Our first interview with Mr. Yoshinobu
Our first interview with Mr. Yoshinobu was at noon during school, via line (a social app). We were excited about this interview because it is the first time we can learn about MOA Taiwan and its mission through first hand material. We show our interview work in a main point form with quotations from transcript.
Q1: Why did Mr. Okada, founder of MOA, founded MOA in the United States instead of his hometown Japan?
A1: In 1935, Mr. Okada proposed his blueprint of an ideal world. He founded MOA in the United States, because the U.S.A is a cultural pot. Thus, He believed that if he wants to “share his idea to the world”, America will be a great place to start his plan.
Q2: Why did MOA come to Taiwan?
A2:MOA is an international organization. Taiwan has a closed relationship with Japan. In addition, Taiwan has advanced agriculture. Therefore, MOA came to Taiwan to promote its idea.
Q3:What were some challenges MOA Taiwan ever had to overcome?
A3:MOA puts a lot of effort in its three undertakings: Okada Purifying Therapy, Natural Farming and Natural Food, and arts and cultural operation. After food scandal event, Taiwanese began to watch out their daily diet. Therefore, the promotions of Natural Farming and Natural Food were very successful in Taiwan. However, since Okada Purifying Therapy is an unconventional therapy, which does not base on western medical principle, it is very difficult to convince people to believe in the effect of Okada Purifying Therapy. But MOA Taiwan won’t give up so easily, they will continue to promote Mr. Okada’s idea of happiness.
Q4:How does MOA promote the concept of Natural Farming and Organic Diet in Taipei?
A4:Mr. Yoshinobu thought about the response to the question for a short while. He told us that since Taipei is an urban city, there is limited amount of farming land. Thus, MOA Taiwan focuses on educated the public on the topic of the benefit of organic diet. They did more campaign on Organic Diet than implementing Natural Farming in Taipei. Regardless, MOA has help farmers on the Yang Ming Mountain in Taipei to farm in a natural way.
Q5:Compare to other countries, how does Taiwan do on the implement of Natural Farming and Organic Diet?
A5:Mr. Yoshinobu said that Taiwan did a “pretty good job” on the implement of Natural Farming and Organic Diet. He said that majority of Taiwan people have good understanding on environmental protection and Organic Diet. Especially after the food scandal event, people are more concern about health. To pursue a healthy diet, they buy more organic food. However, Mr. Yoshinobu told us that compare to Taiwan, Thailand and Brazil do an even better job than us. First, the amount of farmland is restricted in Taiwan due to urbanization. Second, chemical fertilizer and pesticides are commonly used by Taiwanese farmers due to their low price. In Thailand and Brazil many farmers couldn’t afford the price of chemical fertilizer and pesticides. Due to the two reasons above, implement of Natural Farming isn’t that easy in Taiwan. Fortunately, Taiwanese people supports the promotion of organic diet, so MOA Taiwan is able to implement of Natural Farming and Organic Diet in Taiwan.