I just returned from Japan. I arrived there the day of the earthquake. I had traveled to Japan to visit a village where I had been asked to come and help create a Buddhist utopia. This special village is in Morokino, the mythological birthplace of Shinto and Buddhism, only one hour from the well-known cities of Osaka and Nara. We have been gifted eight large houses to bring youth to the area to help rejuvenate the local agriculture of the land by planting green tea, rice, etc.  It was after I arrived in this village that I heard news of the devastating earthquake.

For ten years, I worked so hard to make the Japanese government and people aware of the dangers nuclear reactors posed to the well being of Japan and its people if damaged by an earthquake or other natural disaster. When our group, Plutonium Free Future, together with many other organizations, could not succeed at convincing the Japanese government and decision-making bodies that this threat was dire, I retired to Hawaii and started to farm. My goal was to bring Japanese people to my land on the Big Island to teach them how to farm and live sustainably – with a special hope that they could then help their own friends and families in Japan during a time of disaster. That time has unfortunately arrived.

However, we have the amazing gift of the village in Morokino and we can start working on site in Japan right now. People that I have trained in sustainable farming are already starting to move there to serve as models for living in harmony with the earth in peace.  I am writing today to because I really need your financial support to bring Morokino up to date with living essentials so that my trainees can start doing their work.  I thank you in advance for any assistance you can give this very special and timely project.

View of Morokino

Additionally, while I was in Japan, I became acquainted with a group called United Earth — a network that oversees organizations doing direct aid in areas affected by disasters. These are people who have been working continuously since the Kobe earthquake in 1995. This group will continue their excellent efforts in Japan for many years to come. So, for those of you – my dear friends and colleagues — who would wish to make an additional donation for Japanese disaster relief — I highly recommend United Earth.  When you give to them, you can know that your donation will actually reach the people who need assistance on the ground. For information about United Earth, please visit their website. Thank you for your consideration here as well.

As many of you know, I co-founded and still serve on the Board of Directors of a non-governmental 501(c)(3) called INOCHI — in Japanese it means “life force.” INOCHI has set up a special fund to receive donations that can benefit “The Morokino Project”, United Earth or both — it is up to you. Please specify on your donation which organization you want to support and if you wish to give to both, indicate how much you would like to give for each. Checks can made out to INOCHI and mailed to me at my farm in Hawaii at the following address:

Mayumi Oda, Ginger Hill Farm, PO Box 1907, Kealakekua, Hawaii 96750