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TWIST–SIIF Immersion Gathering: Japan 2026
September 18 - 21 2026
Kobe & Nishiawakura village, Japan
Can a community of people who trust each other enough to think (and act!) differently together be the most powerful force for positive systems transformation?
This September, we invite the TWIST Members to travel to Japan for an immersive gathering designed to build exactly that: the capacity to listen, sense, and act at the intersection of human and natural systems.
Objectives
The journey is designed for an intimate group of TWIST members (approximately 20 participants), with the aim of fostering trust, deepening relationships, and encouraging new ways of perceiving and relating to one another.
Community relationship-building: Create an opportunity for TWIST participants to practice a systems-oriented approach through deep listening in the lived context of rural and urban Japan. The local space becomes a backdrop and a learning partner that helps us notice relationships, patterns, constraints, and possibilities.
Inner and outer exploration: Design a container that supports reflection and inquiry. Participants will be invited to listen inward, connect with others, and explore the relationship between Self and Place. The intention is to build the capacity to relate more attentively and listen intentionally.
Why Japan?
We want to step away from traditional Western frameworks to shed light on the unique perspectives of systems changemakers orienting their work to the local context. We will step into a place where change is happening, using a Japan-lens to understand how local, regional, and global systems are deeply intertwined.
By engaging with the concept of Satoyama (the integration of human and ecological systems), we will explore how land, culture, and livelihoods co-shape one another over time.
Experience different (non-Western) perspectives on systems change and community.Japan Lens
Local–Global Connection
Sense how change at local, regional, and global levels are deeply interconnected.Be in a place where change is actively unfolding as opposed to observed from a distance.Retreat in Motion
Is this program for you?
Curious to know more about the program? Click on Book a Conversation to find a time to join a conversation with TWIST members to share more about the program and explore how it can support your interests and work.
The Journey: Deep Listening & Sensing
The core intention of this gathering is to build your "systems orientation muscle". We will practice Deep Listening across three vital levels:
Individual (Self): Tracking what is present, reactive, and meaningful within your own practice.
Group (People): Sensing what becomes possible when we share attention across different languages and cultures.
Settlement (Place): Attuning to the context of a living system, where the local settlement itself becomes our learning partner.
Program Journey: From Urban Evolution to Rural Resonance
We have designed a three-day arc that moves from the resilience of the city to the deep integration of a mountain village.
Day 1: Kobe – Emergence & Reconstruction
Our journey begins in Kobe, a city defined by its ability to evolve and rebuild.
Building the Container: This day is dedicated to giving ourselves space to arrive, settle, and reconnect with ourselves, before turning outward. From there, we’ll begin getting to know each other and building a sense of community as a group.
Connecting with Place: We start by experiencing the history of reconstruction, learning firsthand how a Japanese urban system has the ability to adapt after profound change and natural disasters.
Awakening: Expect a soft start, time to arrive, to breathe, and to connect alongside moments for conversation.
Days 2 & 3: Nishiawakura Village – Systems in Harmony
We then transition to Nishiawakura, a village actively reimagining its relationship with land and livelihood.
Retreat in Place: We step into a "place where change is happening" to sense-make how local and global systems are intertwined.
Human & Ecological Integration: We will "listen to the forest" and engage with the concept of Satoyama - the traditional Japanese system of human-nature integration.
Co-Shaping Over Time: Through direct experience and the voices of local stakeholders, we will explore how human and ecological systems are co-shaped over time.
Focus: Regional Revitalisation in Nishiawakura Village
A highlight of our immersion is a deep dive into Nishiawakura village, a community that serves as a living laboratory for investing for systems change. Here, we explore a real-world initiative led by SIIF in partnership with A0 (A Zero) Group, one of several systems change initiatives SIIF carries out with various partners through its Systems Change Collaborative (SCC).
Our exploration is built around the provocation: “How can communities rich in nature also help people and nature thrive?” At the core of this journey is the concept of Satoyama—the Japanese tradition of working at the intersection of nature and humans.
A Radical Partnership: The A0 Case Study
In Spring 2024, SIIF became a shareholder in A0, marking a landmark impact investment designed to support systemic solutions for rural communities. This partnership offers a rare, honest look at the complexities of systems-oriented investing:
The Investment: Born from a deep respect for nature and local community after a rigorous due diligence and site visit process.
The Challenge: While some parts of the A0 Group meet expectations, the nature-based businesses—those at the very heart of the Satoyama mission—often operate in the red or just break even.
The Systems Question: In a field that often demands quick returns, how do we stay committed when nature-based businesses struggle to "thrive" by traditional financial metrics?
Building Trust in Pods
The most profound shifts in perspective often happen in reflective spaces that allow people to experience new and different ways of relating to others and seeing what’s around them. To facilitate this, we will organise our immersion into Pods— small groups that serve as your home base for sensing and reflection throughout this journey. Each pod will be a curated mix of participants, TWIST/SIIF staff, and local members from urban and rural areas of Japan, ensuring that every insight is grounded in diverse perspectives and direct local wisdom.
Access the Journey
Starting from USD $1.750 (inc. VAT) | Approx. €1.512
We're now opening a phase of outreach and conversation to gather interest and sense who feels called to join us in Japan. Ticket sales will open soon; to move forward, the gathering asks for a minimum number of TWIST members to express their interest.
Customising your stay
You will be able to choose your accommodation in Nishiawakura Village from a range of options for Day 2 and Day 3:
You'll also have the option to contribute a little add-on, helping to make this experience accessible and meaningful for everyone who joins.
With thanks to our partners:
