Summit of SummitsReturn to the Source
The source of peace and prosperity lies within you. In 2026, the world remains fractured, caught in persistent cycles of division and conflict. At the sacred headwaters of the Tone River — Mina-kami, "Everyone is God" — let us return to our own Source and weave a new narrative of economy and peace together.
Apply to Join Us → Masaki's Vision"The source of peace and prosperity lies within you. In 2026, the world remains fractured, caught in persistent cycles of division and conflict. The arrogance of attempting to overwrite the world's diversity with a single, universal justice continues to breed tragedy. The 3rd Summit of Summits takes place in Minakami, Gunma — the headwaters of the Tone River, which runs through Tokyo. Minakami carries a profound spiritual echo in its name: Mina-kami (Everyone is God). At these sacred headwaters, let us return to our own Source and weave a new narrative of economy and peace together."
Masaki Sugimoto — Source of the Third International Summit of Summits
Read the full vision & WAWAWA →
Peace is not the absence of war. It is the ability to go to war and not need to. This holds true for every couple, family, company, community and nation all over the world.
Courage is not the absence of fear. It is the willingness to meet another — and oneself — without armour, and to offer our gift from the summit of our own mountain.
Abundance is not the accumulation of money. It is the knowing that there is enough — when love, care and capital are kept in flow rather than held.
Community is not a network we build. It is what remains when arrogance falls away: a circle in which everyone is seen, and no voice is invisible.
A three-day Open Space summit, from the evening of 4 to 6 October 2026 in Minakami, Japan, for leaders of established communities — designed to strengthen and activate civil society as an intelligent force for peace and prosperity.
Rather than a conference with designated speakers and a fixed agenda, we explore lasting peace and prosperity through Harrison Owen's Open Space technology.
By respecting and interweaving the unique voice of each community, a spirit of communion emerges that values lasting peace and prosperity over war.
We meet, sleep and eat at the headwaters in Minakami, two hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen. The name echoes Yaoyorozu — the Eight Million Gods.
Limited to 30 leaders of established networks and communities — 15 from Japan, 15 from beyond.
The participation fee covers only shared expenses of venue, food and accommodation — nothing for planning or the organising team, who pay the same fee as everyone else.
On the final day we reflect together on the value of this work, playing a version of Charlie Davies' Happy Money Story — exploring how money can serve peace.
Open Space Technology invites self-managed groups, distributed leadership and diversity, and gives everyone a voice. It rests on four principles and the Law of Two Feet.
Change does not require 100,000 people or a head of state in the room. What matters is people who care enough to show up.
We stay with the here and now, releasing every could-have-been, should-have-been and might-have-been.
Inspired performance and genuine creativity rarely pay attention to the clock.
We don't waste time. We do what we have to do, and when it's done, we move on.
The Law of Two Feet — if at any time you find yourself somewhere you are neither learning nor contributing, use your two feet and move to a place more to your liking.
The Third Summit experience extends far beyond the summit itself, offering the rare chance to immerse in Japan's sacred and cultural heart — the mountains of Minakami and the Japanese Alps.
2–4 October 2026
The J.Masterpiece event opens the gathering on 1 October, followed by a pre-tour through Minakami and the Japanese Alps from 2–4 October. Details to follow.
4–6 October 2026
Three days and nights of Open Space at the headwaters — access to the Summit, contribute through Open Space, and stay together in Minakami.
We gather, sleep and hold our Open Space together at two private retreats beneath Mount Tanigawa — one group at a time, around the fire, beneath the stars.
A private glamping villa with a Finnish wood-fired sauna, on a thousand square metres facing Mount Tanigawa — one group a day.
A private glamping retreat with views of Mount Tanigawa, for up to ten — one group a day, free to gather around the BBQ and bonfire.
Source of the ongoing series
The visionary behind the #Masterpiece movement — an author and mystical artist exploring how we create in communion with mother nature and each other.
Source of the Third Summit
A management consultant in leadership, organisation and career development who has served on five company boards in Japan and the US, and is a yoga therapist.
Source of fun
President of two consulting companies across HR, product development, PR and sales. Her vision is to move society from "win-win" to "happy-happy."
Founder of UNITED
Twenty-five years at the United Nations, Managing Director of the SDG Impact Fund, founder of United Cities — now stewards UNITED alongside Alexander.
It is for leaders of well-established networks and communities who:
Through the values they stand for, have no difficulty in moving others and attracting whatever resources and funds are needed for the long term.
Understand that this call is not an opportunity for advancing one project to the exclusion of others, nor a "heroic self-sacrifice" — but a contribution to the greater good.
A circle of thirty leaders, weaving a new narrative of peace and prosperity at the headwaters of the Tone River.
Apply to Join Us →