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Masanobu Fukuoka (福岡 正信 Fukuoka Masanobu, Fukuoka Shōshin^{[† 1]?}) (2 February 1913 – 16 August 2008) lived in Japan, living the lifestyle of a Japanese farmer within nature and a natural–philosopher, actively and widely communicating his practical realisations. His many specific activities included educator (先生 sensei^?), writer, naturalist, calligraphy–drawings–poetry–art creator, researcher, speaker across Europe, USA and Asia, leader of re-vegetation of desertified lands in Europe, USA, Asia & Africa, professional biological scientist early in working life, and more. In general, polymath.

These quotations of his ultimate dream and goal, philosophical or spiritual kinds of goal, in other words meta-physical kinds, not only physical nor material kinds of goal, distinguishes his practise as ultimately “Green…Oriental natural philosophy”, and distinguishes him as an “Oriental natural” philosopher–farmer, instead of as only a commercial or materialist farmer.

Founder of no-till no-herbicide grain cultivation in contemporary terms^{[citation needed]} in parallel with various individuals worldwide, and in continuity with traditions of many peoples’ societies around our Earth continuing to advance ancient no-till nature farming practises-cultures, including for example many indigenous peoples’^[1], Chinese peoples’, Indian peoples’ and Japanese peoples’ continuity since ancient times. More generally his systems, commonly in English get referred to as “The Natural Way of Farming” or Natural Farming, Do Nothing Farming, ‘Fukuoka Farming’, or the ‘Fukuoka Method’.

Creator in Japanese, of more than ten books, of scientific papers, essays, poetry, lectures, television documentaries and interviews, patents and Iroha song-verses^[2]. Published scientific papers at least as early as 1937, books at least as early as one self-published in 1947, and the apparent next book, better known in 1958. Television documentaries and interviews on NHK (Japan’s national public broadcaster) as early as 1976^[3] or earlier, and 13 or more programs recorded from 1976 onwards^[4]. Of his Japanese books five at least, have published translations to English. Of his Japanese books having a translation to English, three at least, of those and some more of his books not yet translated to English, have some translations to languages including: Greek, Thai, several Indian-subcontinent languages:Malayalam Marathi Gujarati Telugu Bengali Hindi Tamil Kannada, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Catalan, Philippines-Tagalog,Chinese, Serbian, Croatian, Turkish, Korean, Estonian, Russian, etc.

Life

Trained as a microbiologist and agricultural scientist by some of the most renowned biological research scientists in Japan then. He began his career as a research scientist specialising in plant pathology. In 1937 at about “age 25”: “In an instant I had become a different person “^{[† 3]}; experiencing liberation from impediments to reaching enlightenment^{[† 4][r 2]} and then therefore profound doubt of modern ‘Western’agricultural-science. Immediately, the next day, he resigned from his research scientist and plant quarantine job; Returning to his family’s farm in the island of Shikoku in southern Japan in 1938 to demonstrate his enlightenment experience in practise by its implementation in his family’s farm, initially with some of his father’s organic citrus orchard. From 1937 consciously devoting the rest of his life to expressing hisenlightenment experience, including his, at once practical and philosophical natural way of farming^{[r 3][5][6][7]} in 1938 initiating doing “shizen nōhō (自然農法^?) nature farming”. In liberated awareness practises such as his, at once: tangible practical working activities –actions–, varying methods, empirical observations, subjects, objects, hypotheses, theories, religions, spiritualities, profound philosophies and so on – do not separate, don’t separately–exist from each other, except as fragments of reality–awareness–nature^{[r 3][5][7][8]}; All occur indivisible, inseparable in nature – reality, including at once human-nature and the nature of the Earth and universe, at once physically and spiritually,metaphysically^{[r 3][5][7][8]} – in Japanese shin do fu ji (身土不二^?, “Body and Earth are not two”^[9], literally: 身 body, 土 earth, 不 not, 二 two). In 1947 he further defined, wrote-up in papers and his first book, established, and “wholeheartedly devoted himself” to shizen nōhō (自然農法^?) Nature Farming (—a nearer–to–correct translation to English from his Japanese 自然農法^{[10][r 4][† 5]}); Also deftly titled natural, “do-nothing“, Wú wéi, “no-action” or ‘not doing’ farming.

Masanobu Fukuoka defined nature farming systems’ practises according to required inseparable principles^{[† 6][† 7]} based on evidence, disproving ‘Western’ agricultural science conventions:

• human cultivation of soil or plowing or tilling disproof –unnecessary, evidently– as is any use of powered machines^{[r 5][r 6]}
• prepared-fertilizer applications disproof –unnecessary, evidently– as is the process of preparing compost^{[r 6][r 7]}
• weed eradication disproof –unnecessary, either by cultivation or by herbicides, evidently–, instead only minimal weed suppression with minimal disturbance^{[r 6][r 8]} by cutting low with long-handled kama (鎌^?, Japanese sickles-scythes)^{[† 8]}
• pesticides‘, herbicides‘ applications disproof –unnecessary, evidently– ^{[r 6][r 9]}
• pruning of fruit trees disproof –unnecessary, evidently– ^{[r 6][r 10]}

More widely around our Earth he devoted his life to expressing his enlightenment experience and doing nature farming by reseeding ecosystems into areas of man-made deserts, and teaching thousands of people including farmers and children in many places, in India, U.S.A., Nepal, Africa including: Somalia Tanzania Kenya, Greece, France, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Italy, Austria, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, China, Afghanistan, and so on.^{[r 2][r 11][11][12][13][14][15][16]}

The timing and circumstances of his going beyond modern ‘Western’ agricultural science, parallels the new movements, in Japan from 1935 to “Fertilizer-free Agriculture” –no fertilizers, no pesticides and no animal manures– by leader Mokichi Okada, changed-in-name tonature farming in 1950^{[r 4]}, and in the 1940s in Europe and the USA to organic farming and gardening, by leaders like Albert Howard, Eve Balfour, J.I. Rodale and Ruth Stout.

