The technological advancements I saw in Tokyo, japan was mind boggling. But amid the ingenuity and creativity it was difficult to not notice the clutter and density. 

Traveling to the Peace Cultural Village (PCV), I was not sure of what to expect.  How different was this place from Tokyo? How was it related to Hiroshima, the epicenter for anti-nuclear efforts? What I learnt was the intrinsic link between peace and farming. Although initially, these two concepts seemed completely unrelated, my experience at PCV revealed the connection. 

PCV’s aim is to create a community that goes beyond defining self-sufficiency and sustainability in physical terms. Although it is important to reduce carbon footprint, the community aims to achieve self-sufficiency through the exchange of ideas by facilitating dialog between people from various cultures and background. For it is through understanding our differences that conflicts can be resolved.  And it is through this, that I can see the intrinsic link between community, peace and sustainability.

Three things stood out for me from my stay 1) The passion I witnessed- Every evening visitors came in from long and far to discuss their ideas of peace and ways by which they can contribute. 2) The sense of community that existed- PCV is not an isolated set of houses. It is a part of the local social ecosystem- a larger neighborhood. Connections were made through education, music and even sharing farm work. 3) Experiencing and exploring rural Japan. - Japan is witnessing large scale population migration from rural to urban areas, abandoning villages and their ancestral occupations.

Not only did I have the opportunity to experience a simple farm life, but also admire the architecture and culture that is a part of this rural setting. This experience was filled with food for my soul!"