Rabbits hide their pain 9/9/26 One life-threatening danger for the rabbits of Okunoshima is the way they are treated by children. To most children, the rabbits are merely moving toys. They pick them up, grab them roughly, poke them with tree branches, and chase them around while brandishing sticks. A rabbit being chased panics and darts unpredictably from side to side. Consequently, a child may accidentally trample it, and the rabbit quickly disappears from the child's sight.

Following the trial regarding the mass killing of rabbits that occurred between 2024 and 2025, the rabbits on Okunoshima were reclassified as "animals subject to humane treatment"; however, they remain ownerless, non-native animals. Neither in the past nor at present have the island's rabbits received any management or care, and there are no plans to alter the Ministry of the Environment's policy regarding them. Given that 90% of tourists visit Okunoshima specifically for the

Matsuzaka was legendary rabbit on Ohkunoshima The color of each eye was different He was not able to stand up the night before he passed. 9/5/26 The rabbit known as Matsuzaka-san. He was a male—a beautiful rabbit with one blue eye and one green eye—and I heard he was named after the actress Keiko Matsuzaka because he resembled her. Matsuzaka-san had fathered a great many offspring and was a long-lived rabbit who had reached the age of five. He lived life at his own pace withi

Beach Mama had skillset to survive on Ohkunoshima island. 9/1/26 The rabbit we called "Beach Mama"—who lived at the swimming beach—was a highly intelligent animal that had given birth many times; whenever she lost a mate, she would quickly find a new one. In this area, crows would perch on the branches by day, scouting for rabbits, while wild boars roamed at night; consequently, these rabbits were far more alert to predators than those living in front of the main building. Th

Crows are always looking for food 8/28/26 Crows are known for their intelligence, but the crows on Okunoshima are skilled hunters. While they once merely scavenged for leftover food or carcasses, over the years they have evolved to prey on live rabbits. Using their exceptional powers of observation, they target rabbits that are sick or injured, pecking at them whenever the opportunity arises; once they judge the prey to be sufficiently weakened, they deliver the killing blow,

When first found, Cheeky was all alone She was very slow in eating Her cheek was getting day by day like a baloon They had to drain pus from her cheek She endured tough treatment for over 3 weeks 8/27/26 We named the rabbit with the swollen left cheek "Cheeky." Often chased by others, Cheeky struggled to eat enough; perhaps due to dental issues, the rabbit ate too slowly to keep up with the rest of the group. To ensure Cheeky got enough food, it took two people to feed Cheeky

Hana chan struggled with Pasteurella as long as we knew her She used to look up when she was not doing well and couldn't breathe well. Hana chan's partner was head over heels for Hana. Last time we saw Hana chan in June, 2024. 8/25/26 A female rabbit I named "Hana-chan" lived in the area in front of the hotel—a spot said to have the highest concentration of rabbits on Okunoshima. This area is also home to many rats, meaning the rabbits essentially coexist with them; sighting

His injury was by far the worst we've seen His left abdomen had deep gash He was skin & bones when found He was hiding away from other rabbits Large abscess was formed around his butt and he went missing shortly after 8/23/26 Memorable Rabbits Part 7 Zakkuri It was a rabbit that had sustained a severe, deep gash on his left abdomen. Although there was exposed, sharp wire where the protective fencing in its habitat had broken, the true cause of the injury remains unknown. Aft

What is paradise for domestic rabbits? 8/22/26 Okunoshima is an island situated in the Seto Inland Sea. Despite its dark history, the scenery is reminiscent of a tropical paradise, leading one to imagine that the rabbits living there must be truly happy. However, Okunoshima does not provide an environment where domestic rabbits can survive without human intervention. Water sources on the island are limited, and it has been verified and proven that the predominantly sandy soil

Size of her tumor was breathtaking SOS post done before leaving the island Her tumor was reduced in size significantly by over a month of medication After surgical removal of her tumor, she regained the quality of life 8/21/26 A rabbit on the West Coast that had a large tumor on its ear. The size of the tumor was breathtaking. She was all alone but fortunately, she held high rank in the territory, so she was rarely chased by others. Posts about the rabbit had been appearing

