Our Origin
The INOW Program was born in 2020 from a desire to bridge visitors with the rhythms of everyday life in Kamikatsu, Japan’s first zero-waste village. Founders Terumi Azuma, Linda Ding, and Kana Watando, later joined by Sil Van de Velde in 2021, shared the conviction that tourism can be more than sightseeing. It can be a tool for learning, reflection, and exchange.
We started INOW because we saw a gap: visitors were inspired by Kamikatsu’s pioneering zero-waste practices, yet few had the chance to truly connect with the people and stories behind them. We wanted to create a space where travelers and locals could meet as equals, share knowledge, and learn from one another’s lived experiences.
About INOW
INOW is an educational program based in Kamikatsu, Japan’s first Zero Waste Village, with a mission to connect people from around the world through shared learning and reflection on sustainability and conscious living.
Acting as a bridge between Kamikatsu and the wider world, we bring together old and new ideas to inspire an international network of individuals who care deeply about environmental issues and seek to create meaningful change.
Through hands-on, community-based programs, INOW offers opportunities for participants to broaden their perspectives and explore how we can design societies that are more circular, mindful, and just.
INOW Team
Our team is made up of a small group of individuals who are passionate about facilitating immersive educational, cultural, and natural experiences. Our team is experienced in organising and facilitating programs in Kamikatsu for educational institutions, companies, media, and travellers. In collaboration with our community teachers, we share unrivalled knowledge of local culture and heritage, and Kamikatsu’s ambition as a zero-waste town.
Sil Van de Velde
Sil, originally from Belgium, brings global experience in education and sustainable tourism. He holds a Master’s in Sustainability and Tourism Management and is a Certified Climate Coach. After working across four continents and starting the Tourism for Justice project with Sahrawi refugees, Sil moved to Kamikatsu in 2022. At INOW, he is passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences that connect visitors with the local community and inspire new ways of thinking about sustainability.
Kana (Chan) Watando
Kana has a background in studying and working across different countries, giving her experience working closely with people from diverse languages and cultures. She holds the same Master’s as Sil’s. She is passionate about climate action, sustainable development, and education. In 2020, Kana moved to Kamikatsu to learn firsthand about local sustainability practices and rural life. Originally from Canada, Kana has Japanese and Hong Kong heritage.
Terumi Azuma
Born and raised in Kamikatsu, Terumi is the chef and owner of Cafe polestar, a Zero Waste accredited business in Kamikatsu. Her mother, Hitomi Azuma, was one of the founding members of the Zero Waste program in Kamikatsu, and her passion for sustainability became a great inspiration in Terumi’s life. What Terumi loves about Kamikatsu is that despite it being such a small town, there are so many possibilities.
reimagining our relationship with waste
At its heart, INOW is about reimagining our relationship with waste, consumption, and community. It is about showing that intentional actions—whether in a Kamikatsu or a city on the other side of the world—can ripple outward and inspire change.
INOW Awards
crQlr Award Winner 2021
Good Life Prize
crQlr Award Winner 2021
Good Life Prize
We are thrilled to announce that INOW was a winner of the first-ever crQlr Awards for projects that are helping to design the circular economy. INOW was a winner of the “Good Life Prize” category, showcasing how lifestyle is an important aspect of circularity.
Japan Travel Awards 2024
Best Transformative Travel
Japan Travel Awards 2024
Best Transformative Travel
This program equips travelers with a deep understanding of the logic and cultural aspect behind Japan’s first ‘zero-waste town’ local policies and how we can all learn from it to address the climate change emergency. Through interactions with residents and local business owners, this program provides food for thought about complex matters that do not necessarily need to be complex.