Japanese Urban Permaculture Guidebook is published!!!!

本が遂にできました〜！！！

東京アーバンパーマカルチャーのブログに

今から詳細を書く予定。

FINALLY

Tokyo Urban Permaculture's first book is out!!!

!WoW!

This experiment in permaculture designing an urban permaculture book was an amazing success. The design challenge was how to make a Japanese urban permaculture book without actually writing it! And how to design a situation where people would share their gifts freely, and receive joy from it. This book was a way to put my experiences from permaculture, nonviolent communication, and gift economics to practice. I don't fully understand how it all happened but now there is an amazing book, crowd-sourced, crowd-funded, and exceptionally beautiful. A glorified zine!

Over 20 professional editors, writers, and illustrators were involved in this project, many who gifted their work, and about 380 people funded this project. It is a 400 person book project. And, while the book is self-published, my friends at MM books are leveraging their social capital to place our books at sympathetic (empathetic?) stores! Not only that, we are asking the stores to buy the books from us, meaning before its on the shelves, we've already sold them! I don't even know who is involved and doing what anymore. Its a project that keeps giving. And isn't that the world we want to live in? To plant seeds and harvest abundance? Thats the world I want to live in.

I hope this will revolutionize the Japanese permaculture movement, and transform the urban cultural landscape. The party continues....

PS If you want to learn about my ideas on gift economy and giftivism click here

PPS I'm doing an impromptu book release party in the Bay Area at the beginning of February 2015. I'm bringing about 15 copies.

(R)evolution

 Picture from my first book publishing party at a straw-bale temple

that will be one of the many examples for Japanese urban permaculture.

Here are some samples from the book.

*there are a total of 184 pages.....Wow!

Illustration by fellow Bullocks intern Paul Kearsley from Terra Phoenix Design

Below is what I wrote on 11/11/2014 in the midst of the crowd-funding campaign for my/our book. It gives some context about what this was all about. 

Hi all,
this is one of my most exciting projects that I have embarked on. A crowd-sourced, crowd-funded, gift economy style urban permaculture book. The main goal was to create a book through permaculture design about urban permaculture and cultural change. As co-existence revolutionary (my title in Japanese), I'm really trying to find ways to inspire people to live compassionately and creatively so that we can care for all beings. I want to present it attractively, I want it to be oozing with FUN, and I want people to know that its happening!!!

The chapters are EDIBLE, DIY, EDGE, GIFT, STOP. These are the hot topics of my work and what I see in the sphere of global activism. From guerrilla seed planting to burning man to meditation flash mobs. All the fun but deeply meaningful sprouts of hope that I see all over the world. I want to share it far and wide, and I'm starting with Japanese in urban contexts. Its such an untapped resource!

If you want to support me to make this book happen, we are currently trying to raise 2,000,000 yen, roughly $20,000, to self-publish. We reached our first goal of 1,500,000 yen a couple of weeks ago (woohoo!), but realized that the total cost is closer to 2,000,000 yen (thats why it says we are beyond 100% of our goal). Just a week left to go!!!

The crowd-funding site unfortunately has no easy way for non-Japanese contributions so if you want to support me, please send me a donation via paypal. If you would like to contribute to the  and receive a book, please send me $35+ and your address! I'll send it by mid-Febuary.

TOKYO URBAN PERMACULTURE BOOK PROJECT

-over 30 people involved, most are professional gifting their time and skills
-includes all the solutions that I'm spreading, permaculture, mindfulness, Nonviolent Communication, gift economy, and political activism
-conversations with leading activists in each of those fields in Japan
-we will self-publish with the support of crowd-funders to make this a people's project and keep the gifts flowing. 

Book Intro 

(the actual book is in Japanese)

This book is an invitation to change the world that we live in. It was not created to merely be a consumable product, but designed as a tool to inspire compassionate action.  I want you to join me, and the millions of people around the world, who are dedicating their lives to practicing compassion for all beings. Our goal is to co-create a future where all people and all life matters—a world that is ecologically sustainable, socially just, and spiritually fulfilling.  I want each reader to know that you are invited on this exciting adventure, and that your diverse gifts are essential for this movement of love to flourish. And, we’re going to have fun!

