Looking for something to read? Try Kuni

At BeECO, we are drawn to stories that help us rediscover our connection to place, to one another, and to the living rhythms of the natural world.

We invite you to read along with us as we explore Kuni: A Japanese Vision and Practice for Urban-Rural Reconnection by Tsuyoshi Sekihara, co-authored by Richard McCarthy. This quiet, reflective book encourages us to slow down, notice small but essential connections, and appreciate how life thrives when people and land work together.

Kuni offers a compelling vision of agriculture rooted in community. It serves as a gentle blueprint for healing the divide between city and country, while telling the story of a visionary effort to revitalize a declining rural region in Niigata Prefecture in Japan.

Like many rural areas in both Japan and the United States, this region faced population loss and economic decline in rural agricultural areas. Rather than accept this, Sekihara reimagined how a thriving rural community could look. His philosophy of kuni, meaning community, centers on the idea of being “right-sized.” Instead of constant growth, a kuni seeks balance with economic independence, environmental care, and a strong sense of shared responsibility.

This vision resonates deeply with BeECO. It sparks ideas for urban rural renewal and invites communities like Bethlehem to come together around food, stewardship, and connection to place.

Grounding and inspiring, Kuni is a meaningful read for anyone interested in sustainability, community resilience, and the future of our relationship with the land. Discover its quiet wisdom as we continue to imagine new possibilities for the place we call home.

Kuni: A Japanese Vison and Practice for Urban-Rural Reconnection