The Latest

Director’s Report: Reporting Beyond the Headlines – Tomomi Ono’s Insightful Coverage of ARI

Director’s Report:
Ms. Tomomi Ono, an Asahi Shimbun reporter has written many articles about ARI since she was assigned to the Otawara (Northern Tochigi) Bureau in 2021, and she will be transferred to the Tokyo head office on September 1st.
Ono-san wrote about ARI’s events and covered a number of themes that touched the essence of ARI, such as radiation issues, organic farming, and servant leadership. She interviewed staff members many times and even attended classes. I am especially grateful to her for writing about me in the　“Hito (People)” section on the newspapers, to which I received many good responses!
She was also a big fan of ARI’s produce (and I’m sure you will continue to).
Come back again, Ono-san!

Director’s Report: Exploring Social Justice: Insights from ARI’s Associate Director at NPA

Director’s Report:
Ms. Yukiko Oyanagi, Associate Director of ARI, will talk in the Webinar of “New Age Asia Peace Academy (NPA)” on Tuesday, August 13. You can register for just one lecture (2,000 yen for a fee), so please join. (Japanese only.)
To register, please visit the link in our profile.
*If you register, you can watch the archive even after the event date has passed.
[Summary of the event]
Date: Tuesday, August 13, 2024, 19:00-21:00　
Lecturer: Yukiko Oyanagi (Associate Director of ARI)
Language: Japanese
Summary: Through learning the purpose and history of ARI, its current activities (Rural Leadership Training Program and Open Learning Program), and the activities of its graduates in the world, we will think about how we can realize a sustainable society.

Director’s Report: ARI’s Menstruation Hygiene Management Workshop

Director’s Report:
Menstruation Hygiene Management (MHM) has been a focus of ARI’s gender class for several years.
Today, a workshop on MHM was held for the entire ARI community.
MHM aims to help menstruating women “stay safe and hygienic during their menstrual period”
As prejudice, superstition, and lack of knowledge about menstruation limit the daily lives and rights of menstruating people, especially in developing countries,　the awareness and education of MHM has been growing worldwide in recent years,
This year, Participants and volunteers played a central role in the organization of the workshop, and the men actively participated in the presentations.
There were very open and positive discussions about how to change mindsets, how to support those in need, and so on.
I listened to everyone’s diverse voices, wondering if there is any other MHM workshop in Japan that is as advanced as this one.
In September, we will try making homemade sanitary napkins.

Director’s Report: Peace Sunday at UCCJ Daita Church

Director’s Report:

On August 4 (Sun.), I will preach at the Peace Sunday Service at UCCJ Daita Church (Setagaya-ku, Tokyo). I will also continue to speak at the “Peace Gathering” in the afternoon (13:30-). We will also be selling ARI items. Please join us if you are in the area!

Director’s Report: A Call for Support – Understanding Haiti’s Current Challenges

Director’s Report:

We received a newsletter from the Haiti no Kai, a Japanese NGO that supports the KFP in the Republic of Haiti, to which two of our graduates belong.
Although rarely reported in Japan, security in Haiti has deteriorated drastically since the assassination of the president three years ago, and earlier this year the country was said to be in unprecedented turmoil in all aspects: social, political, economic, and security.
Especially in the capital, armed gangs controlled 80% of the capital and crime was rampant, which turned the city a lawless area. However, it is said that security has improved slightly since the beginning of June.
In the words of Eiko Nakano, a representative of Haiti no Kai, “Even if it takes time, Haitians themselves must correct this wrongness of the Haitian society and open the way for the future. What we can do with the Haitian people is only to support them by ‘protecting today’s life through agriculture and nurturing tomorrow’s Haiti through education.’ ”

Director’s Report: ICU Reconciliation Forum’s Third ARI Retreat

Director’s Report:

A retreat camp of ICU Reconciliation Forum members is being held at ARI from July 15th to 17th. This is the third camp of the group with 19 people participating, the most ever.
This group, led by Williams Ikuko, is a group that studies and thinks about reconciliation, which started as an online book club during the coronavirus pandemic. ICU students, teachers, staff, and alumni gather irregularly, and soon their activities have expanded to lectures on the ICU campus, training camps outside, and participation in the Northeast Asia Christian Forum for Reconciliation. I have also been a part of this group for some time.
As an alumnus, I share the same dream that someday an institution focused on reconciliation will be established within ICU.

Director’s Report: Remembering Bumrung Khayotha – A Farmer, Leader, and ARI Legend

Director’s Report:

At the end of June, ARI Thai Graduate Bumrung Khayotha passed away at the age of 73 years old. He is a graduate of 1989 and known as a legend. “He was a farmer in northeastern Thailand and led a nationwide peasants’ movement as a brilliant leader. Although some people asked him to become a member of the National Assembly, in the 2000s, he stayed in his hometown, where he had land, a house, and a family. While farming, he was pushed by the local people to serve as the head of the local administrative organization.” (quotes of Kazuoki Ohno)
Whenever he was invited by the Asian Farmers Exchange Center, he stopped by ARI. From his small body and childlike smile, it was hard to believe that he led the peasants’ movement across the country.
His niece, Ms. Janvan who succeeds Khayotha’s spirit, is also an ARI graduate.

Director’s Report: Young Anglicans from Five Countries Join Leadership Training at ARI

Director’s Report:

A program for young Anglican church future leaders around the world, sponsored by the USPG of Anglican Communion is being held in collaboration with the Asian Rural Institute. (7/3~7/20)

Young Anglicans in their 20s from the UK, Brazil, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea and Japan are taking part in leadership training at ARI.