Photos from Janele Ann Belegal

Faculty and staff from the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) participated in a walking tour in Fujino, Japan, last 11 April 2025, as part of an immersive cultural and academic engagement focused on sustainability, community development, and grassroots innovation.

The tour consisted of two “walk-talk” activities held on the same day. The first activity, conducted in the morning, was a research-based hike from Fujino Station to the Permaculture Center Japan (PCJ). This hike followed a walking research methodology designed to encourage reflection, observation, and dialogue about the built and natural environment. Upon arrival at the PCJ, the participants engaged in an interview with Mr. Shidara Kiyokazu, head of the PCJ, and Ms. Koyama Mikae, point person of the Fujino Transition Town Movement, to better understand the social networks and collaborative linkages among the various working groups within Fujino’s transition town movement. The discussion also explored the geographical spread and interconnection of these groups, offering insights into how permaculture principles are being localized and scaled through community partnerships.

Photos from the Fujino Insta360 Team

In the afternoon, the second leg of the tour involved a short walk from Fujino Station to Mori Lab+, a central community space in Fujino. Here, FMDS participants met with Mr. Takahashi Yasunori, point person of the Yorozu Community Currency (CC), and Mr. Koji Takahama, point person for the Fujino working group focused on solar energy. Together, they shared the history and ongoing development of Fujino’s community currency system, the structure of active working groups, and the future directions of the local solar power initiative. The session also opened possibilities for future collaborations with UPOU in the areas of renewable energy, social entrepreneurship, and community-based learning.

Photos from Mr. Yasunori Takahashi

The walking tour offered faculty and staff a firsthand experience of how community-led innovations in Japan are reshaping local economies, sustainability practices, and governance frameworks. It also provided a rich context for considering future research collaborations and capacity-building activities aligned with FMDS’s mission and the goals of UPOU. Faculty and staff from other UPOU offices also joined the walking tour.

This activity directly supports several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), and Partnership for the Goals (SDG 17).

Written by: Janele Ann C. Belegal • Edited by: Larry N. Cruz

Sustainable Development Goals

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