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5/14/26 Criticism of the situation of the rabbits on Okunoshima Island often focuses on the Ministry of the Environment, which manages the island; Takehara City, where the island is located; and Kyukamura, a hotel that operates facilities on the island. Personally, I believe it's true that each of these entities bears some responsibility for the rabbits. Takehara City and Kyukamura, in particular, must be profiting from the money spent by tourists who visit specifically to see the rabbits. This is why they are criticized for not giving anything back to the community. Very recently, I received an email from a former Kyukamura employee. The email described the dilemma and painful feelings they experienced at the time. They lived and worked on the island, seeing the rabbits every day. They likely had more opportunities than anyone else to see injured or sick rabbits. They were prohibited from feeding the rabbits by the Ministry of the Environment, and were unable to take injured or sick rabbits to the vet. Even if they could, it was limited to taking injured rabbits to their rooms in the dormitory to check on them. With what feelings, one wonders, did the staff members receive the directive from the Ministry of the Environment stating: "Since these are wild rabbits—and were raised in the wild—do not interfere with them in any way"? Had they dared to make any move to help the rabbits, they would likely have been fired. The email read as follows: "Whenever I had a day off, I would leave the island to buy food pellets and vegetables for the rabbits; then, taking care not to get caught, I would pack them into a pet carrier and bring them back with me. During the day—or after dusk had fallen—I would stuff the food into my backpack and go around the island, feeding them." Upon hearing the words, "I wanted to care for them openly," I realized that the staff at Kyukamura were, in their own way, victims as well. I can only take my hat off to this former employee who—despite having to worry about prying eyes—continued to care for the rabbits out of genuine concern for their well-being. When will true salvation come for the rabbits?　I find myself constantly questioning myself.

Baby rabbit, Koyomi after external fixation surgery on fractured leg 5/10/26 A complex fracture in a baby rabbit weighing a mere 385 grams. How many times have I witnessed rabbits hobbling along, dragging their injured legs behind them? For a rabbit suffering from such a fracture, the chances of surviving on this island are absolutely nil. In most cases, they fall prey to natural predators before infection from the injury can claim their lives. Yet, despite this cruel reality, there is almost no one willing to reach out and offer a helping hand. Having witnessed such situations countless times in the past—and finding this particular instance simply too heartbreaking to bear—one of regular commuters, @tokidokitabini , stepped in to carry out a rescue. I believe that actions such as this embody the true spirit of those who visit the island regularly to watch over and care for the rabbits. It is a situation where sick or injured animals are simply left to suffer from neglect. I believe the first step toward improving this reality is for more people to recognize this for what it is: fundamentally wrong. If we truly wish to protect the rabbits of Okunoshima, we must exert greater pressure on the local authorities; otherwise, nothing will ever change. We must not give up. For to give up would be tantamount to abandoning the rabbits entirely. The Ministry of Environment, Chugoku Shikoku office Email: REO-CHUSHIKOKU@env.go.jp

5/7/26 The first photo was taken during the long weekend in February of this year. The rest show what was left behind on the ground: food, food, and more food. I understand the desire to feed the rabbits—I understand it all too well. However, on days when the number of tourists exceeds the number of rabbits, leaving food on the ground is a complete waste unless a rabbit is right in front of you and actively eating it. Rabbits will not eat vegetables that have been placed on the ground and have become soiled with dirt. Furthermore, they are nearsighted and simply cannot see them. They aren't monkeys, after all. Even if you toss the food, they won't see it at all. I’d say their degree of nearsightedness rivals that of a panda. Unless a hungry rabbit happens to stumble upon it by chance, the food you leave behind will either simply turn into garbage or be picked up by volunteers. You must not assume that it is acceptable to leave food behind just because someone else will eventually pick it up. Please try to put yourself in the shoes of the volunteers who have to clean up the food you left behind. Also, consider the fact that the food you went to the trouble of buying with your own money is going completely to waste. The rabbits will approach you on their own when they are truly hungry. If they don't come up to you, please refrain from leaving food on the ground. Instead, offer it only to the specific rabbits that come close and show an interest in eating. But just because they’re eating, you shouldn’t leave extra items behind when you walk away. That’s the key point. Please put it into practice.

a rabbit suffering from heat stroke) 5/6/26 The intense heat of Okunoshima is fast approaching—or rather, it is a scorching heat. The climate on this island in the Seto Inland Sea is, quite naturally, sweltering from May through September. Aside from the shade provided by trees, the island offers no shelters to shield one from the harsh sunlight. Yet, more than the glare itself, what is truly overwhelming is the sheer, unrelenting humidity. Unlike humans, rabbits cannot regulate their body temperature by sweating. Instead, their ears serve as crucial organs for dissipating heat. The rabbits captured in these photos and videos appeared to be either on the verge of heatstroke or already suffering from it. For these exhausted rabbits, even simple measures—such as draping a cool towel over their ears or placing a cold bottle beside them—seem to provide at least some measure of relief. When water is sprinkled on the ground, some rabbits will even lie down right in the wet patch; they are desperate to find any way to cool themselves down. During this season, just imagine how many rabbits could be saved if there were a designated "cooling room"—perhaps a tent equipped with fans—specifically for those suffering from heatstroke. Given that there is available space right next to the bicycle parking area, I believe there are certainly feasible solutions to be found...

