In this beautifully photographed book, the children of a small village provide an unusually powerful introduction to the Japanese language and culture. - Howard Gardner, Harvard University

IN A REMOTE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE CALLED TOHO, unknown to most in urbanized Japan, an unlikely group—the local children—has published a book to open the eyes of the world. Art and Life in Rural Japan presents a vivid portrait of life in depopulating Japan through the eyes of its youngest residents.

In stunning photographs and simple first-person narrative (presented in both English and Japanese), the children of Toho make clear that they would like to stay there forever. Yet the odds are against it. Children under 15 made up only 13 percent of Japan’s population in 2009. And in rural villages with declining economies, the plunge is even starker.

Their elementary school is closing, after more than 100 years of educating their forebears. A single yellow train chugs daily across three “eyeglass bridges” linking Toho village with the outside world. Unrelated families form close bonds to eat and play together with their treasured young ones.

Created in 2005 when two neighboring villages combined for a federal tax advantage, Toho holds 2,749 residents in its 20 mountainous miles, making it the smallest such “merged village” in Japan. One party to the merger was Koishiwara, renowned for its traditional stoneware pottery made for 400 years out of the rich local clay. The other, Hoshuyama, is famous for its terraced rice fields and clear spring waters.

The children describe their local traditions in loving detail. Their words and photos record the potters using 17th century techniques to craft beautiful mingei stoneware for everyday use. (Some are closing their kilns for want of children to take their places.) They show us the cycle of the rice harvest from the newly planted sprigs of May to late September, when plants hang on long racks to dry in the sun. We see the folkloric statues carved from centuries-old giant cedars felled in a historic typhoon 20 years ago. We watch kids catching frogs in rice fields, and practicing on taiko drums to perform at the summer festival, as did generations of children before them.

Powerful and poignant, Art and Life in Rural Japan is a treasure of local history, above all. Yet its dual-language presentation also entices learners of either Japanese or English to follow along in the new language with eager interest.

The book emerged from a project carried out by a Harvard-trained educator, Cyrus Rolbin, in collaboration with WKCD’s worldwide service-learning program known as “In Our Global Village.” Not surprising, then, that its final pages are filled with fun exercises to help readers of all ages recall the lasting lessons that we have learned from our young teachers.

Proceeds from the sale of Art and Life in Rural Japan support education in Toho's remaining school and WKCD's "In Our Global Village" program.