Matsuzaka, victim of tourism

Matsuzaka saying goodbye to his friend

Matsuzaka fathered many rabbits on the island

9/25/23

It has been 10 years since we started to come to Okunoshma. I still can not forget how excited I was to see many rabbits run up to me during our first visit to this island. I just could not realize how things could deteriorate this bad in 10 years.

People poking rabbit nests with tree branches. People climbing walls where rabbit nests are and destroying them potentially killing babies. People reaching hands into rabbit nests hoping to catch them. When rabbits don’t eat the food shoved at their nose, people get frustrated and start hitting and kicking them. People chase rabbits and end up stepping on them.

Vast majority are kids doing these things while their parents ignore their behaviors. Parents are okay with kids actions as long as they have a good time.

There’s no control on the island to protect rabbits. No park rangers or people with authority. The island has only volunteers like us who tell people not to mistreat rabbits and get yelled back if we say anything.

Matsuzaka rabbit did not have to die.

He was chased and cornered by kids into the bushes where he lived, where he got stepped on and his hips were broken.

Matsuzaka was 5 years old, a very popular rabbit but not as agile as he used to be and probably could not escape this persistent chase by kids. Michael witnessed multiple chases on Matsuzaka and other rabbits and told people to stop. 

We have come to the island many times over the years to help sick and injured rabbits. We explained to people what to do and not to do many times. Hoping that with education, people will change but nothing changed.

People still chase rabbits and over feed them and rabbits end up being injured, sick and ultimately die. Even we could save one rabbit, three still died.

We realized that our efforts had no impact.

As Michael said, it's like trying to put out a fire in a high-rise building with a short household hose.  

While many companies make profits off the rabbits, rabbits are paying with their lives.

Not one yen goes to the rabbits or their care.

Injured or sick rabbits as a result of human cruelty are not rescued or treated. They simply end up dying within days if not overnight.

The only thing that is protected are businesses who exploites rabbits. Okunoshima became an island of animal abuse.

This should never be tolerated. 

I hear the rabbits voices screaming every day "Protect Me, Help Me!”