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To our community and partners,
Thank you very much for your continued understanding and support of our school’s activities.
We have recently detected unauthorized access (malware infection exploiting a system vulnerability) on some of the web servers operated by our school. In response, we have performed an emergency shutdown of the affected servers, prioritizing the safety of our users. We sincerely apologize for any concern or inconvenience this may cause.
We would like to report on the current status and our subsequent actions as follows:
1. Incident Overview and Timeline
On January 27, 2026, we identified unauthorized behavior that exploited an inherent vulnerability in our website’s operation system (CI/CD tools). We immediately disconnected the affected servers from the network and conducted a detailed investigation.
2. Scope of Impact and Safety of Personal Information
Due to this incident, the following site was temporarily inaccessible:
Special Campaign Site (Note: The campaign period ended on January 31.)
Important Note Regarding Donation Information: Our investigation has confirmed that sensitive data, including donation records and credit card information, is managed on a completely separate system from the affected servers. Therefore, no data leakage or tampering has occurred. Please be assured that your information remains secure.
3. Future Measures
While we are currently working on restoration, we are not merely performing a simple recovery. To transition to a fundamentally more secure and high-performance environment, the affected services are currently set to “Under Maintenance.”
We take this incident very seriously and are committed to further strengthening our information security management systems. We appreciate your kind understanding.
Sincerely,
Asian Rural Insititute
Thank you for your warm support for our Christmas & Winter Donation Campaign!
The Winter Campaign at ARI has now come to a close. We would like to express our deepest gratitude for your heartfelt donations and words of encouragement.
The contributions we received will be carefully used to support the activities of rural leaders from Asia, Africa, and beyond, as they learn together and work toward self-reliance.
This winter has been a poignant reminder that our journey toward “That We May Live Together” is made possible only through your steadfast support.
In the coming academic year, we will continue to move forward, step by step, on the path to peace rooted in the soil. We look forward to your continued support.
At ARI, alongside the nine‑month Rural Leaders Training Program, we also welcome trainees from a variety of organizations, including sending bodies of overseas graduates and the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers.
One student from the specialized agriculture Ainō High School, Ōsuke, has been training at ARI since last spring. On January 27, he presented the results of his learning to the community. While living alongside people from diverse cultural backgrounds, he deepened his studies on the farm, focusing especially on pig raising.
Another long‑term farm trainee this year, Kōshi, is a Catholic priest and a 2006 graduate of ARI. At a traditional farmhouse in Shinshū, he provides a place for farm work and community gatherings. To independently manage his own farm, he returned to ARI to learn how to operate agricultural machinery.
ARI Farm Manager Sakurai said of trainees like Ōsuke and Kōshi, “Eating is at the core of human being. There is no greater joy than producing the food you eat yourself. I want people with passion to come and learn as much as they can.”
As an open learning community, ARI will continue to offer learning opportunities to people from all walks of life in the coming year. Contact us if you are interested in training at ARI!
On January 17th, we successfully held ARI Friends Day with the generous support of many people. Thank you very much to everyone who attended!
Training Assistants Veh and Jeremiya hosted a talk session, where they shared stories of their powerful work and passion within rural communities in their home countries. Many attendees also enjoyed the cakes they made and sold as the culmination of their training.
Many first-time visitors participated in Tree Climbing®, immersing themselves in nature within our forest. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Jun Tree Service for this programming.
Current working visitor Frisly Soberanis screened the short documentary film “Ways of Knowing” for which he was producer and editor. The film depicts the indomitable spirit of the Navajo people who persevered against the effects of uranium mining by the U.S. government and others on their sovereign land.
Finally, the Ohinata Marche team enlivened the Koinonia Hall with their wonderful products.
It was a day that truly highlighted our connection with our friends who support us in many different ways. We will continue to cherish and nurture these encounters and connections with you.
On January 19, ARI community held its New Year mochi(rice‑cake)pounding. Students from St. Olaf College, who are currently training at ARI, joined in as well. Taking turns with the kine (mallets), everyone warmed up as they pounded the rice, and then enjoyed the freshly made mochi together.
St. Olaf College’s (Minnesota, USA) fifth January special program at the ARI, since 2016, began on January 13 with 20 St. Olaf students and two faculty members. Focusing on the theme of Japanese food, agriculture, environment, and sustainability, the program involves living at the ARI while fully utilizing its curriculum and environment. This includes visits to farms and facilities, as well as field studies such as learning about the Nasu Canal.
On 17th January, the group travelled to Fukushima Prefecture to learn about the realities of the effects of the Nuclear Power Plant’s accident following the Great East Japan Earthquake and the path to recovery in the affected areas. The guide was Dr. Hideki Ishii of Fukushima University, who provided explanations and answered questions meticulously. The photograph shows the front of Futabaya Ryokan (Inn) in the Odaka of Minamisōma City. We had lunch there and heard from the landlady, Ms. Tomoko Kobayashi. Accompanying this tour I was struck anew by how unique the scars of the Great East Japan Earthquake in Fukushima Prefecture are, and the path the people have since followed. It was a day that also deeply impressed upon me how that journey continues, day after day, to this very moment.
Today, our entire community came together for a grand spring cleaning ahead of Friends Day. We dusted the walls, cleared away cobwebs, and used shovels to scrape off the ice from the shaded areas on the grounds and the path leading to ARI.
While the weather looks promising for the weekend, we recommend wearing shoes with good grip (deep treads) if you are concerned about slippery spots.
All of us in the community are looking forward to seeing you there!
About ARI Friends Day: https://ari.ac.jp/en/friends-day-2026/
We’ll be sharing the beautiful scenery of ARI Campus in Nasushiobara and the “now” of our farm.
We hope these glimpses of daily life at ARI bring you a moment of peace and make you feel connected to us.
Please check out our Stories (and Highlights)!
Watch all our online events again!
Join the ARI life with family and friends!
We're looking for on-campus volunteers
Tsukinukizawa 442-1
Tochigi, Nasushiobara
329-2703 JAPAN
[email protected]
+81-287-36-3111 (tel)
+81-287-37-5833 (fax)
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