He distinctively defines nature farming from organic farming or ‘permaculture‘ by his practises according to required inseparable principles(detailed above)^{[† 6][† 7]}; These, his required inseparable principles in turn stem from at their “core” from following “the road back to nature, bearing in mind an Oriental natural philosophy” mu (無^?)^[17] and mui (無為^?)^[18][19] (simplified Chinese: 无为; traditional Chinese: 無爲;pinyin: Wú wéi), described in his English translation below:

The Ultimatum of God Nature The One-Straw Revolution A Recapitulation

…

PART 2 THE ROAD TO NATURAL FARMING [page 197]

…

D. From Organic Farming to Natural Farming [page 205]

In the future, American agriculture will probably grow even larger on business capital, but on the other hand, people who are inclined to using natural methods will probably progress from organic to natural farming.

The problem, however, is that the distinction between organic and natural farming is still not generally understood. Of course, scientific farming and organic farming are not that different, and fundamentally both can be called scientific. Consequently, the boundary between them is unclear.

The major objective of the international conference I attended on this [1986] visit to the U.S. was to assess the current world situation and to determine in which direction to move in the future. In more concrete terms, the goal was to examine how various farming methods now being practised, such as permaculture, organic farming, and other methods based on new ideas, relate to each other and to what extent they can act in concert.

I may just be feathering my own nest, but as far as I can see, the only way is to follow the road back to nature, bearing in mind an Oriental natural philosophy. I believe that in doing this, we will establish techniques that go beyond our present technology. Although this philosophy still takes various forms and names, it is clear that the thought underlying it is my “Green Philosophy” as I described it in The One-Straw Revolution.

It is fine to turn gradually from organic farming onto the road that leads to anti-scientific farming. It is fine to set our sights on farming that perpetuates itself infinitely and on a return to nature, even while enjoying life on a designed farm. But these must not end up as microscopic techniques and should not be used as temporary fads. Even though we have these at our command, at the core there must be a natural philosophy, in order to establish a farming method that will become the great principle of an agriculture that continues infinitely.

^{[r 12][† 9]}

— 1992 わら一本の革命・総括編「神と自然と人の革命」 English translation 1996 The Ultimatum of God Nature The One-Straw Revolution A Recapitulation -page 205
— 1984 自然に還る English translation 1987 The Road Back to Nature-Regaining the Paradise Lost -older version of this quotation, pages 362-3
He received “The Desikottam Award, India’s most prestigious award” from the hands of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1988^{[r 2][12][20]}. In 1991 during his second visit to India, he talked with Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, who came to Prime Ministership after Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated.

Also in 1988, he received the “Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service”^{[r 13]}, often considered Asia’s Nobel Prize:

In 1998 he received an associated US$10,000 grant from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund^[21], who established the annual award in 1957 with an endowment to the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation. The grant was a contribution toward the publication of a textbook, “Natural Farming – How to Make Clayballs.”^[21], which he didn’t proceed with “because of advanced age”, returning the grant in 1999^[22].

At the 1997 Earth Summit+5 (Rio+5) forum, March 13–19 in Rio de Janeiro, it was decided to award Masanobu Fukuoka the Earth Council Award, received in person at a ceremony in Tokyo on May 26^[23], it “honours politicians, business persons, scholars, and non-governmental organizations for their contributions to sustainable development.”^[20]

As an elder at the age of 92, he continued to lecture when he could, such as at World Expo 2005 in Aichi Prefecture, Japan^[24]. Furthermore on 2 February 2006 for his 93rd birthday: “some friends are celebrating in Tokyo with his video message.”^[25] Furthermore on 7 May 2006, he gave a fine hour-long dialogue with Kanamitsu Toshio (金光寿郎^?), including extensively discussing and explaining hisIroha song-verses^[2], on Japanese television station NHK^[26][27]. Fukuoka Masanobu (福岡 正信^?, Masanobu Fukuoka) died in 2008 on August the 16th, at the age of 95.^[27][28]