The following pages are a collection of “seeds” with an enormous amount of potential to grow. In order to unleash that potential, the seeds need to planted, the sprouts to be watered, and the fruits to be celebrated. It’s all experimental and if things don’t go exactly as expected, let’s harvest the learning! This process of cultivating our consciousness is at the heart of our (r)evolution.  

CROWDFUNDING FOR MY 
URBAN PERMACULTURE BOOK

official site for the crowd funding in Japanese
https://motion-gallery.net/projects/TUPcrowdfunding


*click above to see sample pages

GIFTS for support (aka perks)
500 yen : electronic updates

3000 yen : + The Book

5000 yen : + a special message thanks card

10,000 yen : + select seed pack and invitation to the publishing party (Jan 2015)!

30,000 yen : + your name in the book as honorary supporters

50,000 yen : + personal 1h workshop / consultation via Skype (permaculture, NVC, gift economy)

150,000 yen : + full workshop or presentation (*venue and transportation costs must be provided)
  and 5 recommended book set

300,000 yen : + Tomohiko Murakami's limited edition designer book case

Nonviolent Communication Leadership Program

日本語はここ

Hello everybody who cares about life!

I want to share a very exciting opportunity, a journey of self-discovery, healing, and ultimately real social change. A path of compassion and understanding.

Ever since I learned about Nonviolent Communication during my college years, I have been convinced that this is a powerful and effective path toward a compassionate world. I gained clarity on how we can solve violence on a personal and structural level. The more I learn and practice NVC the more I see the light a in world of much darkness.

Last year, with the help of many wonderful people, I was able to participate in the NVC Leadership Program hosted by Bay NVC. It is a one year program consisting of weekly tele classes and 3 weeklong retreats. It was quite a big decision to take the program, and I already had done a 9 day international intensive training before, so I was a bit hesitant at first. But, I took a leap of faith and it was truly a most transformative gift that was given to me, and I would love to share that opportunity with as much people as possible. 

The program is for those with an understanding and experience with NVC, and seeks to create a safe-place to explore and "live" the consciousness. The quality of trainers are phenomenal, the location is relaxing and full of love, but most essential is the experience of practicing as a dedicated community. To really examine your edges, to practice being authentic, and to support others in the same way through empathy. It feels like a family dedicated to openness and compassion. 

Some unique features about the program is that it is year long. That means you have a community to support you for a long time! The retreats are times for intense growth and transformation, but between the retreats you can experiment with practicing in "normal life". Then come back to the retreat with all your questions and struggles. Another unique feature is that there are many assistance to support your learning, and emotional state. When you are struggling with something heavy, often there is an assistant there to support you. I remember quite vividly moments where people were triggered and left the room, only to be quickly followed by a willing assistant. Beautiful. Imagine a world where we were always looking out for each other, helping us love ourselves for who we are, and liberate ourselves from judgements. 

I learned how little I understood NVC, how much more there is to learn, what it means to "live" NVC. I love myself more, I have more choice in life, and I can empathize quite naturally. Its no longer a technique. I have a sense that I have grown as a human being, and my compassion has more depth and commitment. This year I'm joining as a voluntary assistant to support others have this experience, and to grow even more. Exciting!!!

Ultimately, this is an impossible attempt to share a rich and beautiful experience, but please consider the program. The trainers and the assistants are super dedicated, and there is so much love that I felt from them. There is still a space for this year, and there is possibility to  negotiate some of the conditions (e.g. starting in June rather than January). If this year is not realistic for you then you can try next year. What ever your situation, if you really want to do this, I'm sure we'll find a way to make it happen.

For details please see http://lp.learnnvc.org (website is plain but the experience is rich)

Hope to see you there

Very warmly

Kai

Below are pictures of the venue and staff

I love California!!!