Ran chan on the island before the rescue 5/5/26 It has been nearly two years since Ran-chan—a rabbit with a large tumor on her left ear—was rescued in July 2024 from Okunoshima, an island floating in the Seto Inland Sea off the coast of Hiroshima Prefecture. Prior to this, there were many rabbits we had wanted to rescue but were unable to; we carried with us a great deal of regret. However, by participating in medical rescue operations alongside the fellow volunteers who helped save Ran-chan—an effort that has resulted in the rescue of 25 rabbits over a 20-month period (from July 2024 through the end of February 2025)—we have gained a detailed and accurate understanding of the actual health conditions facing the rabbits on Okunoshima. With the aim of preserving a record of these events—and, furthermore, to help a wider audience gain a deeper understanding of the actual conditions on the island—we have launched the website Ohkunoshimarabbitrescue.org (The Truth About Ohkunoshima: Rabbit Island). A link to this site is also included in @junkohiking profile section in Instagram, listed under "Truth behind Ohkunoshima." The site features all rabbits rescued between July, 2024 through Februray, 2026. We have also archived past posts originally shared on Instagram. Moving forward, we intend to continue updating the website to reflect the ongoing progress of our rescue operations. The latest information regarding donations is available on the site; if you would like to contribute toward the medical expenses of the rabbits rescued from Ohkunoshima, we would be deeply grateful if you would refer to that section. Also, special thanks to @bunnyintokyo who provided significant assistance in launching this site.

A severely ill rabbit, living in isolation to escape from the other rabbits 3/27/26 Are the Rabbits of Okunoshima Truly Pitiful? Many first-time visitors to the island fail to notice the "dark side" of Okunoshima. I, too, was once among them. People are thrilled by the sight of so many adorable rabbits flocking around them. It is precisely this experience that likely ensures the island's popularity never wanes. Furthermore, when one sees nothing but photos of cute rabbits on social media, it is entirely understandable—and indeed, only natural—to assume the place is a charming and idyllic destination. Some visitors, depending on the timing of their trip, recognize the deep-seated problems from the very moment they arrive. Others visit repeatedly before finally realizing the severity of the situation, leaving them utterly aghast. By staying on the island for extended periods—witnessing events unfold over the course of several weeks during early weekday mornings, Saturday nights, long holiday weekends, and even on days with inclement weather—we were able to grasp the true reality of Okunoshima. Most people assume that the island's rabbits are being properly managed. Indeed, they would have no reason to suspect otherwise.However, when one observes the rabbits with the knowledge that they are not being managed, they present a completely different impression—one that comes as a shock to many.In particular, those who keep rabbits as pets often wear expressions of bewilderment and disbelief. Even so, many people still argue that living freely outdoors is surely preferable to being confined within a cramped cage. This sentiment, however, tends to arise only when the rabbits appear healthy—running about energetically or interacting harmoniously with one another.Observing this seemingly peaceful and happy scene, many are quick to assert that the rabbits of Okunoshima are not, in fact, pitiful creatures. Conversely, for those like us—who have witnessed countless sick and injured rabbits, and who have endured the agonizing experience of watching them suffer in pain as they slowly succumb to death—the true depth of Okunoshima's moral failing becomes painfully clear. It is a situation that can only be described as utterly cruel. The short-lived rabbits dying on the island are not simply falling victim to "natural selection." It is fundamentally impossible—and indeed, absurd—to expect domestic rabbits, which lack the physical constitution to survive in the wild, to remain healthy and thrive without any form of care or intervention. It is tantamount to telling a domestic rabbit to live in the wild—in an environment where it cannot naturally forage or drink as it would in its natural habitat. I ask you to imagine your own pet rabbit living on Okunoshima Island. Picture an environment characterized by ceaseless territorial conflicts—both within and outside established boundaries—where a rigid power hierarchy dictates who gets to eat and who does not. Imagine falling ill or sustaining an injury, yet having no one to take you to a veterinary clinic; where sickness progresses silently, and a life eventually fades away, unnoticed by anyone. No matter how many perish, new rabbits are born in a ceaseless stream to take their place. To the casual observer, Okunoshima might appear to be an island teeming with rabbits living happily and freely at all times.It is precisely this illusion, I fear—with a sense of utter despair—that serves as the very reason why efforts to improve the welfare of the rabbits on Okunoshima have failed to gain traction.

3/20/26 (The picture captures an early instance where two rabbits attempted to drive Mr. Matsusaka out of their territory.) When we first visited Okunoshima in 2013, the rabbit population must surely have exceeded 1,000. If the current count stands at 400, it certainly felt as though there were at least three times that number back then. (I suspect that once the rabbit population surpasses a certain threshold, it becomes impossible to count them accurately.)As we toured the island, we noticed water basins placed here and there, accompanied by signage. It appeared, to all intents and purposes, to be a well-managed sanctuary where animals were free to roam. It was only later that we learned the truth: the scavenging of scraps, the replenishment of water, and the cleanup of droppings were all carried out by frequent visitors—while the Kyukamura resort, the city of Takehara, and even the Ministry of the Environment (which ostensibly manages the island) remained completely hands-off regarding the rabbits themselves. I distinctly remember that there were far more rabbits missing ears or eyes back then than there are today. Given the sheer size of the population, it was only natural that the number of injured rabbits was correspondingly high. Their desperation for food was intense, and one couldn't help but suspect that some rabbits were simply unable to secure any sustenance at all. I recall that no matter how much food tourists scattered, the rabbit population was so dense that virtually no scraps were ever left behind. Nowadays, however—with the number of tourists far outweighing the rabbit population—days of excessive feeding often result in uneaten scraps being left to rot. What happens when rabbits with strong territorial instincts are allowed to roam freely in a shared space? Naturally, they establish their own territories in which to live. Any rabbit that strays outside its designated territory is liable to be attacked, bitten, and injured. Many of these injured rabbits subsequently contract infections and, after a period of suffering, eventually succumb to their wounds. Although the current population is said to hover around 400, has the fighting actually ceased? The answer is a resounding "No." While the absolute number of rabbits injured in fights may appear lower now, this is merely a reflection of the smaller overall population; the percentage of rabbits sustaining injuries due to territorial conflicts seems to remain exactly the same as it was in the past. Rabbit fights—whether minor skirmishes or major battles—occur daily, at various times throughout the day. One fight I witnessed over the past two or three years was particularly brutal: one rabbit chased another at breakneck speed for nearly five minutes until, in the end, the victim bled out and died. It was a fight to the death. On another occasion—the year before he passed away—a rabbit named Matsusaka (whose story is pinned to my profile) was relentlessly pursued and bitten by two other rabbits. (The video I posted captures the initial moments of that altercation.) When someone attempted to intervene and break up the fight, they sustained a severe injury to their hand. That is just how sharp a rabbit's teeth are. Matsusaka, injured in the attack, went missing for about two weeks but eventually recovered and returned. Yet, despite having miraculously survived that violent rabbit fight, Matsusaka ultimately met his end due to human error. I invite you to read my previous posts to learn the full details of that tragic outcome. It is also beyond doubt that the massive abscess that ultimately claimed the life of Saki—a rabbit rescued in February who passed away in March—originated from a bite wound sustained during a fight.If you visit the island, you are bound to encounter rabbits suffering from abscesses that have swollen into grotesque lumps. Without medical treatment, those rabbits are virtually certain to lose their lives. It is not merely the feeding of the rabbits that creates problems; the rabbits' own fighting causes just as many issues.What happens when animals with strong territorial instincts are allowed to roam free on an island where no one takes responsibility? It is hardly surprising that the chaotic conditions we witness there to this very day are the inevitable result.

I am delicate and can get sick very easily 3/7/26 Unlike dogs or cats, rabbits are not animals that can simply get by on two meals a day. They possess a digestive tract that requires constant activity; a lack of food intake makes them prone to developing gastrointestinal stasis. Some argue that the rabbits on the island need water rather than food, but failing to eat small amounts regularly to keep their digestive systems moving puts their lives at risk. While overfeeding on weekends is harmful, a severe lack of food during the week poses a serious threat to the rabbits' health. Another cause for concern is the reduction in edible vegetation over the past four or five months, caused by wild boars rooting up the turf. If such delicate rabbits are left unmanaged on Okunoshima and forced to subsist on whatever food tourists choose to feed them, it is hardly surprising that young rabbits could easily fall ill. The issue of feeding goes beyond the food itself; the close proximity between humans and rabbits also leads to frequent accidents where the animals are stepped on. Allowing rabbits to roam free on the island without any management is simply not feasible.

3/6/26 — "It’s so moving to see how resilient wild rabbits are—surviving even after fierce fights and injuries."— "I’m deeply moved by the lively spirit of the rabbits on Okunoshima."— "The rabbits on Okunoshima are by no means pitiful creatures." These are words frequently uttered by people who truly do not understand the reality of Okunoshima. Rabbits that sustain injuries in fierce fights often lose their lives. Day viisitors who catch a glimpse of these injured animals rarely give a second thought to the fact that those very rabbits may die shortly thereafter. I would like someone to explain to me: what exactly is there to be "moved" by when watching these animals inflict injuries upon one another? It is true that there are times when they appear lively and full of energy. However, a happy and peaceful existence is by no means guaranteed for them; for many, their short lives come to a premature end. I will say it again and again: the rabbits of Okunoshima are nothing more than a population of domestic rabbits—abandoned by humans—that subsequently bred uncontrollably. Why are their lives so short? It is because they face a ceaseless array of dangers: harsh weather conditions, violent fights among themselves, accidents involving being stepped on during feeding times, and injuries sustained when dropped after being picked up by visitors. In such densely populated areas, diseases like Pasteurella spread like wildfire. I sense that the vast majority of people who visit the island have, from the very start, simply resigned themselves to the fate of the Okunoshima rabbits—viewing their suffering as something "unavoidable."I understand that providing aid can be difficult. However, when it comes to the fragile lives of these rabbits, I implore you not to make excuses or settle for compromise simply because they happen to be the rabbits of Okunoshima. I believe we must appeal to the Ministry of the Environment—urging them to intervene, change the current situation, and establish an environment where these rabbits can truly live happy and safe lives. Please do not forget this: even when the rabbits of Okunoshima fall ill or sustain injuries, there is absolutely no one there to provide them with care.

2/25/26 A ailing rabbit with tattered coat. I wonder if she has turned a year old yet? Perhaps, once upon a time, it was healthy enough to run and frolic freely. Now, however, she is frequently chased away and struggles desperately just to secure a morsel of food.On that particular day—perhaps sensing that its chances were slim if it merely kept reaching up from the ground—she climbed all the way onto the table where my bag sat, filled with various treats. As it happened, the other rabbits were too busy feeding on the ground to notice this little one’s presence; realizing that if I let this moment pass, I might never get another chance to give it a proper meal, I seized the opportunity. The rabbit that had climbed onto the table brought its face right up to mine. Her eyes and nose were in a terrible state—ravaged by infection. I hurriedly pulled out a banana. As I peeled it and held it out, the rabbit began to devour it voraciously. Was this the first time she had ever tasted such a thing? The way she ate was so pitiful that it brought tears to my eyes. Although I knew I shouldn't give it too much at once, looking at this rabbit—which I doubted would survive much longer—I decided to let her eat as much as her heart desired. Watching it, I simply couldn't hold back my tears. Why? Why is it left neglected and uncared for until she reaches such a wretched state? Are we really supposed to accept this as the "fate" of those born on Okunoshima Island? Don't give me that nonsense! We must never, ever accept the reality of the rabbits on this island being subjected to such cruel treatment.There, before me, stood a rabbit that compelled me to vow—time and time again—that I would never cease appealing to the Ministry of the Environment on their behalf.

baby rabbit is too fragile to survive on the island 2/22/26, It’s almost like a roll of dice for someone like this little one to survive on this island.

left side of his face right side of his face 2/22/26 In the environment of Okunoshima—where no one takes responsibility for the lives of the animals—can the acts of feeding and providing water truly be justified? Are these actions genuinely in the best interest of the rabbits? Although Okunoshima falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry has explicitly stated that it does not manage the rabbits. By "not managing," they naturally mean that they provide no care whatsoever. If that is the case, what are the solutions to the following problems? - Without sorting and managing the rabbits, injuries resulting from fights among them will never cease.- Unless feeding is prohibited, illness and death caused by inappropriate food will never cease. - Unless a safe distance is maintained between humans and rabbits, injuries and fatalities caused by accidental trampling or falls while being held will never cease.- Unless rabbits carrying infectious diseases are isolated from healthy ones, the entire population will fall ill, and deaths will be inevitable. - Unless spaying and neutering are implemented, the rabbit population will continue to grow unchecked. I do not believe that a tourism industry centered on rabbits can be justified without proper rabbit management; yet, I find myself wondering: how exactly did the practice of feeding and setting out water troughs come to be permitted in the first place? I am opposed to both the feeding of rabbits and the installation of water troughs in a situation where there is no true management of the animals. Ultimately, these actions do not serve the rabbits' best interests. Although I no longer feed them as actively as I once did, I am fully aware that I, too, am culpable; when confronted with a hungry rabbit right before my eyes, I still feel that withholding food would be cruel, and so I feed them—a sin I acknowledge. Given the Ministry of the Environment's consistent stance thus far, it seems highly unlikely that they will shift toward actively managing the rabbits. In that case, I implore them to put an end to both the feeding and the provision of water troughs. If the current situation persists, this vicious cycle will continue almost indefinitely. As things stand, the lives of the rabbits on this island are—quite literally—disposable.