Curriculum vitae of active service in brief

• 1913 – Born, in Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku (island), southern Japan.
• 1931 – Matsuyama Junior High School (松山中学^?) graduation.
• 1933 – Gifu Prefecture Agricultural College (High School–University) (高農農学科^?) graduation, was a student under tuition of eminent Professor Makoto Hiura.
• 1934 – Yokohama Customs Bureau, Plant Inspection Division (横浜税関植物検査課^?) work career, under the supervision of ProfessorEiichi Kurosawa, pathology researcher, renowned for being the first person to isolate gibberellin (plant hormone) – with many significant implications; he regarded Professor Kurosawa as a father.
• 1937 – May Spring – Enlightenment experience; Next day resigned, from Yokohama Customs Bureau; Many dialogues trying to convey his enlightenment experience, meditation, wandering –western Japan, Yufuin outside Beppu –Kyūshū (island) southern Japan.
• 1938 – Spring – Return to the family farm to take up farming. Initiating Nature Farming (自然農法^?). End-up after only a short time due to ensuing War.
• 1939 – War years; Kōchi Prefecture agricultural experiment station (農業試験場^?) work including farming research & food-production.
• 1940 – Spring – Married Ayako, together having five children over successive years.
• 1947 – End of the war; Taking up farming again – Nature Farming (自然農法^?) wholehearted devotion.
• 1950 – Rice & Barley continuous succession no-till farming accomplishment – Nature Farming (自然農法^?) establishment.
• 1972 – Creates “緑の哲学” (literally: Green (verdure) Philosophy) self-published 359 page book of practical-philosophy, theory & practical-ways’ actual-methods of doing-practise, –publication announcement date 1972 April 25 (–he brings attention to this as an under-appreciated fact in later writing, 2001^{[† 10]})
• 1975 – Creates “自然農法・わら一本の革命” (literally: Nature Farming・Straw One-stalk’s Revolution) published by Hakujusha (柏樹社^?).
• 1979 – July–August – First journey overseas, with Ayako (his wife), to U.S.A., “The two leaders of the health-through-macrobiotics movement in America are Michio Kushi & Herman Aihara in California. It was through their good graces that I was able to tour America in 1979.”, for about 40 days with Mr. Larry Korn (& friend?); Including University of California Berkeley & LA, Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, Lundberg Family Farms; meeting with the United Nations – UNCCD –including Mr. Maurice Strong – who encouraged his practical involvement in the “Plan of Action to Combat Desertification”; New York and surrounding states; Boston & Amherst CollegeMassachusetts & so on; sowing seeds.
• 1983 – Europe, 50 days journey with Mr. Panos (Greek) & Ms. Miriam (Italian), workshops, educating farmers, sowing seeds –Switzerland, Italy with Mr. Giannozzo Pucci also, Austria with Mr. Michio Kushi also, Germany, Holland with Mr. Thomas Nelissen also, France.
• 1985 – Northern hemisphere summer – Forty days in Africa, Somalia informatively flying through Ethiopia, sowing seeds in areas of desert to re-vegetate them, the then government’s unexpected policies limited him to mainly working in remote villages and an Ethiopian refugee camp.
• 1986 – Northern hemisphere summer – U.S.A. return for nearly 50 days, including keynote speaker in three “international conferences on nature farming”, July–August, 1 Washington state, 2 San Francisco, 3 Agriculture Dept. University of California, Santa Cruz; Many farms’, forests’ & cities’ visits, giving lectures; Return to Green Gulch Farm Zen Center & Lundberg Family Farms California; MeetingMr. Partap Aggarwal from India for the first time; sowing seeds and so on.
• 1987–88 – Desikottam Award, India, given by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at Visva-Bharati University Santiniketan West Bengal; 2 months, lectured in the “Indian Science Congress” and “At seven state agricultural universities and thirty other sites…”; Visited Nature Farms (自然農園^?) including those of Mr. Partap C. Aggarwal with the Friends Rural Centre, Rasulia and of nearby Mr. Raju & Mrs. Shalini Titis, Madhya Pradesh, giving high praise to both farms.
• 1988 – August–September – Ramon Magsaysay Award for public service, with Ayako (his wife), Philippines; Journey among forests, farms, plantations, farmer’s markets & the peace memorial monument.
• 1990 – July – Thailand, propagating nature farming to farmers.
• 1991 – Thailand, collecting seeds for re-vegetating deserts in India with little success, planting seeds on the grounds of the Kanchanapuri childrens’ village school.
• 1991 – November–December – India return, 2 months, sowing seeds in the deserts to re-vegetate them…; viewing Mangrove broadcast seeding sucesses, Ganges River, West Bengal state; Calcutta; New Delhi; Meeting Minister of Environment; Meeting Prime MinisterRao; Minister of Agriculture; Madhya Pradesh viewing earlier seed sowing from aeroplanes; Professor Makino & Sister Nagashimainterpreted & translated; Imphal, Manipur.
• 1991 – Thailand again trying again to collect seeds. Correcting a problem with the seeds planted on the grounds of the childrens’ village school.
• 1992 – Participating in official meetings in Japan associated with & at the time of the Rio Earth Summit, Brazil.
• 1996 – Wet season February– – Tanzania, Africa, journey with Mr. Panos (& Ms. 椿さん?), including sowing seeds in areas of desert to re-vegetate them, observing Baobab-tree & jungle country; 2 days stop off Mumbai India on the way home, incl. met with French–Canadian now–nature–farmer Mr. Jean-Claude Catry & now-health-centre-founder Dr. Vijaya Venkat, etc.
• 1996 – Vietnam, making, teaching & sowing clay seed balls… .
• 1997 – Earth Council Award honours for contributions to sustainable development.
• 1997 – October – India, attending an international seminar to commemorate Gandhi, Gandhi’s Ashram Sevagram (Wardha); 19 days journey, lectured & observed many farms & gardens; Professor Makino interpreted & translated; His Japanese-successor Ms. Honmaled a clay seed ball workshop, with him in attendance, Ms. Morioka assisting, Mr. Raju Titus & many; From Mumbai with Mr. Kisan Mehta re-visiting Mr. Poonamchand Baphna’s nature farm Dahanu, then also Mr. Bhaskar Save’s, Umbergaon Gujarat, giving high praise to both farms; Producing a film of the journey.
• 1998 – Philippines, Nature Farming (自然農法^?) research after 10 years passed, including Ms. Aveliw’s Nature Farm (自然農園^?), made in only 4 years.
• 1998 – Spring March & Autumn – Greece with successors Mr. Panos & Ms. Honma, sowing seeds in areas of desert to re-vegetate them including major efforts for 10,000 ha around the Lake Vegoritis area, Vegoritida, Pella Prefecture; Starting with 2,500 ha; To be completed in Autumn … ; Producing a film of the major seed balls efforts’ journey.
• 1999 – Mallorca Spain, visit, including making & sowing clay seed balls, interviews … .
• 2001 – Autumn – China… .
• 2002 – Autumn October 1–14 – “Nature as Teacher” workshop, Navdanya Farm & Bija Vidyapeeth – Earth University directed by Dr. Vandana Shiva, Dehra Dun Uttarakhand, northern India; On Gandhi Day (Oct 2) he gave the third Albert Howard memorial annual lecture; Successor Ms. Honma attended teaching all to make seedballs & translating; Many attendees (50+) from all the six continents, including “15 Tibetan Agricultural Extension Officers”.
• 2002 – Autumn – Afghanistan, with his successor Ms. Honma he made major preparations in Japan beforehand collecting lots of seeds, he “had planned to spread seedballs in Afghanistan, but isn’t feeling up to it these days (he is barely able to walk). So he sent Yuko”; 8 tons of seed were shipped.
• 2008 – August 16 died.

Select creations

This section requires expansion. (January 2011)

Papers in scientific and Buddhist terms published at least as early as 1937 at age 24, include, in Japanese only:

• 福岡正信 (1937 Aug) “柑橘樹脂病特にその完全時代に就て [(A study) On Citrus gummosis (fungus): specifically in it’s Perfect State (sexually-reproductive state)]” (in Japanese) (PDF) Annals of the Phytopathological Society of Japan 日本植物病理學會報 (The Phytopathological Society of Japan (PSJ) http://www.ppsj.org/ 日本植物病理学会) 7 (1): 32–33 ISSN 00319473http://ci.nii.ac.jp/lognavi?name=nels&lang=en&type=pdf&id=ART0003055436 – he prepared this while working at the Plant Inspection Division of the Yokohama Customs Bureau (横濱税關植物檢査課^?).

