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Life Onboard | LAST UPDATE February 10, 2010 | |
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Nakamura Ryuichi’s quest to answer this question began when he was just six years old. Gathering the cremated remains of his grandfather in traditional Japanese burial rights, he was confronted with mortality and prompted to search for meaning. He put the same question to Peace Boat participants as the 67th voyage drew to a close. As the final guest educator to join the voyage, Mr Nakamura said he was aware that participants were trying to reconcile the information and experiences encountered on the voyage with their lives back on land. It was a voyage that introduced them to the struggles of landmine victims in Cambodia, the meager existence of slum dwellers in Kenya and the vulnerability of street children in Morocco. It also explored the impact of our lifestyle and consumption patterns on the wider global community. A few weeks before the end of the voyage, many participants were contemplating changes that would positively affect their lives, community and the world. Mr Nakamura suggested a change of pace. “Time is our most valuable asset”, Mr Nakamura explained. Contemporary life is defined by a race for material possession under the illusion that this will lead to happiness. The competitive, profit driven culture impacts our health, relationships and independence. He introduced participants to the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH). GNH bears no relationship to the wealth of a nation, measured by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He called on participants to re-examine their priorities and to shift their focus to what they valued the most. He was certain that upon reflection they would find it was not material possessions. For Mr Nakamura, meaning is found in improving the lives of others. He is particularly concerned with the impact of the toxic chemicals on our health. Beginning with mercury induced Minamata disease in Japan, cancers from the Chernobyl nuclear accident in the Ukraine and his own bout with Pancreatic Hepatitis, the merit of organic produce came into sharp focus. He has spent the last two decades exploring and promoting the organic industry in partnership with producers in developing countries under fair trade arrangements. While he endorses efforts to improve the quality of life for citizens around the world, he cautioned against the view that the financially poor were less fortunate. In fact Mr Nakamura believes that their wealth in time and happiness exceeds that of more prosperous economies. Mr Nakamura celebrates the fact that he has sacrificed greater financial prosperity in return for a life rich in relationships and spiritual wellbeing. He sums up his philosophy in the phrase “Happy Slow Culture”. There are five concepts embedded in pronunciation of the words: happy, peace, local, slow and culture. “In the end”, Mr Nakamura explained, “it is not about what we get from the world, but what we do to make life better for those who will follow.” NAKAMURA Ryuichi is the founder of Organic Coffee, Japan and President of the organic tea import company Wind Farm. In 2004, he was awarded Honorary Citizen of the City of Brazil for his contribution to the organic coffee industry in that country. His NGO, Namakemono Club is inspired by the efficiency of the sloth and creates awareness about the advantages of “slow”. Recently he has expanded his activities to include sustainable lifestyles. He currently resides in a communal eco-village in Fukuoka, Japan. |
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