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The next issue of Take My Hand

This month, ARI will publish the next issue of its English-language newsletter, Take My Hand.

We’ll be looking at ARI participants and graduates working to nurture the next generation of rural leaders, thanks to the training they received at ARI.

Want to know more about how ARI’s leadership model impacts future generations? Receive the next issue with a donation to ARI’s US partner, American Friends of ARI. Follow this link to donate!
https://ari.ac.jp/en/donate-from-usa/

Thank you for coming to ARI Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration! 🌾

We were blessed with good weather, which had been our biggest concern, and HTC2025 was a great success. Hearing so much positive feedback from all of you has filled our entire team with happiness and a sense of accomplishment.

It also provided an excellent opportunity for us to put the servant leadership we have learned into practice. Although there were occasional clashes, as everyone was giving their absolute best, it was an HTC full of learning. We discovered new sides to our teammates and even learned about our own previously unknown strengths.

Now, this year’s participants are set to graduate in about two months. While we are sad to leave ARI and the friends we have spent this time with, we hope you will look forward to our future endeavors around the world after graduation! (HTC Coordinator Naoshi Kawatsuki)

Check it out!👀  Highlights of Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration (HTC) 🌾 ⑤

Finally, tomorrow begins the ARI’s biggest event, Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration (HTC).
On the last day, we will bring you a message from our coordinators, who will oversee the event! 👐

Join us for a special Harvest Thanksgiving celebration (HTC) at ARI!
It’s a time to celebrate the season’s bounty and the hard work of our community. Let’s enjoy a simple meal, share stories, and give thanks.
Your presence would make it even more joyful. Please come! (Messaged by HTC Coordinator, Lily and Nao)

▶ Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration (HTC), ARI’s largest annual event to give thanks for a bountiful harvest, is coming again this year!
We will entertain you with international cuisine, cultural stage performances and hands-on activities!
Dates: October 18 & 19 (Sat & Sun)
For more information: https://ari.ac.jp/en/htc-2025/

Check it out!👀 Highlights of Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration (HTC) 🌾 ④

Only 2 days left until Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration (HTC)! Today, we’ll introduce events happening outside of the participants’ committees.

We will be selling T-shirts printed with this year’s HTC logo

The theme, “Sowing the seed of love for a peaceful tomorrow,” was conceived by Malem, a participant from India. The logo was designed by Yong, a participant from Cameroon (first photo).

Priced at ¥2,000 each. Purchase one to commemorate this year’s HTC!

We will also have sales of ARI products including vegetables, campus tours, and a bazaar featuring about 15 external organizations.

What is ARI like? How can I get involved? If you have these questions, don’t miss this opportunity to join us!

About HTC

For more information: https://ari.ac.jp/en/htc-2025/?ari=news

Check it out!👀  Highlights of Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration (HTC) 🌾 ③

Finally, this weekend marks ARI’s biggest event, Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration (HTC)!
We’ll share the key highlights from each respective committee! 👐

🍽Catch people’s stomach by diverse food
Food is life.  Our life needs spice. Food adds spice to our life, as spices add taste and flavor to the food. ARI is a diverse community.
We have people from more than 22 countries living together under one roof. Which makes ARI a global village. So, we spice up our life with the diversity of people that live together.

During this year’s HTC, we wish to bring before you a variety of diverse, tasty and mouth-watering dishes. 22 dishes from 16 different countries will be set up before you. Sweet, spicy, sour and salty, anything you desire – we have it for you. Are you ready to entice your taste buds?

Food is life, and life needs to be enjoyed. Having a delicious meal is one of the ways of enjoying life.
So, get ready to enjoy your life on the 18th and 19th October @ HTC @ ARI.
(Messaged by Food Committee, Onigiri Swallowship)

▶ Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration (HTC), ARI’s largest annual event to give thanks for a bountiful harvest, is coming again this year!
We will entertain you with international cuisine, cultural stage performances and hands-on activities!
Dates: October 18 & 19 (Sat & Sun)
For more information: https://ari.ac.jp/en/htc-2025/

Check it out!👀  Highlights of Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration (HTC) 🌾 ②

Next weekend marks ARI’s biggest event, Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration (HTC)!
We’ll share the key highlights from each respective committee! 👐

“HTC (Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration)” is a day to share gratitude through music and celebrations from 20 different countries!
Our committee is in charge of the worship and performance programs, and we’ve been preparing to create a heartwarming time for everyone. Come join us and celebrate together! (Messaged by Worship and Performance Committee, HAVANA)

▶ Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration (HTC), ARI’s largest annual event to give thanks for a bountiful harvest, is coming again this year!
We will entertain you with international cuisine, cultural stage performances and hands-on activities!
Dates: October 18 & 19 (Sat & Sun)
For more information: https://ari.ac.jp/en/htc-2025/

Check it out!👀  Highlights of Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration (HTC) 🌾 ①

Next weekend marks ARI’s biggest event, Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration (HTC)!
We’ll share the key highlights from each respective committee! 👐

We take care of the decoration, games and interaction.
In terms of decoration, we are preparing it by collecting local resources, such as bamboos, cones, dry flowers, bamboo baskets, and origami.
We have many fun games, like: Flip bottle game, Water rally, Cookie eating game, Goat milking, Blind hit and paper fishing.
We also have a language cafe which is an activity where you can communicate and interact with people from different countries and also exchange culture by learning or communicating with and in their languages.
We are looking forward to meeting and interacting with you. Come and visit us! Let’s enjoy and have fun together!😊

(Messaged by Game and Decoration Committee, HALO HALO)

▶ Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration (HTC), ARI’s largest annual event to give thanks for a bountiful harvest, is coming again this year!
We will entertain you with international cuisine, cultural stage performances and hands-on activities!
Dates: October 18 & 19 (Sat & Sun)

For more information: https://ari.ac.jp/en/htc-2025/

Participant screening for 2026 is now underway

As the community gears up for Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration (HTC), preparations are in full swing. At the same time, the selection process for next year’s participants is also underway.

Staff members are divided into several groups, holding repeated discussions based on materials and interviews prepared by the admissions team to select candidates one by one. ARI Participants all agree that ARI’s selection process was truly challenging, requiring them to answer numerous questions.

This process, demanding patience from both selectors and candidates, is the first step toward the success of the new academic year and the emergence of future rural community leaders.