• 福岡正信 (1971 July) “私の農法(講演〔「近代農法の反省と今後の農業」セミナーより〕) [My farming ways (A lecture at the “Reflecting on modern-day farming ways and considering the future of farming” seminar)]” (in Japanese) Cooperative Research Institute Monthly Report 協同組合経営研究月報 (Cooperative Research Institute 協同組合経営研究所, Japan.) (214): 19–36ISSN 09141758 http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/40000735157/en/

• 福岡正信 (1989 May) “Template:Nihongo title [Life and Death ―My view of Life and Death―]” (in Japanese) Template:Nihongo title[What is Wisdom?: Buddhist way-of-knowing Present-day way-of-knowing ^{[source needs translation] of title translation}] Quarterly Buddhism 季刊仏教 No.7 Hōzōkan (法蔵館^?) pp. 159- ISBN 9784831802071 http://www.hozokan.co.jp/hozo/bookd/bukkyo/i_0207.html

• 福岡正信 (1991 Nov) “Template:Nihongo title [Sow seeds in the desert]” (in Japanese) Template:Nihongo title [Life’s environment^{[source needs translation] of title translation}] Quarterly Buddhism・Supplementary Issue 季刊仏教・別冊6 No.6 Hōzōkan (法蔵館^?) pp. 52-ISBN 9784831802569 http://www.hozokan.co.jp/hozo/bookd/bukkyo/i_0256.html

• 福岡正信 (1993 Oct) “Template:Nihongo title [Nature/Natural/Spontaneous teaching ?for ?living]” (in ^{[source needs translation] of chapter title translation} Japanese) Template:Nihongo title [“Japanese Buddhism” A Criticism] Quarterly Buddhism 季刊仏教 No. 25 Hōzōkan (法蔵館^?) pp. 130- ISBN 9784831802255 http://www.hozokan.co.jp/hozo/bookd/bukkyo/i_0225.html^[19]

• 福岡正信 (1994 July) “Template:Nihongo title [Nature Farmings’ continuation’s social revolution —The Path Leading to Natural Mind—]” (in ^{[source needs translation] of chapter title translation} Japanese) Template:Nihongo title [Forest’s Philosophy – Toward a new philosophy of religion] Quarterly Buddhism 季刊仏教 No. 28 Hōzōkan (法蔵館^?) pp. 176- ISBN 9784831802286http://www.hozokan.co.jp/hozo/bookd/bukkyo/i_0228.html^[19]

Books with translations to English include the following:

• 1947 mu: kami no kakumei (無　神の革命^?) 1st ed self-publ^[29][30]. Publ 1973 as mu I: kami no kakumei (無 I　神の革命^?). Re-publ 1985 & 2004 Shunjūsha (春秋社^?).
  • ?1964? “Mu 1-The God Revolution” translator ?Alfred Birnbaum?. Japan.^[30][31]
• 1975 shizen nōhō-wara ippon no kakumei (自然農法　わら一本の革命^?)
  • 1978 “The One-Straw Revolution” translators Chris Pearce, Tsune Kurosawa & Larry Korn. Preface Wendell Berry. Rodale Press. 1984– Indian Eng. edns. 2009 30 yr anniv. publ. NYRB.
• 1976 shizen nōhō-midori no tetsugaku no riron to jissen (自然農法　緑の哲学の理論と実践^?)
  • 1985 “The Natural Way Of Farming-The Theory and Practice of Green Philosophy” translator Frederic P. Metreaud. Japan Publications.
• 1984 shizen ni kaeru (自然に還る^?) Shunjūsha (春秋社^?).
  • 1987 “The Road Back to Nature-Regaining the Paradise Lost” translator Frederic P. Metreaud. Japan Publications.
• 1992 wara ippon no kakumei・sōkatsuhen「kami to shizen to hito no kakumei」 (わら一本の革命・総括編「神と自然と人の革命」^?)
  • 1996 “The Ultimatum of God Nature The One-Straw Revolution A Recapitulation” He commissioned an English retranslation & very limited printing^[32].
• and at least nine more Japanese books or major revisions of his books. His first book self-published in 1947^[29][30], and the apparent next one, better known in 1958^[33][34][35]

Translation of philosophy and language

This section requires expansion. (January 2011)

The Chinese: 無為; Traditional: 無爲; Pinyin Roman characters: Wú wéi; Simplified: 无为 phrase of Tao-philosophy origin, widely recognised in ‘the West’, translates directly to this Japanese word pronounced mu i (無為^?, unconditioned…)^[18]. Evidently some loss of some connections of awareness, occurred in use of English translations of his Japanese writing (of mu i (無為^?) -Wú wéi); Compare for example, in the following footnotes’ webpages’ wonderful writing, their different awarenesses of connections between his writings and Wú wéi (無為)^[19][36].

Masanobu Fukuoka writes some articulation, philosophically, of his enlightenment experience, in Buddhist, Taoist, Gandhian, Christian andShinto terms:

• mu (無^?, “non-existent”, “non-being”, “Pure human awareness, prior to experience or knowledge.”, ‘no thing’, his: “nothingness”)^[17],
• mu shin (無心^?, “lacking (defiled) thought”, his: “empty mind”, “no-mind” & “state of detachment”)^[37]
• mu i (無為^?, “unconditioned…”, his: “do-nothing”, his and a widely accepted translation: “no-action”, also un-domesticated)^[6][18],
• mu fun betsu (無分別^?, “devoid of discrimination”, his: “non-discrimination”)^{[† 5][38]},
• shi zen or ji nen (自然^?, “spontaneously”, “original nature”, “suchness, thusness”, “the appearance of true reality as it is, or a thing just as it is.”, “self-existent”, spontaneous nature, innate-nature, nature, “so of its own”, ‘just so’, natural or naturally”, original Chinese reading: zìrán)^[10],
• mu i shi.zen/ji.nen (無為自然^?, unconditioned nature, his “do-nothing nature”, also unadulterated nature, un-domesticated nature)^[39][40]

Parallel identical sentences in both Japanese and English-translation including the words “無”, “無心”, “無為”, “無分別”, “自然” and “無為自然”, and further sentences clarifying and elaborating on them, became available in 1996 with his privately re-translated and published English very limited edition, “The Ultimatum of God–Nature : A Recapitulation” of “The One-Straw Revolution“.

