What is the connection between Hoichi Endo, a former member of Japan's Credit Union (CU), based in Tsujido, Kanagawa Prefecture, and the Asian Rural Institute's group of students from developing countries learning leadership skills and organic farming in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture?
Endo is director of development for ARI, looking after its financial interests and running the institute's supporting Metro Area Office. "With a background in law from Sophia University and six months in Novia Scotia for a social leadership course, I worked for the Credit Union for 23 years. I was mostly promoting CU in Catholic churches, sponsored by Jesuit fathers in Japan."
ARI was always after him, he jokes. "Every year I talked to them about CU; every year they would say: 'We're farmers, not managers. Join us.' But for a long time I felt I couldn't wrench my three kids away from their schools and friends."