COMPLETION REPORTThe Community Based Development of Rice Straw Craft in Japan: Experiences andDevelopment Pattern Learned for Rice Farming Community in Indonesia (study caseKlaten Regency)
Pandu Purwandaru(+1)
Lecturer
Universitas Pembangunan Jaya
Research Activities
This research aims to understand the approach of rice straw organizations in Japan in developing theirevents as a foundation of creating a rice straw community in Indonesia. In achieving the data, we visitedseveral established rice straw organizations such as Inagaki Wara no Kai in Aomori Prefecture,
Warashibe in Yokohama city, and Mingikai in Kawasaki city. To understand the Japanese rice straw
culture, we visited Misato Town History and Folklore Museum in Akita Prefecture. In these locations,
we interviewed both leaders and members of straw organizations, as well as joined the workshops formaking of rice straw crafts.
Findings
We conclude that there are 2 focuses on their activities: preservation and development. As preservation
activities of traditional artefacts, organizations create workshops and craft-making demonstrations.
While developments of rice straw culture, activities create a new festival, straw contemporary arts, newproducts based on traditional crafts, and an event in collaboration with University.
Rice straw organizations have simple management structures, such as president, vice president, secretary,
accounting, public relations, and members, in which the relation between organization members arebased on strong kinship. In terms of organization category, since occasionally they are receiving profit,
they are positioning themselves between NPO and profit organization. The external role is very importantin supporting straw organizations, for example, local government facilitates the office, event area andprovides operational funds for cultural preservation activities.
Rice straw is an important material to be considered by organizations, however, it is almost impossible
to see rice straw because recently farmers are harvesting rice using machinery tools. To solve thisproblem, Inagaki Wara no Kai performs self-cultivating rice to produce their ideal straw. Meanwhile,Warashibe and Mingikai which located in the city purchase straw from craft materials suppliers.
Results
From the strategy of organizations mentioned above, there are values produced from their activities:
economy, environment, culture, creativity, and happiness. This resulted a sustainable event performed
each year. These organizations also participated mostly by the local community both as members or event
participants. For the young generation, it becomes a new experience, while for the elderly the event
brings a memory about meaningful life with nature in the past.
Recommendation
A highly motivated person in straw crafts is important to a pioneering straw organization in Indonesia.
In the first phase, the initiator should learn in-depth the straw production methods and cultural potencies
to strengthen the references in running the organization. Besides establishing a close relationship withlocal stakeholders, cooperation with external elements also needs to be established to support
organizations related to the facility, economy, and research.
Action Required for the Future
To expand the activities at the village level, we have made a commitment to cooperate with local andexternal elements to create a farming culture-based festival with activities such as rice straw andtraditional farming workshop and art performance which will be held in Klaten Regency during theharvesting time at the end of the year 2020.

Publication of the Results of Research Project:Verbal Presentation (Date, Venue, Name of Conference, Title of Presentation, Presenter, etc.)
Date: 12 November 2019, Venue: Mursal Esten Theater, Padang State University, Name of theConference: Art and Design Conference, Title of Presentation: Rice Straw Based Festival-Learned
from Inagaki Wara no Kai, Aomori Prefecture-, Presenter: Pandu Purwandaru
Date: 19 October-17 November 2019, Venue: Serambi Pirous Gallery Bandung, Name of Exhibition:
CONNECTIVITY, title of works: Japanese Rice Straw Culture, artist and curator: Pandu Purwandaru
Date: 16 December 2019, Venue: Omah Trasan, Klaten Regency, Name of Event: INGKLING
international art and design exhibition, title of workshop: Workshop of making rice straw dolls,
mentor: Pandu Purwandaru
Date: 15 May 2020, Venue: Online Seminar by Google meet, Name of Event: Online Event byJapanese Study Center UNS, title of Presentation: The Rice Straw Culture in Japan and Central Java(Indonesia), Presenter: Pandu Purwandaru
Thesis (Name of Journal and its Date, Title and Author of Thesis, etc.)
Name of Publication: CONVASH 1.0 (Scopus Indexed), 2nd November 2019, Title: The Rice Straw
Organization in Japan: Preservation and Development Methods of Japanese Rice Straw Culture,Author: Pandu Purwandaru, Feng Tien Wei, Akira Ueda.
Name of Publication: IDEALOGY Journal (accepted), to be published September 2020, Title: Japanese
Rice Straw Community Approaches in Developing Rice Straw Culture (Study Case, Inagaki Wara noKai, Aomori Prefecture, Japan), Author: Pandu Purwandaru, Eka Permanasari, Akira Ueda.
Book (Publisher and Date of the Book, Title and Author of the Book, etc.)