Brief sentences in, Japanese under the heading “「矛盾の誕生」” from page 83, second column^{[† 11]}, and English under the heading “The Birth and Expansion of Contradictions” from page 110, top half^{[† 12]}, respectively, provide parallel-translation quotations juxtaposed below:

Hence from this and additional examples written in his 1996 English Recapitulation and re-translation, the English phrases: “do-nothing”, “no-action” or ‘not doing’, all refer to the Japanese word mu i (無為^?, unconditioned…, Wú wéi). His “do-nothing” does particularly not mean literally do nothing, nor passive, idleness, doing nothing, no work, laziness, no effort, consumerism, complacency, apathy, etc.^[18] – he explicitly calls this non-intervention, laissez-faire or abandonment of nature, in English-translations^{[† 13][† 14][r 14]}; “He reminded us that his techniques are not literally do-nothing. They are more like do nothing against nature”^[6] and come to our small parts of bigger-than-all-of-us god–nature, wherein god–nature coauthors all actions through all of us, each as active small-participants, and credit goes to god–nature, –come to nature–^{[r 3][5]}. God–nature refers in other words to: breath of life, the universal life force in all, kami (神^?) in Japanese, or great spirit in many cultures translated into English words, etc., not–merely to God of Judaism, Christianity, Islam or merely of any one religion. In the 1970s he apparently advised English-translators preparing the 1978 first English edition of “The One-Straw Revolution“, Chris Pearce, Tsune Kurosawa and Larry Korn, to use the English apparent-mystery-phrase “do-nothing” (including often inside quotation marks) for Wú wéi mu i (無為^?, unconditioned…). Seemingly, he intended “do-nothing” as a mystery phrase in English language, to usher readers to ourselves directly realise the meaning, by having direct, non-verbal, ineffable, experiences, as well understood in “Oriental natural philosophy”; Including as manifested in his practise of, and as experienced in the practise of Nature Farming. If this is as it seems, he took an insightful multi-level-meaning-approach to the English translation.

His subsequent reprise, in his Japanese and his English-translation, quote:

Nature farming

Masanobu Fukuoka practised a system of farming he referred to as shizen nōhō (自然農法^?) Nature Farming^{[10][r 4]}; In English translations till now as “The Natural Way of Farming” or Natural Farming for shorthand. In India, “natural farming” is often referred to as “Rishi Kheti (farming as practised by the ancient sages).”^[11][12][41]. Although many of his plant varieties and some of his practises, may relate specifically to Japan and even to specific local conditions there in subtropical western Shikoku (southern island), his philosophy and the governing principles of his farming systems see practical application around the world; Practised with mostly different varieties of plants in different places and climates, as for example in India, in Africa and even in the cold temperate north end of mainland Honshū (island),Aomori Prefecture, far northern Japan, in Akinori Kimura’s^[42] apple orchard nature farming (自然農法 shizen nōhō^?).

Principally his systems minimise the human labour or disturbance, in facilitating as closely as practical, nature’s reproduction of human foods, such as rice, barley, daikon or citrus mixed within biodiverse agricultural-ecosystems. Without plowing, seeds germinate quite happily on the surface if nature’s conditions at each seed’s site meet that seed’s requirements. Considerable emphasis also gets given to practises sustaining of diversity rather than destructive of it. Spiders’ continuing residence in his annual crop fields provides a ‘key performance indicator‘ of sustainability, he points out.

Ground always remains covered. Weeds, ground cover of white clover, alfalfa (medic) and more herbaceous legumes, and sometimes additional deliberately sown herbaceous plants, receive regard as part of the ecosystems of the grains’ crops, vegetables’ crops and orchards.

Masanobu Fukuoka re-invented for the present era and advanced, the art of clay seed balls (粘土 団子 nendo dango^?, literally (粘 Sticky, 土 Earth) –Clay, 団子 Dumplings) also earth seed balls (土 団子 tsuchi dango^?). Clay seed balls are originally an ancient art, known from at least some First American peoples’ practises. Seeds for next season’s crops get mixed together, perhaps with a little humus or sometimescompost, for microbial inoculants, then rolled within the clay to form into small balls.

Iyokan
Iyokan
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Angiosperms
(unranked):	True dicotyledons
Family:	Rutaceae
Genus:	Citrus
Species:	C. × iyo

Amanatsu / Natsumikan
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Angiosperms
(unranked):	True dicotyledons
Family:	Rutaceae
Genus:	Citrus
Species:	C. natsudaidai
Binomial name
Citrus natsudaidai Hayata

In the orchard of naturally-grown iyokan (citrus) trees (伊予柑 – イヨカン iyo kan^?), amanatsu trees (甘夏 ama natsu^?, -a variety of Citrus natsudaidai Natsumikan –a sweet-and-sour summer citrus –also see mikan or satsuma), pomelo or shaddock (文旦 pum tan^?) and several more related citrus varieties, cherry blossoms, peaches, plums, pears, loquats, chayotes or chokos, chinese gooseberries or kiwi fruits, in his Japanese-English: “Morishima acacia” (“モリシマ アカシア”^?) trees, in other words the “Australian native Black Wattle” (Acacia mearnsii, earlier in his time named Acacia mollissima), Meyer lemons and more varieties of lemons, more different citrus varieties,mugworts, chestnuts, persimmons, melias, camphor trees, wax myrtle, camellias, hydrangeas, etc.; Various welcomed weeds; Sown white clover and many more leguminous plant species varieties; Buckwheat or soba, daikon, turnip, sweet potato or kumara, Chinese cabbage,burdock or gobō, rapeseed, Indian mustard, potherb mustard or mizuna, etc.; Many local native wild plant species eg. “many wild herbs”, pines, Japanese cedar or sugi, groves of Bamboo, ferns^[43]; Many more vegetable and herb plant species; All growing together, all receiving regard as parts of the ecosystem. Accordingly also, chickens run free through the orchards. Periodically some ground layer plants including weeds may get cut, low-down, with long-handled kama (鎌^?, Japanese sickles-scythes)^{[† 8]}, and allowed to lie on the surface so the nutrients they contain are returned to the soil, so shading and suppressing (re-)growth of weeds, and hence facilitating the option of perhaps sowing more vegetable or herb seeds, either naked or within clay seed balls, in the area.

In the summer-rice and winter-barley grains’ crops, ground covers of particularly white clover, and also of alfalfa (medic) and more herbaceous legumes grow under the grain plants, naturally providing, –fixing– nitrogen from the atmosphere. As well as these and the weeds, straw from the previous crop covers the topsoil, as mulch.

Each grain crop is sown before the previous one is harvested. This is done by broadcasting the seed among the standing crop.

The result is a denser crop of smaller but highly productive and stronger plants.

For growing agricultural crops, also, the use of prepared fertilizer can be discontinued. For the most part, a permanent green manure cover and the return of all the straw and chaff to the soil will be sufficient. To provide animal manure to help decompose the straw, I used to let ducks loose in the fields. If they are introduced as ducklings while the seedlings are still young, the ducks will grow up together with the rice. Ten ducks will supply all the manure necessary for a quarter acre and will also help to control the weeds. I did this for many years until the construction of a national highway made it impossible for the ducks to get across the road and back to the coop. Now I use a little chicken manure to help decompose the straw. In other areas ducks or other small grazing animals are still a practical possibility.

—Masanobu Fukuoka, 1975 自然農法-わら一本の革命 English translation 1978 The One-Straw Revolution -page 37.

[spreading chicken manure activities] However, from the standpoint of natural farming, it would be preferable and much easier to release ten ducklings per quarter-acre onto the field when the rice seedlings have become established. Not only do the ducks weed and pick off insects, they turn the soil. But they do have to be protected from stray dogs and hawks. Another good idea might be to release young carp. By making full, three-dimensional use of the field in this way, one can at the same time produce good protein foods.

—Masanobu Fukuoka, 1975 自然農法-緑の哲学の理論と実践 English translation 1985 The Natural Way of Farming -page 177 last paragraph.

His practises and philosophy emphasises small scale farming and disproves mechanised-broad-acre farming’s simplistic-suppositions of essential-higher-productivity, of efficiencies and of economies-of-scale; While his family’s-farm’s area overall is larger, larger than the then average Japanese farm area, he wrote of one field of his already established grain crops as an example of small scale farming:

In caring for a quarter-acre field, one or two people can do all the work of growing rice and winter grain in a matter of a few days. It seems unlikely that there could be a simpler way of raising grain. The method completely contradicts modern agricultural techniques. It throws scientific knowledge and traditional know-how right out the window. With this kind of farming, which uses no machines, no prepared fertilizer and no chemicals, it is possible to attain a harvest equal to or greater than that of the average Japanese farm. The proof is ripening right before your eyes.

—Masanobu Fukuoka, 1975 自然農法-わら一本の革命 English translation 1978 The One-Straw Revolution -page 3.

Nowadays, “Fukuoka Masanobu’s nature farm (福岡正信の自然農園 shizen nōen^?)” in Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku, southern Japan has changed primary-hands to his son, gradually during the late 1980s, as he reached an advanced age. In the 1980s he recorded that he and his family “ships some 6,000 crates” of citrus “(thirty-three pounds each), to Tokyo each year” (-totalling in metric about 90 tons)^{[r 2]}. His orchard of natural iyo-kan and ama-natsu-mikan, more related varieties of citrus, of many different fruit trees, vines, shrubs, including more different citrus, of many different types of vegetables, herbs, local native trees, bamboo, shrubs, ferns and more species, and weeds eg.Tradescantia sp., all growing mixed together, has matured through succession considerably over recent decades.

Today the natural iyo-kan and ama-natsu-mikan trees still grow, although some old iyo-kan have finished of old age, replaced by distinct new varieties of fruit for the orchard, with the remaining pre-existing types of orchard and fruit trees, continuing straw-mulched crops’ areas, vegetables’ crops’ areas, still some extensive vegetables under the orchard fruit trees, still bamboo groves, and many pre-existing trees and plants, all at the very least still grow in his family’s “Fukuoka nature farm (“福岡自然農園” Fukuoka shizen nōen^?)”; Now with an area ofGinko (trees), with places growing Shiitake mushrooms in tree bases, with the distinct new varieties for the orchard area, including Limes,Grapefruits, Feijoas, Avocados, Mangos, and so on, all together with the previous, providing abundant harvests for his son’s family, substantial family, community and visitors’ employment, and apparently reliable-prosperity for healthy people –healthy ecosystem–^{[44][45][46][47][48][49]}.

Re-Greening Deserts

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See also

Key Quotations and Words

This section requires expansion. (January 2011)

Footnotes

Citations

This section requires expansion. (January 2011)

References

This section requires expansion. (January 2011)

