A proposal from the Yamagishi Association

A proposal from the Yamagishi Association

Introduction to the Yamagishi Association

Soon after World War II, when Japan was still struggling to recover from the ravages of War and reconstruct the society and economy of the country, Miyozo Yamagishi(1901-1961) came out with a simple and efficient method of poultry farming, which soon became popular among farmers throughout Japan. The basic principle of this method was to use the synergistic linkages between traditional rice farming on the one hand and poultry farming on the other. This simple innovation brought about revolutionary changes in Japanese agriculture by increasing production and improving quality of poultry output while at the same time helping agricultural productivity and providing needed nutrients for the damaged soil in rice farms. Also as foods high in protein and available at low price, eggs and meat soon became popular.

What is more important in Yamagishi’s thought, however, is the underlying concept of an integrated system of Man and Nature: human beings are an integral and inseparable part of the total natural system; one cannot survive without the other. Yamagishi extended his philosophy of the "oneness" of human and natural systems and worked for the creation of a society that would be at perfect peace and harmony within itself, with anybody in the present and future, and with everything in nature. This to him was the essence of a sustainable society. Thus the Yamagishi Association has been established by his sympathizers in Japan in 1953, with the aim of promoting to harmony between nature and human activity, and to bring humankind a stable and comfortable society filled with abundance, health and affection. Now the head office of the movement is in Tokyo and it now totals about thirty thousand associate members (as of 2004), promoting various activities in many areas all over the world.

One of the most important activities is to construct demonstration villages, a "friendly and joyful village where no one needs money", which have been started by associate members in 1960. Since then more than thirty villages have been set up in Japan and also in Australia, Korea, Thailand, Switzerland, Brazil and so on with a total of sixteen hundred participant members and four hundred children. Agricultural products of Yamagishi villages are sold through retail outlets and markets in cities including 40 of own stores, and are popular for their quality in Japan.

For the next stage

Through these five decades, the movement has gained a wealth of practical experience. Although the philosophy and operations of successful and prosperous Yamagishi villages have demonstrated a promising alternative way of life, it might be premature to give a final judgment on their viability and sustainability in the face of the changing world. So there will be many changes in appearance as we used to be. The movement remains vital and evolves steadily. And we hope that our experiences will be used as data to investigate how a truly comfortable society can be developed for real human beings. In this context the Yamagishi movement now proposes to invite outside researchers and professionals to examine and critique its philosophy, practical principles, and operations.

We would be happy to create opportunities for collaboration with such professionals in the pursuit of improved alternative social systems.


Toyosato, a Yamagishi Village

Outline

The village building had been started in Japan in 1960, as one of the activities of the Yamagishi movement, and ten families initiated it at Toyosato in Mie Prefecture in 1969. Now Toyosato is the largest Yamagishi community demonstrating its sustainable ecosound farming and lifestyle in 110-ha area, with a population of 550 people. Though most inhabitants were originally city dwellers with no agricultural skills, presently Toyosato hosts one of the biggest agricultural corporations in Japan, engaged in the integrated system of management of farming, livestock raising, forestry, including food processing and product delivery.

Yamagishi agriculture is based on a closed-cycle agricultural system: we have been collecting rice straw from farms in the neighborhoods since 1980’ in order to feed cattle. We also collect byproducts of forest thinning and use them for cattle sheds. Chips and sawdust are for cattle bedding. These mingle with litter to make good manure in the sunlight and fresh air. In return, Yamagishi supplies compost to neighbor farmers and gardeners to enrich their soil every year. As the result biodiversity in the whole neighborhood has recovered from pollution by chemicals, and fireflies are coming back. Yamagishi has created a technology to convert food waste and byproducts into feed. Large quantities of byproducts, coming from sources such as soy sauce and tofu processing industries of big cities, are used as livestock food. In turn, cities are provided with meat and other animal products. Researchers and professionals have analyzed these operations scientifically.

Community, Family and Members of Toyosato

The family unit is the basis of community life in Toyosato, but this community life is also highly cooperative. Each member equally receives many public facility services without money as medium of exchange. Community facilities include common dining hall, public bath, clinic and sanatorium, barber and beauty salon, commodity and food stores, automobiles of different sizes and functions, sports facilities like heated swimming pool and playgrounds, construction and metalwork department, computer LAN system networked by optical fiber cable, orchards and green park, forestry, and others.

Education through Social Work

A Yamagishi community’s integration of agriculture and nature offers an excellent basis for the growth of healthy children. Children can know themselves and their surrounding world profoundly through direct experiences of the principles of nature. Yamagishi creates special opportunities where all children can learn that every human being is indeed an integral part of nature and the global community, moving in harmony with environment. The focus of the educational process at Yamagishi is shifted from teachers to learners.

Each year since 1975, a demonstration of Yamagishi educational ideas has been offered in Yamagishi villages through one-week workshop called Children’s Paradise Village opened any interested parents. Another is an open-visiting day for public schools in the neighborhood. Based upon experiences with these activities, the Yamagishi Academy was established in 1984. An integrated learning method has been studied and used, based on the principle that children grow and mature through practical learning amid children in a friendly and joyful community.

To benefit the public, a green park with orchards, gardens and a formal baseball ground were opened in 2002. About 15,000 people and children visitors come from various areas every year.

Management Systems

The basic principles of management of Yamagishi villages are: no hierarchy, delegate system, and equal opportunity. "Kensan" meetings are held regularly, or any time and on any subject proposed by any member or members in these meetings. Any member can freely express his or her choices and opinions. Decision making is not by majority rule, but through the Kensan system of repetitions of propose-dialog-discussion- agreement-reexamination. The only criterion is the pursuit of genuine happiness for one’s own self and for everyone on the earth at the cost of no one. (In order to make this system of decision making widely available, Kensan-school is held every month for both the Yamagishi Association members and the public, and everyone can experience the method in practice.) This method helps decision- making to be clear and effective. Also in order to avoid development of power centers or entrenched bureaucracy, the Yamagishi movement has developed practices "One role- three persons", "Auto-self-removal" and others,.

Every member has a role depending on his or her experiences, specialties, characteristics, choices and abilities. This principle helps each person to be self-confident and to have a sense of autonomy. The system is very flexible, so one can sometimes leave certain tasks for others, while at the same time one can aim at maximization of one’s contribution in a specific field.

Source: http://www.yamagishi.or.jp/en/yamagishi0601.html