ARI: 15:30 and 16:30
Parking: Karino Kominkan (Tsukinukizawa 231, Nasushiobara, Tochigi)
Shuttle buses are available to the venue.
* Please bring your own tableware.
Cooking together, sharing laughter, and working hand in hand—
a meal made with many hearts brings more than just nourishment.
This month, the FEAST members, who regularly prepare delicious meals for the Koinonia Dining Hall,
are leading an art project called “Cooking for Peace”
Through their artwork, they express the idea of peace through food.
Each piece reflects a unique perspective—please take a moment to explore their creations!
https://ari.ac.jp/peace-from-food-cooking-for-peace-vol-1/?ari=news
Once a week, as a special feature, we will share messages from supporters of ARI.
In this fifth installment, we introduce a “Food is …” message from Rev. Jeffrey Mensendiek, at J. F. Oberlin University.
“Food is… Life with Dignity”
For me, food is life with dignity. Food brings security and is a fundamental source of peace.
At Asian Rural Institute, we have been offering the Dignity Workshop for eight years as part of our curriculum for participants. The workshop is led by Associate Professor and University Chaplain Jeffrey Mensendiek of Obirin University, who is also the translator of Donna Hicks’ book Dignity: Its Essential Role in Resolving Conflict (published in Japanese as 尊厳のリーダーシップ by Shobunsha).
Dignity Workshop held at ARI: Japanese-Language Dignity Workshop – Asian Rural Institute
Peace from Food Donation Campaign
August 1(Fri) – September 21(Sun), 2025
Campaign site: https://ari.ac.jp/donate/peace2025/en?ari=news
From August 1, Asian Rural Institute is running the “Peace from Food” Donation Campaign.
Throughout the month of August and September, we are sharing voices from our community members and supporters on Instagram and Facebook Stories, centered around the theme “What does food mean to you?”
All past stories can also be viewed on our Instagram Highlights.
Participants accompanied by staff visited two areas of Yamagata. – Shonai region, and Okitama region. Both groups enjoyed learning from farmers with long experience in organic farming and community development. Some were surprised about low input compost, others about the involvement of women in farming and food processing, and overall each participant was inspired by the passion and commitment of the people. The two groups later met in Iwate to learn more about Permaculture and livestock raising. It is important to note that climate change is a critical and growing concern for farmers. Our hope is that this learning trip continues to be a space for both our participants and hosts to share information and ways to adapt in these conditions. We are grateful for each farmer, organization and school that welcomed us warmly.
In the heat and humidity of mid-summer, working outside on the farm becomes a great challenge — so much so, that ARI arranges its schedule to take advantage of cooler times.
In July and August, weekdays start at 5am, a practice we call “Sunrise Farm”. Each morning, we harvest vegetables and pull weeds while it’s still cool, helping to reduce physical strain, then take a rest when the sun is strongest.
Sometimes it’s tough heading out so early, but we’re happy to feel the soft glow of the rising sun, and the awakening of life in our fields — what we’ve come to ARI to train for.
Before ARI, Mako Masukawa once worked in the kitchen of a top restaurant in Kyoto. Now, she volunteers at ARI, helping with meal preparation.
She shared: “If everyone could eat delicious food, I don’t think wars would happen.”
When she worked in high-end cuisine, Mako was always busy and had to push herself through work, even when experiencing deep frustration. After a certain point, she asked herself, “Was this the kind of cooking I truly wanted?” That moment led her to the decision to come to ARI. Now, as a volunteer, she faces “cooking” once more, continuing her search for the answer to the question, “What is ‘delicious’?”
This painting, created by Mako, embodies such thoughts.
For delicious food to be born, clean air, clean water, and clean soil are necessary. Cooking isn’t just about filling stomachs; it’s where the cook’s heart, the local environment, and wishes for peace all converge.
As these small thoughts accumulate, and from her hands that cook, a gentle peace spreads.
Interviewed & Written by Konoha Yamanaka (ARI Volunteer)
Click here to read the series of articles
“Peace from Food” Cooking for Peace Vol. 1
“Peace from Food” Cooking for Peace Vol. 2 ← Now, you’re here.
Watch all our online events again!
Join the ARI life with family and friends!
We're looking for on-campus volunteers
