This weekend is Marine Day in Japan. When you think of the sea, what comes to your mind?Today, we are thrilled to share a supporter’s voice from Nahoko Osawa of “Karatachi”, who has been graciously hosting our West Japan Study
Participants successfully completed their first presentations at ARI! Their presentations explored the issues they hope to address in their communities, the work they are doing with their Sending Body organizations, and what they hope to gain during their time at ARI.
Some of the key issues that stood out included the need for safe and nutritious food grown without chemicals, safeguarding minority communities, and increasing income generation, among others.
There were many original and creative presentations that highlighted both their deep passion for their communities and their strong community engagement skills. As Curriculum Coordinator, I was especially impressed by how, in just eight minutes, each presenter was able to transport us into their community and help us understand both its challenges and its strengths.
I also felt that their presentations—and the hopes they carry for what they want to learn at ARI—were a call, one that we as an ARI community are invited to respond to together.
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 also widely recognized as an environmental activist, human rights defender, and social entrepreneur.
The Niwano Peace Foundation stated the following as the reason for his selection:
“The people of this region have endured immeasurable hardships caused by the destruction of the forests and the damage inflicted by invaders. For the past 15 years, Mr. Piyãko has led numerous initiatives for environmental protection and reforestation to defend the Amazon rainforest and its indigenous inhabitants. His unwavering dedication will surely be carried forward long into the future in our collective fight against climate change. As a guardian of the environment, his efforts to nurture the bond between humanity and nature resonate far beyond his local community, influencing people across the globe.”
Mr. Piyãko took the stage adorned in traditional attire, his face painted with red pigments and his head graced with a magnificent crown of bird feathers. Wearing a long ethnic robe that reached his feet, he first looked up toward the firmament to offer a prayer.
He began his address with these words: “Thank you for standing with me at the doorway to life.”
Although Mr. Piyãko does not read or write, his words seemed to possess a mystical power that guided us toward a spiritual communion.
“Those who love life, love the land.” “The spirits have no words, but they have bonds.” “We must protect our wisdom and pass it on to the next generation.” Each of his words had a crystalline resonance that seemed to permeate the entire hall.
As I serve as a director of the Niwano Peace Foundation, I was entrusted with the role of Master of Ceremonies for this ceremony. Thanks to this opportunity, I was blessed with the distinct honor of speaking directly with Mr. Piyãko and even taking a photograph with him.
The Bee Project at ARI has begun. What’s truly surprising is what happened behind the scenes. As we were discussing how to set up a shed to place the hives, a Filipino staff member pointed to a shed that wasn’t currently in use and said, “We can just cut that shed in half and carry it over.” For a moment, I couldn’t believe my ears. What? Cut the shed in half? And carry it over?? What on earth did he mean? I decided to let that staff member take the lead, and sure enough, the shed was actually cut in half. All the participants joined forces, lifted it, and carried it to its new location. The teamwork was truly impressive, and it was a moment that really showed the strength and unity of ARI community. It was a way of thinking I would never have come up with myself. ARI is full of wonders like this.
By the way, we conducted our first honey harvest on May 8 and were able to receive 3 kg of honey.
When I tell folks I work for ARI in Graduate Outreach, they can’t imagine what I do. When I try to explain, there is still no understanding. So, I decided to make this blog, to take you with me into the illuminating world ARI’s graduates.
After many months of preparation, it is finally ready! Let’s go.
https://ari.ac.jp/en/blog/ruralleaders
Update at 6:00 PM on May 14: The service has been restored. Thank you for your patience.
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.
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This is where the community gathers to share meals and fellowship together. More than just a dining hall, it also serves as a venue for events, meetings, and learning activities. Koinonia is a Greek word meaning “fellowship” or “sharing.”
At peak times, meals are prepared for as many as 100 people at once. Students, staff, and volunteers all take part in cooking and meal preparation. The kitchen is not only a place for preparing food but also a space for learning, serving others, and building relationships within the community.
Participants attend classes in these classrooms throughout the training program. The library contains a wide range of English and Japanese books, audiovisual materials, and magazines covering agriculture, social issues, community development, and many other fields of study.
Participants and volunteers live in separate dormitories for men and women. The dormitory includes shared lounges, kitchens, showers, and laundry facilities. Wi-Fi is not available.
The poultry facilities include free-range chicken coops and a brooding house. More than 400 chickens are raised, producing over 80,000 eggs and approximately one ton of chicken meat each year.
Participants learn a variety of pig farming techniques through hands-on practice. Both deep-litter and concrete-floor systems are used, and manure is recycled into biogas and fertilizer.
Goat milk (over 200 liters annually) and meat are used for food, while manure is used as fertilizer. During the day, the goats roam freely in the pasture.
The forests surrounding the campus are managed through selective thinning for firewood and charcoal production. Leaves and other organic materials are collected for use in agriculture.
On 2.5 hectares of farmland, approximately 100 varieties of vegetables and crops are grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. The entire community helps manage the fields as part of its commitment to learning and self-sufficiency.
Rice is cultivated in paddies both on and off campus. Various organic rice-growing methods are studied and practiced, including weed control and fertilization using ducks.
The workshop is a space for repair and recycling activities. It contains machinery, welding equipment, woodworking tools, and a variety of materials.
Livestock feed is produced here using both manual and mechanical methods. Continuous efforts are made to improve feed quality and sustainability.
The first floor houses the reception area and administrative offices, while the second floor contains staff offices and the Director’s office. The Farm Shop (Agricultural Training Room) is located adjacent to the building.
The shop offers ARI-grown produce, processed foods, books, and handicrafts from the home countries of ARI graduates.
The facility serves as the hub of agricultural activities at ARI. It includes classrooms, storage for tools and farming materials, and facilities for drying and storing crops.
Originally a 100-year-old traditional farmhouse, the chapel has been renovated into a place of worship. Daily morning gatherings are held here, along with meditation, dialogue sessions, gospel choir practice, and other community activities. Oikos is a Greek word meaning “home.”
This facility is used for producing and storing processed foods such as cookies and jam. The ground floor also contains a poultry processing facility.
Fish are raised for both food and agricultural purposes.
