Changing the World from Nasushiobara: Asian Rural Institute Starts 2026 'Rural Leaders Training Program' with 22 Leaders from 13 Countries
The 2026 'Rural Leaders Training Program' has begun at the Asian Rural Institute in Nasushiobara, Tochigi. 22 leaders from 13 countries in Asia and Africa will participate in a 9-month program focused on organic farming and leadership to build a sustainable future.
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- 📰 Published: April 2, 2026 at 05:20
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This year, 22 participants from 13 countries across Asia and Africa have joined the program. Over the course of approximately nine months, they will engage in practical learning focused on organic farming, building a learning community, and servant leadership. Under the motto 'That We May Live Together,' our initiative to build a sustainable society—rooted in the soil of Tochigi—begins in earnest again this year.
Since its founding in 1973, the Asian Rural Institute (ARI) has consistently focused on nurturing community leaders with 'food' as the foundation. In 2026, as the global situation becomes increasingly complex, the importance of food sovereignty and peaceful coexistence has never been higher.
1. Leaders from Diverse Backgrounds Gather
The backgrounds of this year's students are varied, including NGO staff, teachers, and agricultural extension workers from their home countries. They are not merely students, but 'agents of change' who will lead their own communities upon their return.
2. 'Live Learning' through Circular Agriculture
One of the pillars of the training is the organic farming techniques that ARI has practiced for many years. Amidst the rich nature of Nasushiobara, students produce food with their own hands and explore the ideal form of community.
3. 'Foodlife Work': Training where Labor and Life are Integrated
At the Institute, 'eating,' 'living,' and 'working' are not separated but viewed as a single cycle. The process of multi-national members living together in one community and engaging in dialogue across language and cultural barriers is itself a training for peacebuilding.
About Educational Foundation Asian Rural Institute (ARI)
ARI is a training institution that invites rural leaders from rural areas in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to provide training in sustainable development and leadership, centered on organic farming. To date, it has produced over 1,400 graduates from more than 60 countries.
Since its founding in 1973, the Asian Rural Institute (ARI) has consistently focused on nurturing community leaders with 'food' as the foundation. In 2026, as the global situation becomes increasingly complex, the importance of food sovereignty and peaceful coexistence has never been higher.
1. Leaders from Diverse Backgrounds Gather
The backgrounds of this year's students are varied, including NGO staff, teachers, and agricultural extension workers from their home countries. They are not merely students, but 'agents of change' who will lead their own communities upon their return.
2. 'Live Learning' through Circular Agriculture
One of the pillars of the training is the organic farming techniques that ARI has practiced for many years. Amidst the rich nature of Nasushiobara, students produce food with their own hands and explore the ideal form of community.
3. 'Foodlife Work': Training where Labor and Life are Integrated
At the Institute, 'eating,' 'living,' and 'working' are not separated but viewed as a single cycle. The process of multi-national members living together in one community and engaging in dialogue across language and cultural barriers is itself a training for peacebuilding.
About Educational Foundation Asian Rural Institute (ARI)
ARI is a training institution that invites rural leaders from rural areas in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to provide training in sustainable development and leadership, centered on organic farming. To date, it has produced over 1,400 graduates from more than 60 countries.