Nou-En

In rural Japan, as in many areas around the world, small communities are suffering from rapid population decline as young people flock to the cities. A self perpetuating cycle develops in which rural communities lose their youth to entertainment and work opportunities in the city, which cripples the local economy by leaving behind small towns and villages lacking an able workforce.
Here in Sasayama, Hyogo Prefecture, the evidence of this can be easily seen on any walk or bike ride around the valley. In some villages more than half of the houses are vacant. Many fields have been abandoned and have begun the rapid transition back to a more natural state. Elementary schools with great facilities are being forced to close due to low enrollment. At our local elementary school this year's First Grade class has three students. Village elders possess a lifetime of priceless skills and knowlege that is not being passed on because of a lack of interested youth. Looking forward in time, it is worrisome to imagine the state of these communities if current trends continue.
Seeing these things, we here at Nou En have been motivated to work for positive change. Our aim is to encourage young people from around the world to return to rural communities. We organize enthusiastic volunteers (mostly through the WWOOF organization, http://www.wwoofjapan.com) to help local farmers in exchange for healthy food and invaluable local knowlege. We network and assist local organic farms with vegetable and rice production on a regular basis. We try to enthusiastically jump in and help local villagers whenever we can. In addition to these projects, we also have our own fields and gardens as well as chickens and goats that we care for.
Because part of our aim is encouraging people to want to live in the country side we also take time to enjoy the benefits of country living. We go hiking in the surrounding mountains, swimming in ponds and streams (especially during the hot humid Japanese summer!), barbecues with friends on weekends, kendo lessons at the local gymnasium and much more.
Mostly we try to provide a communal living environment where we work, learn, and grow together, all while striving to benefit and elevate the local community.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Aidan here, I wrote an entry back in February or March, I have been living here as a part of Nou-en for most of that time.


Living here has taught me new things about farming and Japanese culture, and a lot about myself. I would like to share some of the experiences I have had.


I have seen the project in full swing this year, with many people coming and going, all contributing in some way to the house environment and to the local community in some way.


It is a rare opportunity for people wanting to experience true Japanese culture to do so by working for and alongside local people, but at the same time being a part of each other's journeys as we leave our home and daily life in search for the experiences that will make us grow into wiser and more inspired people.


My perspective on living sustainably has changed since living here. Being economical (ie waste nothing), often means being sustainable, and I have been faced with many challenges that I would not face at home like joining two logs together to make the framework for a house, or make a chicken coop out of a bunch of scraps and how to cook a daikon in seven different ways, leaves and all.


Trying to live a sustainable life here has given us woofers many opportunities to explore all the possibilities of pretty much anything we want to, because we have all day everyday to do so. A couple of weeks ago Gen wanted to celebrate Seth's birthday by having an Inoshishi (wild boar) party. My day that particular day consisted of simply figuring out with Gen how to do a spit roast on the spot, with no electric rotisserie; just a metal pole, wire and strategically placed wooden wedges, hung between two wooden stakes at either end, which did the trick just nicely; taking 20 minute shifts together to turn 'yet another one of Seths engineering feats', a counter balanced handle at the end. To make the day even better, everyone from some of the local farmers we help to the local Buddhist monks came over and helped Seth celebrate his birthday in style.


Experiences like this have made living here a lot of fun whilst trying to provide ourselves with food, sustenance and comfortable surroundings.


For those that have been here before, thank you. Thank you for your input, hard work and creativity. I'm sure everyone, like me, came here wanting these kinds of experiences but not knowing if it would be possible. Thanks to Gen and Anna, we have been a part of a special thing here, I hope this project continues to grow and touch more people like it has me, I think it has a positive effect on everyone who is touched by it.


Arigatou gozaimasu!


2 comments:

  1. Aidan, you have been the cornerstone of Nou-En. I know Gen and Anna are grateful for your ethics, physical strength and love of their little family. Hug Mio for me.
    Go back and insert some photos. See you in late January. Mary Alice

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  2. Aidan, i don't know if you remember me because we met ourselves only one week you were my Tsuji's teacher when i arrived. I think of this experience in Sasayama everyday, i think i can say it was perfect life there! As you said i also thought living a sustainabble life is not really possible in such a world of consumerism. But i changed my mind after staying one month living in this big house with 15 other woofers from all over the world, learning the ones from the others, eating what was given to us by farmers or by the fiels and Nature, working all together for an ideal project of life. Meeting all those people was a revelation for me that first i couldn't realise, i realised!
    I follow my way of life in France now but i wish i go back there next year and share again in this kind of paradise!
    I hope i'll see you again Aidan! Kyotsukete kudasai!
    Sarah

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