• 1947 mu: kami no kakumei (無　神の革命^?); First edition self-published in 1947 and again self-published in 1973 as mu I: kami no kakumei (無 I　神の革命^?), 280pp., 21 cm; New publishing by Shunjūsha (春秋社^?) in 1985 July ISBN 978-4-393-74111-5 and again in 2004 Aug ISBN 978-4-393-74143-6; (Religion (volume) (宗教編 shūkyō hen^?)).
  • 1964? “Mu 1-The God Revolution” translated by Alfred Birnbaum?. Japan. -see footnote 17 above for a link to a full translation of “mu” (any one English phrase, like ‘no thing’, doesn’t do it justice).
• 1958 hyakushō yawa・「fu*」shizen nōhō (百姓夜話・「付」自然農法^?); Self-published in 1958 Oct, 191 pp., 21 cm; – *fu (付^?)-the buddhist reading of the character, see the Digital Dictionary of Buddhism.
  • (Title translation only:) A common-farmer evening-story・(to attach/deliver/hand down) nature farming. In Japanese only, not translated (yet).
• 1972 mu: shizen nōhō (無　自然農法^?) – first edition self-published in 1972. Publication issued by Shunjūsha (春秋社^?) in 1985 Oct asmu III: shizen nōhō (無 III　自然農法^?) ISBN 978-4-393-74113-9 and again in 2004 Sept ISBN 978-4-393-74145-0; (Doing-practise (volume) (実践編 jissen hen^?)).
  • (Title translation only:) mu 3: Nature Farming. In Japanese only, not translated (yet). -see footnote 17 above for a link to a full translation of “mu” (any one English phrase, like ‘no thing’, doesn’t do it justice).
• 1972 midori no tetsugaku – shizen nōhō to riron to jissai (緑の哲学　自然農法と理論と実際^?); Self-published, 359 pp. ISBN?
  • (Title translation only:) Green philosophy: Nature Farming theory and practice. In Japanese only, not translated (yet).
• 1975 shizen nōhō – wara ippon no kakumei (自然農法　わら一本の革命^?); Published by Hakujusha (柏樹社^?) Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan ISBN?; New publishing by Shunjūsha (春秋社^?) in 1983 May ISBN 978-4-393-74103-0 and again in 2004 Aug ISBN 978-4-393-74141-2.
  • 1978 “The One-Straw Revolution” translated by Chris Pearce, Tsune Kurosawa (黒澤常道 Kurosawa Tsunemichi^?) and Larry Korn. English preface by Wendell Berry. Introduction by Larry Korn. Rodale Press, USA. ISBN 978-0-87857-220-5. Out of print; New 2009 printing edition (see below).
  • 1984 “The One-Straw Revolution” translated by Chris Pearce, Tsune Kurosawa (黒澤常道 Kurosawa Tsunemichi^?) and Larry Korn. Indian printings. Indian (English) preface by Partap C. Aggarwal re–publisher from The Friends Rural Centre, Rasulia, Hoshangbad, Madhya Pradesh; Introduction by Larry Korn. Re-printed many times from 1992– Other India Press, Mapusa, Goa.ISBN 81-85569-31-2; His 1992– preface notes it has translations into many Indian-subcontinent languages of: Malayalam (1986) Marathi Gujarati Telugu Bengali Hindi.
  • 2009 “The One-Straw Revolution” translated by Chris Pearce, Tsune Kurosawa (黒澤常道 Kurosawa Tsunemichi^?) and Larry Korn. English preface by Wendell Berry. 30 year anniversary new printing. New introduction by Frances Moore Lappé. Introduction by Larry Korn. Short 2 half–pages afterword from Masanobu Fukuoka 1986. New York Review Books USA. ISBN 978-1-59017-313-8.
• 1975 shizen nōhō – midori no tetsugaku no riron to jissen (自然農法　緑の哲学の理論と実践^?); Published by Jiji tsūshinsha (時事通信社^?, Jiji Press Co.), Tōkyō, in 1975 Dec, 310pp. ISBN 978-4-7887-7626-5.
  • 1985 “The Natural Way Of Farming-The Theory and Practice of Green Philosophy” translated by Frederic P. Metreaud; Japan Publications. Out of print. ISBN 978-0-87040-613-3.
• 1984 shizen ni kaeru (自然に還る^?); Published by Shunjūsha (春秋社^?), 362 pp., in 1984 Aug ISBN 978-4-393-74104-7; An enlarged and revised edition, 458 pp., in 1993 April ISBN 978-4-393-74114-6; Re-published in 2004 Sept ISBN 978-4-393-74146-7.
  • 1987 “The Road Back to Nature-Regaining the Paradise Lost” translated by Frederic P. Metreaud; Japan Publications, first edition 1987 Aug. Out of print. ISBN 978-0-87040-673-7.
• 1985 mu II: mu no tetsugaku (無 II　無の哲学^?); Published by Shunjūsha (春秋社^?) in 1985 July ISBN 978-4-393-74112-2 and again in 2004 Sept ISBN 978-4-393-74144-3; (Philosophy (volume) (哲学編 tetsugaku hen^?)).
  • (Title translation only:) mu 2: mu philosophy; In Japanese only, not translated (yet). -see footnote 17 above for a link to a full translation of “mu” (any one English phrase, like ‘no thing’, doesn’t do it justice).
• 1992 wara ippon no kakumei・sōkatsuhen「kami to shizen to hito no kakumei」 (わら一本の革命・総括編「神と自然と人の革命」^?); Self-published by Shizenjuen (Shou Shin Sha) (自然樹園 (小心舎)^?, One of Fukuoka Masanobu’s own self-publishing-publisher-names)in 1992 Dec, 230 pp., 26×26 cm ISBN 978-4-938743-01-7; ISBN 4-938743-01-9.
  • 1996 “The Ultimatium [sic] of God Nature The One-Straw Revolution A Recapitulation” -He, himself, commissioned English-retranslation and printing in an extremely limited edition, less than 100 copies, no ISBN, printed by the author hence the publisher name is, quote: “S h o u S h i n S h a (小心舎)”.
• 1997 “shizen” o ikiru (「自然」を生きる^?), includes an interview with Kanamitsu Toshio (金光寿郎^?); Published by Shunjūsha (春秋社^?) in 1997 Feb ISBN 978-4-393-74115-3 and again in 2004 Aug ISBN 978-4-393-74147-4.
  • (Title translation attempt only:) A “Spontaneous/Natural/Nature” Life. In Japanese only, not translated (yet).
• 2001 wara ippon no kakumei sōkatsuhen -nendo dango no tabi- (わら一本の革命　総括編　—粘土団子の旅—^?); Self-published byShizenjuen (Shou Shin Sha) (自然樹園 (小心舎)^?, One of his own self-publishing-publisher-names) in 2001 May, more than 950 captioned photographs from his travels all around Earth and his farm, many reproduced drawings and diagrams, and a full book of text pages also, 271 pp., A4 30x21cm, ISBN 978-4-938743-02-4; ISBN 4-938743-02-7; Re-published in 2010 April by Shunjūsha (春秋社^?)ISBN 978-4-393-74151-1.
  • (Title translation only:) The One Straw Revolution Recapitulation -Journeying [around Earth] with clay seed balls-. In Japanese only, not translated (yet).
• 2009 iroha kakumei uta (いろは革命歌^?, Iroha Revolutionary Verses), Fukuoka, Masanobu’s hand-written classical song-verses and drawings, in pen and ink, also with photographs, one card each for 47 syllables, arranged in the classical iroha-order of Japanese syllables; Includes a booklet with Fukuoka, Masanobu’s introduction and list of life accomplishments, together with the song booklet; In Japanese, bilingually with English-translations – created with many translators & contributors; 53 pages, size: 15×10 cm; His last creation and testament; Posthumously self-published in 2009 Feb 2 (by 自然樹園 (小心舎); 正信自然農法による地球緑化の会 (発売))ISBN 978-4-938743-03-1; ISBN 4-938743-03-5.
• “The 1988 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service. [Award] CITATION for Masanobu Fukuoka. Ramon Magsaysay Award Presentation Ceremonies. 31 August 1988, Manila, Philippines”. “RESPONSE of Masanobu Fukuoka 31 August 1988”.“BIOGRAPHY of Masanobu Fukuoka”. The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation website. (Retrieved 2010-12-15).
• Society for the study of Fukuoka Masanobu Nature Farming, Kyoto University, Japan –reference page by Shōjaku Mutsumi (Shift-JIS Japanese text character encoding), with extensive collected details about Fukuoka, Masanobu’s life work, nature farming and writings (no translation to English from Japanese yet; nearly only Japanese; Retrieved 2010-11-30).
• Toyoda, Natsuko (Sept.–Oct., Nov.–Dec., 2008, Jan.–Feb 2009 (& Jan.–Feb. 2010)) “Farmer Philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka (1) Humans must Strive to Know the Unknown; (2) What Does Natural Farming Mean?; (3) Greening Deserts by Clay-Ball Seeding; (& brief update)” Japan Spotlight (Promenade section) (Tokyo, Japan: Japan Economic Foundation) (161, 162 & 163 (& 169)) ISSN 1348-9216
• “The Fukuoka Farming Mailing List…created to discuss Masanobu Fukuoka’s revolutionary method of natural farming.” Yahoo! discussion group Members, some active contributors, include some of the world’s best practitioners, according to his documented assessments. “… Discussion of Fukuoka’s books, ongoing projects in Fukuoka Farming, creating and dispersing seed balls, and anything else to do with Masanobu Fukuoka, his life and work are all encouraged. This list was primarily created as a place for people interested in Fukuoka’s methods to network and share resources. Let’s help change the way people think about growing food.” —group description quotation. Useful documents in the files section of this group site. (Retrieved 2010-11-15)
• Hui-Lian Xu (2001) “NATURE FARMING In Japan” Research Signpost, T. C. 37/661(2), Fort Post Office, Trivandrum – 695023, Kerala, India.
• Hui-Lian Xu (2001) “Nature Farming: History, Principles and Perspectives” Journal of Crop Production, Volume 3, Issue 1, pages 1 – 10.

