MEGURU GA MIERU
Let’s work together to create a society where people are connected to nature and each other.
Our thoughts
What Does “MEGURU GA MIERU” Mean?
How often do we stop to think about where the food that sustains our lives comes from, or how it is produced? How many of us know what materials are used to make the clothes we wear every day—and who made them? And how many people are aware of where the wood that supports our homes is grown, and the processes it goes through before reaching us?
In exchange for greater convenience, many things in modern society have become mere objects of economic exchange. Unless something is especially rare or unique, we tend not to consider its background—who made it, how it was made, or whose hands it passed through. Advances in fossil fuel–based materials such as plastics, along with global production, distribution, and communication systems, have made it possible for us to obtain and consume countless goods easily and unconsciously.
For more than half a century, we have enjoyed a lifestyle in which we can get what we want when we want it, live comfortably indoors regardless of the season, and travel freely across borders. While this may seem like a prosperous and convenient way of life, the cost has been significant. Our activities have placed a heavy burden on the Earth, contributing to climate change and species extinction.
In recent years, these impacts have become increasingly visible, and many of us feel that continuing as we live is no longer an option. We are being asked to recognize once again that we live within the cycles of nature—and to rethink the way we live. How do our daily actions benefit from nature, and what effects do they have in return?
If we could see these connections and impacts almost in real time, we could adjust our behavior accordingly. In this sense, being able to “reveal and predict the connections and circulations of lives (understanding what is connected to what, and what may happen next)” can become a powerful trigger for change.
At the same time, human society is facing widening gaps between the wealthy and the disadvantaged, leading to increasing division and conflict around the world. These issues are deeply connected to lifestyles that rely on excessive resource consumption. Just as we reassess our relationship with nature, we must also reconsider our relationships with one another.
“MEGURU GA MIERU”
This phrase represents our approach to re-evaluating all forms of connection: between nature and people, and among people themselves.
By bringing together researchers and the general public from diverse fields around a shared purpose, we aim to combine knowledge and put systems in place that allow society to “MEGURU GA MIERU.” We believe that the more we can “MIERU”—make connections visible and understandable—the closer we come to solving complex social challenges.
The Communities of Life Forum contributes to the realization of a sustainable society by continuously pursuing the concept of “MEGURU GA MIERU.”。
The Communities of Life Forum (Minamisanriku INOCHI MEGURU MACHI GAKKAI)
The Communities of Life Forum (Minamisanriku INOCHI MEGURU MACHI GAKKAI) is a gathering where researchers, local residents, companies, and students come together in Minamisanriku Town to share knowledge and experiences centered on the concept of “MEGURU GA MIERU.” This phrase refers to revealing and predicting the connections and circulations of lives. Through the Communities of Life Forum, Minamisanriku Town promotes “INOCHI MEGURU MACHI ZUKURI,” a community-building approach that values and protects the connections and circulations of lives as the foundation of a sustainable society.
While traditional academic conferences focus on sharing research outcomes within specific disciplines, achieving “INOCHI MEGURU MACHI ZUKURI” requires a different approach. Building a truly sustainable community calls for interdisciplinary dialogue that goes beyond individual fields of expertise and directly engages with real social challenges faced by local communities.
By bringing together researchers and the general public in open discussion, the Communities of Life Forum (Minamisanriku INOCHI MEGURU MACHI GAKKAI) serves as a place to deepen understanding, refine ideas, and collectively shape a shared vision for the future. Through collaboration, dialogue, and the exchange of diverse perspectives, participants work together to identify pathways toward a sustainable future that everyone can support.
Why Minamisanriku?
Located in northern Miyagi Prefecture, Minamisanriku Town is a small coastal town facing the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by rich forests, fertile land, and abundant marine resources.
In the years following the Great East Japan Earthquake, Minamisanriku’s recovery efforts have been closely tied to environmental sustainability. The town became the first in Japan to receive ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) certification for environmentally responsible oyster farming. It had already obtained FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) certification, which recognizes the proper and sustainable management of its forests. As a result, Minamisanriku is the only town in Japan to hold both ASC and FSC® certifications.
Minamisanriku Town has also introduced a biogas system that turns food waste—once incinerated using energy—into valuable resources. Food waste is converted into liquid fertilizer used to grow local rice and vegetables, while the methane gas generated in the process is reused as a renewable energy source, creating a cycle with minimal waste.
Guided by its future vision, “Minamisanriku: MORI SATO UMI HITO INOCHI MEGURU MACHI (A town where life is interconnected and circulated among forests, towns, the sea, and people),” Minamisanriku Town continues to rediscover and strengthen the connections between nature and daily life. With “INOCHI MEGURU”—the circulation of life—as its guiding principle, the town serves as a living example of how communities can thrive in harmony with their natural environment.。
Our activities
Annual Meeting of the Communities of Life Forum (Minamisanriku INOCHI MEGURU MACHI GAKKAI)
The Communities of Life Forum (Minamisanriku INOCHI MEGURU MACHI GAKKAI) provides researchers with an opportunity to share research findings from a wide range of fields related to “MEGURU GA MIERU”—revealing and predicting the connections and circulations of lives that shape our society—in a clear and accessible way. It also serves as a place for meaningful exchange, bringing together researchers, the general public, and people engaged in community-based activities from across different regions.
Developing New Leaders
In conjunction with the annual meeting of the Communities of Life Forum, we organize training sessions and learning programs that help participants deepen their understanding of research and develop the skills needed to apply scientific knowledge effectively in society. Through these opportunities, we aim to nurture the next generation of leaders who will contribute to building a sustainable future.
Information
About Membership
We welcome participation from anyone who is even slightly interested in realizing “MEGURU GA MIERU” and who would like to work with us.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have about us.