2026.1.5
On 15 December, Professor Oyama served as lecturer for the 33rd episode of NHK’s High School Lecture Series : Geographic Exploration, entitled ‘North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.’ Under the theme of North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, the lecture addressed desertification and food security issues in the Sahel region, while also introducing research activities conduc...
2025.11.7
As part of the collaborative initiative with the Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education, we are providing environmental education under the theme of “Making Fertilizer from Food Waste,” in which discarded food waste (such as vegetable scraps and leftover food) from school lunches is reused as fertilizer for gardens and flowerbeds. As part of this initiative, we rec...
2025.10.27
October 25th marked the annual RIHN Open House event. Organic Material Circulation Project showcased demonstrations of RIHN compost (waterless dry compost) and displayed habanero peppers and vegetables grown using nutrient-rich compost produced here. We welcomed many visitors, including repeat attendees who look forward to this event every year—we’re truly delighted. W...
2025.9.28
A training seminar for Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education faculty and staff was held at the RIHN Lecture Room. Presentations titled “Composting and a Circular Society in Integrated Studies (Inquiry-Based Lessons)” and “Designing and Implementing Composting Lessons: Using Elementary Schools as an Example” were given by PL Oyama and Sub-leader Shioya. This training seminar w...
2025.9.26
Why not incorporate composting into your elementary, middle, or high school curriculum? Based on our three years of teaching experience, we have published “Comprehensive Learning Time:－A Guide to Composting Lessons” (114 pages total). This topic offers diverse connections to environmental education, soil education, food education, waste management, and food security issues,...
2025.8.13
NHK World Japan’s “Direct Talk,” an international broadcast viewed in approximately 160 countries and regions, featured PL Oyama’s activities in Niger: “Halting Desertification with Waste.” The program remains available for viewing on the program’s website after broadcast.https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/2105232
2025.8.8
IFAD Youth Club Japan (IYCJ), launched under the leadership of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), will host an online lecture titled “What’s Needed for the Sustainability of Urban Civilization and Agriculture: Perspectives from Africa and Kyoto.” PL Oyama will be speaking. We are looking forward to your participation.
2025.8.1
At The Lab. on the 3rd floor of Grand Front Osaka North Building, we held a fun science and eco-themed composting workshop for children in grades 4-6 (2 sessions total). Participants challenged themselves to make mini composters by filling containers with soil, rice bran, and chicken manure.
2025.7.22
The 8th Research Meeting was held over two days, July 19-20, 2025, at the Lecture Room of RIHN. Twenty participating Collaborative Researchers presented their research activities from the previous year and plans for the current year, followed by discussions. Each year, the research meeting is held in person around the time of the Gion Festival, where members review the proje...
2025.7.10
Prof. Oyama and Assistant Prof. Shioya received the Academic Conference Presentation Award in the oral presentation section at the 36th Annual Conference of The Japanese Association for Arid Land Studies, held at Hirosaki University on June 7-8, 2025. The presentation title was: Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), Objectives of the Organic Material Circulation...
2025.6.27
Oyama PL will serve as an instructor for the SpringX Super School’s children’s compost workshop, “The Magic Experiment of Making Soil! Let’s Compost Together Challenge.” This workshop combines science and ecology for fun learning. Why not try an eco-experience where you can see, touch, and learn? It’s perfect for summer vacation projects too! 【Dates...
2025.6.17
To commemorate the day, Oyama PL’s efforts to transform deserts with waste and livestock were highlighted on the Japanese government’s social media account. The post can be viewed at the following URL: 【Facebook】 https://www.facebook.com/JapanGov/posts/pfbid0CagEe36Zf8tmMqUCvbhjG3gpQstEtvSpJLUt3sP1Goo4LQJsppzdN2Ghd9BAVdPMl 【X】 （JapanGov）https://x.com/JapanG...
2025.5.21
At the Convection Spot held at SpringX on the 2nd floor of the North Building of Grand Front Osaka on May 21, I introduced my initiatives as leader of the Organic Material Circulation Project in Niger and Ghana, Uganda and Djibouti, Zambia, and Japan (Kyoto). Under the slogan “Cleaning the City, Greening the Land,” the project aims to solve environmental problems by returni...
2025.5.19
At the Japan Association for African Studies (Kyoto University), sub-leader Akiyo Shioya presented “Recycling of Organic Waste in Kampala, Uganda: Utilization of food waste and expansion of pig farming”, researcher Aoike presented “Climate Change and Incidents of Fire in Arid Urban Areas: Reflections on Frequent Fires that Threaten the Citizens of Niamey, Niger”, researcher ...
2025.5.16
Unique reused tote bags from “Compost House,” a collaborative work by artist Takeshi Yasura and the Organic Material Circulation project, are now on sale at Mori Art Museum Shop 53 (53F, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower). From the selection of the reused bags to the silk-screening, everything is carefully done by hand, and no two bags have the same design. https://t.co/sfVveEmkMy
2025.5.12
Same as last year, we are offering classes for 4th graders at two elementary schools as part of their comprehensive learning program from May 12 to June 30. The two schools are Tawara Elementary School and Ujitawara Elementary School, both located in the town of Ujitawara. PL Oyama and researcher Noda will visit the elementary schools every other week to give classes. The t...
2025.5.1
Sprinkling garbage on deserts to make them greener, solve humanitarian crises such as famine and conflict, and create a peaceful society. Oyama PL’s practical efforts in Niger using garbage were featured in Big Issue Japan.
2025.4.11
The knowledge fostered by Kyoto University researchers will spread beyond time and space, creating further knowledge for the future and leading to solutions for the challenges facing the world. This booklet presents the visions of the future as envisioned by 125 researchers through the messages they have sent, and conveys the power of change that research can bring to societ...
2025.4.9
The project initiative “Don’t burn trash, return it to nature” reported by PL Oyama at the media roundtable meeting held by RIHN on February 20 was featured in the Kankyo Shimbun dated March 5. Kankyo Shimbun Online (Registration is required to view articles)https://www.kankyo-news.co.jp/subscription
2025.4.9
Oyama PL’s presentation at the 11th World OMOSIROI Award ceremony held on February 25, 2025 was streamed on YouTube. Please click the link below. Shuichi Oyama / Presentation World OMOSIROI Award 11th.