External links

• “A conversation between The Pines and Masanobu Fukuoka” Peek Through The Pines Massachusetts, USA: Blog 1979http://thepines.blogspot.com/2009/07/pines-i-notice-that-youre-drawing.html. Retrieved 2010-11-26
• Aggarwal, Partap C. (2008-02-02) “Introduction to Masanobu Fukuoka’s famous book One straw revolution” Indian Stories For AllWhitefield/Bangalore, Karnataka, India: Blog 2008 Oct http://partapstoriesforall.blogspot.com/2008/10/introduction-to-masanobu-fukuokas.html. Retrieved 2010-12-03 —He organised the first Indian publishing of One–Straw Revolution, with Mr. Fukuoka’s permission, by The Friends Rural Centre, Rasulia, Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh, in 1983–4, on to many more imprints & translations.
• Masanobu Fukuoka practising, in videos; Audio of Larry Korn interviewed on radio about Mr. Fukuoka and about the book “One-Straw Revolution”; Etcetera – collected together, freely available for download, on Internet Archive. (Retrieved 2010-12-4).
• “The Natural Way of Farming” and previously “The One Straw Revolution” Masanobu Fukuoka’s book(s) are available freely from this virtual library. (Retrieved 2010-12-4).
• Natural Farming Centre, Greece (Retrieved 2010-12-4).
• Natural Farming Italy / Agricoltura naturale (Retrieved 2010-12-4).
• Fukuoka, Masanobu; Shibata, Katsuyuki (translator); Aoyama, Hizuru (translator); Gilman, Robert (interviewer); Gilman, Diane (interviewer) (Autumn 1986) “Greening The Desert: Applying natural farming techniques in Africa” In Context: A Quarterly Of Humane Sustainable Culture (Port Townsend, Washington: Copyright (c) 1986, 1997 by Context Institute) Sustainable Habitat 14: 37-http://www.context.org/ICLIB/IC14/Fukuoka.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-30 “an interview with Masanobu Fukuoka, by Robert and Diane Gilman”
• “ON A GREEN MOUNTAIN – With Masanobu Fukuoka Sensei of Natural Farming -Copyright (c) 1995 Jim Bones” His wonderful visit in “Masanobu Fukuoka sensei’s” farm and garden Oct 1994 (2006 archive; Retrieved 2010-12-4).
• Gandhi Foundation on the life of “Masanobu Fukuoka and Natural Farming – by M R Rajagopalan Posted on December 27, 2009”(Retrieved 2010-12-4).
• “Seed Balls” –making, by Jim Bones He visited and learned personally from Masanobu Fukuoka and from his books. (2006 archive; Retrieved 2010-12-4).
• “Seed Balls by Masanobu Fukuoka 1997” YouTube 18:43 long video, caption: “Natural Farmer Masanobu Fukuoka conducts a workshop for making seed balls at his natural farm and forest in Japan.” uploaded by Jim Bones He visited and learned personally from Masanobu Fukuoka. (Retrieved 2010-12-4).
• Masanobu Fukuoka’s influence in principles in humid tropical agriculture, titled: “The Five Principles of Agriculture “ – abstract, quote: “No-Till Permanent Bed Farming – Our 12-year odyssey of discovery led us to conclude something we should have guessed all along. In order for humid tropical agriculture to be both highly productive and sustainable, it must imitate the highly productive, millions-of-years-old humid tropical forest. Roland Bunch, COSECHA, Honduras.” (farmingsolutions.org website; Retrieved 2010-11-22).
• The Plowboy Interview Masanobu Fukuoka July 1982 Mother Earth News magazine, USA. Larry Korn, interviewer and one of the translators of his 1975 book into the 1978 “One–Straw Revolution”, is the so called PlowBoy interviewer; As also written in the setup–words there, the interview was in Amherst Massachusetts in 1979. (Retrieved 2010-12-4).
• “An article on the pioneer of organic farming, Masanobu Fukuoka: Nature – Nature knows best” Life Positive, India. (Retrieved 2010-12-4).
• “The Fukuoka Farming Website”, USA. (Internet Archive search) “Dedicated to exploring Masanobu Fukuoka’s revolutionary method of sustainable agriculture” (Retrieved 2010-12-4).