Shortly after her arrival in Japan, Dr. Marlène visited the Tohoku region in late March.

On March 28, 2026, she participated in the 5th Slash-and-Burn Agriculture Forum held in Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture, where she interacted with practitioners, researchers, and students engaged in the revival and development of slash-and-burn farming practices across Japan.

On her way back, she visited Dr. Gohei Hayashi, a specially appointed research fellow at the TUFS African Studies Center, who continues his research while living in Yamagata Prefecture. He introduced her to the lifestyle of mountain villages closely connected to forests and snow.

Having extensive field research experience in rural Cameroon, Dr. Marlène showed a strong interest in the conditions and way of life in Japan's mountain communities as well.