Little Boss was found struggling on the ground He was getting by till a few days ago although his neck was tilted With loss of balance, he was totally bedridden and needed help 24x7 care started for Little Boss 8/19/26 The very night we buried Visi-chan on the island, we received word that a rabbit was in distress. It was Little Boss. Although he had developed a head tilt some time ago, he had managed to get around until then. However, starting that night, Little Boss complet

The rabbit was writhing in agony when found Unable to eat or drink, the rabbit went into convulsion not much treatment was done at hospital, hospitalization was refused 8/16/26 Memorable rabbits Part 4 (Visi chan) I found a rabbit near the visitor center early in the morning, writhing in agony. Her body was convulsing, and it seemed there was nothing to be done. It appeared unlikely to survive much longer, but it was a Saturday—a day when tourists flock to the area. Unable

Rapo stopped eating as a result of GI stasis Rapo after recovery from GI stasis 8/12/26 Many of the rabbits on Okunoshima are friendly. However, a rabbit named Rapo, who lived in the open area near the pool, struck me as—in a sense—a classic capricious, fickle rabbit. This rabbit was incredibly cute and extremely popular. Although the rabbit looked like a girl, he was actually a boy; because of this, he had to move from territory to territory, struggling quite a bit to find a

Life after falling ill was rough for Necky His left eye was full of dirt due to constant contact with the ground This posture was the only way he could rest 8/9/26 The rabbit, whom we named Necky in 2022, suffered from Torticollis so severe that his head was twisted all the way down, bringing his face nearly to the ground. He had apparently once been the boss of his territory; the tears in his ears bore witness to the fierce battles he had endured, revealing him to be a rabbi

When Kaito was healthy back in February 2026 Kaito was grossly underweight and carrying huge abscess before rescue in July 2026 7/31/26 Regarding medical rescue operations from Okunoshima, some argue that rabbits with no chance of survival should simply be left on the island. Why is that? A rabbit with no hope of recovery is often unable to eat and is in a state where it cannot even be aware of the other rabbits around it. The surrounding rabbits can do nothing but remain nea

7/19/26 Summer on Okunoshima is long and sweltering. The heat on this island in the Seto Inland Sea is truly tropical; the thermometer at the No. 2 Pier often registers a higher temperature than the official reading for Takehara City shown on an iPhone. Amidst this heat, the rabbits struggle desperately to survive. They try to cool off by digging into the ground and lying flat against the earth. They spend much of the day asleep, remaining motionless in the shade. Not a few r

Injured rabbit after fight I was looking back at photos of the rabbits on Ohkunoshima—going through thousands of them, one by one. So many rabbits that hold special memories for me appeared . As various memories came flooding back, I found myself unable to hold back the tears. That one died, too. And this one. Every time I returned to the island, there were rabbits I would never see again—precious lives I can now only behold in photographs. A rabbit with a sprained leg. One w

Devastating injury on right side of face Type of severe injury you can barely watch 6/25/26 What is it like to be eaten alive by maggots? How did the this only 1kg rabbit who just passed away get injured? Suffering from such severe facial injuries—come to be in this state? The wounds were extensive, covering the area near the ear and extending to the eye, which appeared completely destroyed. The damage was too widespread to have been caused by a single bite. It couldn't have

severe injury on right side of her face 6/25/26 First of all, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the veterinarian and staff who provided medical care for Kinatsu, the critically ill young rabbit. Please be advised that the photos starting from the third image are distressing and graphic; please view them with caution. Some of you may be considering reporting this situation. However, this is a reality stemming from the fact that humans fail to properly care for th

sick baby rabbit 6/20/26 I cannot help but feel conflicted whenever I see social media posts about Okunoshima featuring cute photos of rabbits and captions about how adorable and soothing they are. I can imagine that for first-time visitors or those who have only been a few times, such posts stem from a lack of deep understanding; they are simply tourists who do not know the island's true situation. But what about those who visit regularly and post content that portrays the i