Study Tour in Brazil

We arraigned a study tour for young Japanese Shumei member in Brazil from September 8 to 19.
Though this was our first study tour in Brazil, it was a great success.
The tour’s program included the following:

1. Participating Monthly Sampai.1

2. Learning about the lives of Japanese immigrants and how they worked very hard and contributed to Brazilian society.

3. A visit to Jacaranda Organic Farm.2 This tour not only gave the visitors the opportunity to learn how Natural Agricultural coffee is produced and how we can preserve our environment through sustainable agriculture but also about the economic activity between developing and developed countries by supporting fair trade.3

4. Visiting to the NGO Alquimia4 gave is an opportunity to think about the problems of poverty in an urban setting in developing countries.

5. A participating program in the Itatinga City.5 The program was coordinated by Educo Brazil.6 In Itatinga there is a unique organic environmental preservation project that involves planting trees along the riversides along with organic vegetable gardens. The project allows the inhabitants to not only grow their own food to help make their lives better but it also helps them care for the trees, which benefit the environment. There we planted trees in preparation for a model field and spent four days with the local people. Though many of us could not understand each other’s language, the kindness and hospitality of Brazilian people touched Japanese youth’s hearts.

6. We also enjoyed a visit to Iguazu Falls as optional tour.

See below to read description of their "Impressions" at bottom of page.

Click on the photos below to enlarge.

1. ‘Sampai’ is a Japanese term meaning to perform a spiritual observance in a sacred place. This observance usually entails a ritual form that provides a sense of order and serenity.

2. Jacaranda Farm (www.jacarandaorganico.com.br) produces organic coffee. Mr. Carlos Fernandes Franco, the late owner of the Jacaranda Farm, pioneered the cultivation of Brazilian organic coffee. The Miho Museum7 started to import coffee beans cultivated by the Natural Agricultural method from the farm this year.

3. In the 1960s a grassroots movement developed in Europe that sought equity trade and equal exchange. It adopted a trading system to protect subsistence farmers in developing countries by securing living wages with guaranteed payment of the minimum floor price for crops, since farmers are subject to financial damage from the fluctuating global marketplace. It promotes a direct transaction and a face-to-face relationship with these farmers to eliminate middlemen who get distributing margins.

4. Alquimia is an NGO that supports children of poor area.

5. Itatinga City is a small town on the edge of the countryside with a population of 14,000. It is located about a two and one-half hour drive east of Sao Paulo.

6. Educo (www.educointernational.org), is a non-profit organization. Its mission is to offer experiential outdoor adventures and challenges that guide individuals and groups to discover the true qualities of character inherent in all of us.

7. Miho Museum (www.miho.jp) opened in November 3, 1998. It was designed by I.M. Pei. It is located about an hour’s drive from Kyoto, Japan. The museum displays three special exhibitions each year along with its permanent collection of international masterpieces. Its restaurant serves original menus comprised of natural foods.

Impressions:

Through talking with Japanese-Brazilians and visiting the historical museum of Japanese migrants in Brazil, I had a chance to know them and was very surprised. There were many things I didn’t know at all. Japanese immigrants worked and worked very hard and contributed much to the Brazilian society, especially in the area of agriculture. As a Japanese person, I am very proud of them. Participating in this study tour, I leaned much.
(T.F.)

I appreciated to this study tour very much, because it gave us a lot of experiences that we would not have gained if we stayed in Japan. Also, I was very happy to have many people that I will never forget.
When I saw farmers working very hard at the Jacaranda Farm, I could feel the hearts of these farmers and knew that they wanted to make good coffee for the consumers. Jacaranda farm is huge. The weather is very hot and it takes a lot of effort to make coffee organically and naturally. So, they do not seek benefits for only themselves but for a healthy life, healthy community, and healthy earth.
(E.M.)

When we visited the NGO Alquimia, we performed on recorders and sang in front of children. They applause and smiled at our performance. We also donated used instruments that we collected in Japan, so that they would have an opportunity for a healthy development. Because education in public school is very limited for them, it is very difficult for children in poor area to have many opportunities. I enjoyed very much staying with the children that day.
As concerns the Educo program in Itatinga City, while staying three nights and four day there, I felt many gaps in understanding between Japanese and Portuguese speakers. Children and young people of that city tried to communicate with me but I could not talk back to them. Yet, through the Educo Brazil program, I felt I could communicate by listening to them a little at a time. When we, the local people and young people from Japan, complete our project of planting trees to make a model field I felt sense of fulfillment.
(K.K.)

I was very impressed with the program of planting trees at the model field in Itatinga city through the Educo program. That program gave us opportunity to learn by working in a field, not by knowledge gained at a desk. We started by collecting garbage in the field, thinking 100 years ahead to preserve a beautiful earth. Many curious neighborhood children come to help us. Environment education like this is very important and I was very happy that through our activities I could contribute to local people and pay attention to the importance of our environment.
(M.H.)

We not only learned much as part of this study tour but also we could offer a lot of things to the Brazilian people. Through wearing yukata—a cotton kimono for summer—, enjoying folding paper with local people, and cooking Japanese style we could share our culture. Playing musical instruments, donating used musical instruments, and bringing messages of Japanese coffee consumers to the Jacaranda Farm, we could bring joy and love. Thanks to Kaicho-Sensei’s prayers and support, I could bring divine light to people’s hearts as well.
(K.O.)

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