Do you know Ohkunoshima?

2/19/26

How much do you really know about Okunoshima?

Is it just a fun place filled with rabbits? That is likely the only image you have of it.

The rabbits on Okunoshima are not managed by anyone; they are, in effect, left to roam wild.

The rabbits dig burrows and sleep deep within the thickets.

Whether the weather is hot or cold, they have little protection from the elements. It is inevitable that their health will deteriorate during periods of extreme heat or severe winter cold.

There are no shelters or safe havens for them.

The rabbits rely entirely on food given to them by tourists.They will eat anything tourists offer—even bread and sweets that are harmful to them.

They also love vegetables, but it is all too common for them to fall ill—sometimes fatally—from overeating.

Baby rabbits, in particular, can quickly develop gastric stasis and pass away shortly after you have left the island.

Some visitors even accidentally step on rabbits that are clinging to their feet in search of food.

This is not a matter that can be resolved with a simple "I'm sorry."

Many rabbits that are stepped on suffer broken bones. Injured rabbits are often driven out of the group; they either starve to death or succumb to infections resulting from their wounds.

Instinctively, the rabbits establish territories, and most spend their entire lives within those boundaries. Dominant rabbits attempt to monopolize the food supply, intimidating—and sometimes even attacking—weaker individuals. If a rabbit gets injured, there is no one there to provide medical care.

The rabbits are frequently chased by children. In the process of chasing them, children often trample and injure the animals. There is a ceaseless stream of rabbits that lose their lives after being stepped on, or after being picked up and subsequently dropped.

I have personally witnessed numerous rabbits that died as a direct result of children's actions. Some rabbits are trampled and killed instantly.

Given that the overwhelming majority of visitors arrive with the mindset of visiting a petting zoo, how many people truly care about the lives of these rabbits?

It is likely unrealistic to expect tourists to behave responsibly in a location where there is absolutely no animal management in place.

The tourism industry on Okunoshima—which relies entirely on the sacrifice of its rabbits—has far too many issues that need to be addressed.

Please send your feedback to the City of Takehara and the Ministry of the Environment.

In @junkohiking profile in Instagram, you will find links titled:"Voice to Takehara City""Voice to Ministry of the Environment"Ministry of the Environment (MOE) Email

Address:REO-CHUSHIKOKU@env.go.jp

The collective power of many voices is what drives change.