An Interview with Mitsuhiro Oketani

SHUMEI Magazine: What inspired you to practice Natural Agriculture?

Mitsuhiro Oketani: When I was 22 years old, I went to Misono to do volunteer work (Hoshi). I did not have any particular Hoshi in mind nor did I have an agricultural background. I was assigned to work on Kishima Island in my second year and I have been doing this for the last ten years.

SM.: Did you go to college?

MO.: I finished high school and after graduation I worked in a machinery factory for two years, and then I went to Misono to do Hoshi.

SM.: In all that time, when did it become a way of life for you?

MO.: In the beginning it was only an assignment and I had no intention of farming for the rest of my life. I was at Kishima Island eight years and during that time I had to decide if I wanted to continue farming, change to another Hoshi, or return to ordinary life. In 1990, I began to have inner thoughts about what I wanted to do with my life and I started meditating, praying during Sampai, reading Meishusama's writings every day for one year. I also started thinking about why Natural Agriculture is necessary for me and for all human beings. I would sow the seeds, water the fields, and the plants would grow. Eventually I began to understand that nothing can be produced and nothing can survive without nature, which is the foundation of all life on earth. When I looked at my surrounding environment, I could feel God and I began to communicate with the trees, the grass, and the vegetables. It gave me encouragement and through that experience I could understand what agriculture is, especially Natural Agriculture. I realized the importance of the work I was doing, and how important it is for humans to have pure food.

SM.: Did you do Natural Agriculture anywhere else?

MO.: Yes. Two years ago I went to a large-scale farm, the largest in Japan using Natural Agriculture, to learn how to mass-produce vegetables because I wanted to learn all aspects of farming. I worked there for almost one year. After that I spent another ten months with the largest rice grower in Japan, also using Natural Agriculture methods. This is a completely different kind of agriculture from producing vegetables.

SM.: It is obvious you want to help others. Why have you decided to go to Senegal, West Africa?

MO.: Last year, Shinji Shumeikai developed a relationship with Senegal through the Rodale Institute, which has successfully established organic farming methods in the last ten years. Kiyonori "Andy" Manishi is studying at the Rodale Institute and was given the opportunity go to Senegal to learn about the project, first-hand. He decided to go last September, but as he does not speak French Mr. Fumitaka Kuwata from Paris went along as translator. Shinji Shumeikai was excited about this opportunity and looked for someone suitable to do Natural Agriculture in Senegal. I applied, was interviewed, and was selected out of thirteen applicants. I had been to Senegal once before for about two weeks and I developed a very good relationship with the Senegalese people. They asked me to stay there with them and not return to Japan, but at that time it was impossible. Last year when Mr. John Haberern visited Japan, he made a presentation to Kaicho-Sensei that the Rodale Institute have an exchange program with Shinji Shumeikai. This exchange program has made it possible for me to go to Senegal.

SM.: When you get to Senegal what work will you actually be doing in developing Natural Agriculture?

MO.: The only other country I have visited in my life was the United States last year. The US and Japan are two strong and well-developed countries. Last year was my first time to visit a third world country and when I saw how the people lived, how they were suffering -- the level of their lifestyle is so much lower than mine -- it shocked me. Self-sufficiency of food production in Senegal is only 20%. They have food to eat but they mostly produce foods for export to Europe to earn enough money to sustain the country. This system has created many problems for the people and I experienced a tremendous powerlessness to help. When I go to Senegal this time, it is not that I will be able to do something specific right away. I will need to learn the differences between the environment and soil in Japan and Senegal, find out what agricultural methods have been used historically, understand about their lifestyles, the foods they eat, their customs, and learn French. I need to know what they want because what successfully grows and the people are happy to eat in Japan may not grow or be acceptable to the Senegalese people. Later on, I may be able to use the knowledge I have gained through past experience. In the practice of Natural Agriculture, you must learn from nature in the place you are trying to farm in order to be successful and this takes time and a long-term commitment.

SM.: So you will stay there long enough to help the people achieve this?

MO.: I will stay the rest of my life, if it is necessary. If the Senegalese people need me for that long, I will be happy to stay there.

SM.: It is one thing to say you will go and help somebody do something. It is another thing to say you will spend your entire life to help somebody do something. What in you allows you to make a commitment to a people who are totally different from you, with a completely different culture, different customs, and different religion -- to offer your life to strangers?

MO.: The environment where I grew up was very fulfilling to me because there is a lot of green vegetation in Japan. There is enough rain so that when we plant seeds, the crops grow and we have a good harvest. When I started farming, I was able to find and appreciate the beauty of nature so I began to relate to this beauty and I felt closer to nature. I also learned about the land of other countries turning into deserts. When I went to Senegal I saw it for myself, no green! The land was crying because it was so devastated and dry. For the people of Senegal, this was their nature. They have never seen lush green fields like there are in Japan. I want them to experience the beauty of green vegetables and fruits the way I enjoyed them in Japan. I want to share with them what nature can do so that they can feel the joy and happiness that comes from the earth that I experience when I am farming. Even though it is not an easy country to do Natural Agriculture, I am happy to go to Senegal. I am not going because I feel sorry for them. I was very inspired to go there because the people's hearts are very pure and they seem very happy compared to the people in Japan and the US; maybe they are even spiritually purer. Even though Senegal is much poorer than Japan and the US, within Africa it is a relatively nice country. I would be happy to go anywhere I am asked to go to help others through Natural Agriculture. Sometime in the future, I would like to introduce Natural Agriculture to other countries in Africa.

SM.: Do you have a girl friend, a fiancée? And, if so, will she join you at some point in the future?

MO.: No. I do not. The girls in Senegal are very beautiful (a big smile).

SM.: What does your family feel about your decision to spend your entire life in Senegal?

MO.: At first they were very shocked that their eldest son was going to "run away" to Africa. It was very difficult for them. After I was chosen to go to Senegal, I stayed with my parents and went to school everyday to learn French. By the time I was ready to leave Japan, my parents told me not to return to Japan until I have completed my job. My parents have been members of Shinji Shumeikai since I was in elementary school. They believe in Meishusama's philosophy, and they are proud that I was chosen to help further Shinji Shumeikai's mission.

FROM SHUMEI MAGAZINE, VOL. 211, March, 1998