Changing the World from Nasushiobara: Asian Rural Institute Launches 2026 'Rural Leader Training Program,' Welcoming 22 Leaders from 13 Countries to Build a Sustainable Future.

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, the 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 once again this year.

Since its founding in 1973, the Asian Rural Institute (ARI) has consistently dedicated itself to nurturing community leaders with 'food' as the fundamental core. In 2026, as the global climate grows increasingly complex, the importance of food sovereignty and peaceful coexistence has never been greater.

1. A Gathering of Leaders with Diverse Backgrounds This year’s participants come from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including NGO staff, educators, and agricultural extension workers in their respective home countries. They are more than just students; they are 'change agents' who will lead and transform their communities upon their return.

2. 'Living Learning' through Circular Agriculture A cornerstone of the training is the organic farming technology that ARI has practiced and refined for decades. Within the rich natural environment of Nasushiobara, participants produce their own food by hand, exploring the essential nature of what a community can and should be.

3. 'Foodlife Work': Integrating Labor and Daily Life At ARI, we do not separate 'eating,' 'living,' and 'working'; instead, we view them as a single, interconnected cycle. The very process of multinational members living together in one community—engaging in dialogue that transcends language and cultural barriers—serves as fundamental training in peacebuilding.

About the Asian Rural Institute (ARI) The Asian Rural Institute is a training institution that invites rural leaders who are deeply rooted in their local communities across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. It provides intensive training in sustainable development and leadership, centered on organic farming. To date, ARI has produced over 1,400 graduates from more than 60 countries.