Shimpei Murakami on Soil, Forests, and Sustainable Agriculture
2025/06/16
Shimpei Murakami
Tsukinukizawa 442-1
Tochigi, Nasushiobara
329-2703 JAPAN
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the 50th Foundation Day
2021/09/03
Join us September 16th from 9:30am-12:15pm (Japan Standard Time) as we remember and celebrate the foundation of the Asian Rural Institute.
This day will remind us of the passion and sprit of those who dreamed of ARI and made it a reality.
After a time of thanksgiving to God worship, we will hear from graduates around the world share updates of struggles and new discoveries of what is going on in their communities in the midst of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.
Hope to see you there!
the 50th Asian Rural Institute Foundation Day
September 16th (Thu) 9:30am to 12:15pm
9:30am Worship ( Messenger: Ms, Tomoko Arakawa, Director)
11am Worldwide COVID sharing from Grads
How to join:
Please join from ARI Facebook Livestream
https://www.facebook.com/Asian.Rural.Institute/
Our 2020 Annual Report – now available in English!
2021/08/18
You can now read our 2020 Annual Report That We May Live Together in English!
The report is a detailed overview of our training, our farm, and our many activities with supporters and learners from Japan and overseas in 2020.
Of course, the report directs particular attention to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. How did it affect ARI, and what actions did we at ARI take to ensure safety?
While maintaining community life, we spent the year without compromising ARI’s values but instead reaffirmed the importance of those values. We want to express our sincere gratitude to the many supporters who enabled ARI to overcome the pandemic’s new challenges.
(from the “Greetings” by Board Chair Masaoki Hoshino and Director Tomoko Arakawa)
We are happy to share this report with you, supporters, partners, and friends of ARI, as a record of our commitment to rural leadership and learning for a livable future.
Notice of suspension of accepting visitors
2021/08/10
According to the preventive measures is declared from August 8th in Tochigi prefecture, we suspend accepting visitors until August 31st.
Thank you for your understanding.
A Football Garden for Sierra Leone – documentary portrays ARI graduate
2021/08/06
You can now watch the documentary A Football Garden for Sierra Leone on our official YouTube channel!
This documentary portrays Pastor Mambud Samai and his organization, the Single Leg Amputee Sports Association (SLASA). Mambud is the association’s program coordinator and a 2018 graduate of the Rural Leaders Training Program at the Asian Rural Institute.
“In Sierra Leone, many youths live with amputations in the wake of the civil war,” said Mambud at the beginning of his training at ARI. “Using the sport of soccer, I work to empower these young adults and give them hope. I also offer classes on computers, financing, agri-science, nutrition, and food security.”
Following his training, Mambud started expanding agricultural activities with the amputees in Freetown. The documentary shows some of the first steps they take to make their vision of a garden and soccer field possible.
This film was created by German team Dr. Donata Elschenbroich and Dr. Otto Schweitzer, documentary filmmakers with over thirty years of expertise in educational films from a cross-cultural perspective. Donata has been volunteering regularly at ARI since 2011. The film was developed in 2019 as a joint venture between Donata and ARI’s Graduate Outreach Coordinator Steven Cutting, working together on the concept and research as they visited various places in Sierra Leone.
After filming, the LUSH Foundation in the UK further funded constructions on the football field, and SLASA continued planting, harvesting, and receiving visiting schoolchildren. European supporters have pledged to provide new prostheses, training, medical supplies, and buildings, helping SLASA to gain claim ownership of the land. SLASA is also supported by the United Church of Canada, a supporter of ARI.
Job Opening for Part-Time Staff
2021/08/04
The Asian Rural Institute (ARI) is seeking a qualified candidate to serve as contract part-time staff member.
The position is for a Japanese-speaking accountant to join our General Affairs Section.
The contract starts from January 2022.
Please find details from our recruitment page (Only in Japanese): パートタイム職員募集
Class of 2021
2021/05/13
The photo roaster of class of 2021 is published!
Please read from here : Class of 2021
For the 2021 Rural Leaders Training Program, we have invited 24 candidates from overseas.
Their arrival is yet to be decided as the suspension of Japanese visas continues due to COVID-19 measures.
However, three Japanese participants have joined ARI this April and already started their training on campus.
We hope that the worldwide spread of the coronavirus will end so that all overseas candidates can join our studies as soon as possible.
Notice of suspension of accepting visitors
2021/04/26
According to the state of emergency is declared from April 25th, we suspend accepting visitors from the target areas.
If you wish to visit from outside of the target areas, please check the following points before applying.
・ We ask you to measure your body temperature for two weeks before your visit, so please apply more than two weeks ago from the date you would like to visit.
・ All applicants are given an orientation in advance using online conference tools such as zoom, so please cooperate.
The 49th Opening Ceremony
2021/04/02
The date of arrival for 28 overseas participants of the 2021 ARI Rural Leaders Training Program has not yet been decided due to the suspension of visa issuance procedures for Japan due to COVID-19.
However, three Japanese participants have joined ARI this year. We are delighted to welcome them to ARI and will hold an Opening Ceremony on Friday 9 April. We regret to inform you that due to COVID-19, we will not be able to welcome any guests from outside this year.
The ceremony will be streamed live on ARI’s official Facebook page, so please join us there, or follow it on your news feed after the ceremony.
The 49th Opening Ceremony will be held at the following date and time:
April 9th (Fri), 13:30-15:00
You can watch the ceremony live from the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/Asian.Rural.Institute
We look forward to celebrating the Japanese participants’ opening ceremony together with you!
Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration
Watch all our online events again!
Open for Visits
Join the ARI life with family and friends!
Volunteer with us!
We're looking for on-campus volunteers