Shumei Philippines’ Journey

Our Beginning
  The story of the Shumei Manila Center began in Southern California, USA, at Shumei America’s National Center in Pasadena, when in 1992 two Filipinas, Reze Canizares and her sister, Ruby Orendain, became members and started sharing Jyorei. Later, Mrs. Orendain returned to the Philippines and started giving Jyorei to her family and friends in her home country.
In 1997, Neil Fukui, a young Japanese man who had worked with Shumei America, accompanied Reze Canizares on a visit to the Philippines to attend the wedding of one of Reze’s nieces. It was on that first trip that Neil developed a fondness for the Philippines. The beauty of the country and the humanity of the country’s people won his heart. Shortly thereafter, he found that his vocation was to establish Shumei and the practice of Jyorei in what was to become his new homeland.

Our First Center
  In August of 1998, a group of Social Explorers from Shumei Japan visited the Philippines to experience and learn from Filipino culture and society. On May 5, 1999, Shumei set up its first Filipino Center with Neil Fukui as Center Head. Shumei’s first official presence in the Philippines began with a small staff, some of whom were members of Shumei’s Social Explorers. On June 11 of that year, the Center’s first Monthly Sampai was held and in 2000 Shumei Philippines celebrated its first anniversary. Gradually, Shumei Philippines grew with new members and friends and by February 2003 the Center moved to its current quarters in Valencia Hills, Quezon City.
On January 23 of 2005, the Center was privileged to have Ms Hiroko Koyama, Shumei’s President, as guest of honor at its sixth anniversary celebration. This was the first visit by Ms Koyama to Shumei’s Filipino Center.

Natural Agriculture in the Philippines
  On January 15 of 2004 Shumei formed an alliance with the Total Rural Development Institute of Cooperatives Inc. (TRDIC) of Iba, Zambales, the Philippines. Among TRDIC’s goals were to create a self-reliant agricultural model farm in Iba, Zambales Province, and to teach people there and in other rural communities self-reliance through developing sustainable, agriculture based cooperatives and industries. Because of Shumei’s commitment to join with other organizations of diverse cultural and religious backgrounds to improve living standards, engender a sense of spirituality in daily life, promote world peace, and Shumei’s active promotion of Natural Agriculture, the partnership of the two organizations was a very good match.
Under the agreement, a Natural Agriculture rice and vegetable farm was created on a one-hectare plot of land for research purposes and to help farmers and others learn about sustainable agricultural methods. November 9, 2004 saw the farm’s first rice harvest.