Stephanie was one of the few rabbits who seemed to have lived a happy life on this island. 9/27/26 The rabbit known as Stephanie was a member of a large family living at the south beach. Her parents lived in the same territory, where they too had partners and offspring—much like a daughter bringing a mate into her family home, perhaps? Though timid in her youth, she grew into a confident, magnificent, and beautiful mother; she was one of the lucky few rabbits who lived harmoniously alongside three or four generations of her family. Michael spent hours every day standing at this beach, observing the rabbits interact with one another until he could identify their territorial boundaries and the relationships among them. Males would be driven out of the territory upon reaching a several months old and forced to move to a new area—a transition that sometimes resulted in failure to adapt and, consequently, death. Females, on the other hand, remained near their natal territory to raise their own families. There were cases of couples divorcing—or separating—where the woman began living with a new husband while the former husband lived in the neighborhood. All the rabbits on Ohkunoshima are the product of inbreeding and are related to one another; yet, there appear to be territorial rules and feuds among kin, and conflicts can escalate into extremely violent clashes. Stephanie’s end remains a mystery. Rabbits that suddenly vanish are often sick or injured, yet Stephanie had appeared perfectly healthy. Given the recent rise in the wild boar population, however, it is possible she fell prey to one.

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 within his own territory and wasn't particularly accustomed to humans; however, during his final year, he was frequently challenged and chased by younger rabbits. Please read ”Matsuzaka, victim of tourism” in the blog for the details of his passing; his life story illustrates the current reality of Okunoshima. Tourism and the lives of the rabbits: these two things are fundamentally incompatible. The more tourism flourishes, the more the rabbits' lives are whittled away.

Fly Girl was truly a sweetheart Flies were constantly flying all over her body She was looking upward whenever she had issues with breathing She seemed to suffer from numerous medical issues. She was extremely thin With her partner Grey rabbit might have been her child 9/26/25 Memorable rabbits Part 16 The rabbit I called "Fly Girl" was literally a rabbit with flies buzzing all around her body. Her emaciated frame suggested she was suffering from a severe illness; no matter how much I fed her, she simply wouldn't gain weight. Fly Girl’s chest suggested she might be nursing—perhaps she had given birth not long ago. It seemed cruel to force a rabbit in such a state to endure pregnancy and childbirth. On Okunoshima, where males and females live together, mating and birthing occur constantly; a cycle plays out in which new rabbits are born in rapid succession to replace those that die, effectively providing the tourism industry with a tourist attraction that incurs absolutely no maintenance costs. Every morning, when we went to feed her, she would look up at us with a heart-wrenching smile that seemed full of joy; seeing it filled me with a mixture of deep affection and an indescribable sadness. I believe Fly girl knew her time was running out. One evening, after finishing her meal, she rose on her frail body and began to walk unsteadily away. As we watched her, she glanced back at us just once before disappearing toward the mountains. Michael said that was her way of saying goodbye. That was the first time I saw Michael shed tears for a rabbit, though he would go on to weep for many more in the years to come. There are so many rabbits I will never forget. Yet, of them all, it is Fly girl who remains most deeply etched in my heart.

Garigari, who sustained severe injuries to the lower right side of his body. It was a life where any quality of life as a rabbit had ceased to exist. Her back was distorted and extremely emaciated. She often hid behind the compressor or beneath the grating. 9/25/26 Garigari was the rabbit Michael originally found—covered in blood—at the second pier where tourists would park their cars. For the first few days, there was a rabbit that kept trying to stay close, but before long, Gariari began spending more time alone, frequently hiding behind the air conditioner compressor or beneath the metal grating. It is unclear under what circumstances this injury occurred. The rabbit was emaciated, suggesting she might have already been suffering from an illness or a prior injury before sustaining this severe trauma. The injuries we observed looked as though she had been caught in something; one side of its lower body appeared crushed, and her spine was twisted. When she moved, she dragged her lower body, unable to travel in a straight line and instead moving at an angle. The pain must have been excruciating. Yet, the emaciated rabbit still tried to eat. Garigari was completely unable to climb or run around; her range of movement was severely restricted, and I imagine she was struggling just to stay alive day by day. Once I posted on instagram, many people began bringing her food and water, and I had hoped she might actually manage to survive. Not long after leaving the island, we received the news of her death. One morning, she was found dead after being attacked by crows—likely having ventured out from her hiding place because she was hungry. A place where an injured rabbit could be cared for, even if only temporarily—Ohkunoshima has no such place.

Tsukimi whose size was the same as his mom, Chop 9/23/26 Around the time when "tiger-colored" rabbits (a mix of orange and black) began to appear here and there, I found a rabbit—only about two months old—near the visitor center. To my shock, the tip of its left leg had been cleanly severed. I tend to name rabbits based on their distinctive features, so I named this one "Chop." Many people suspected abuse, wondering how such a wound could have occurred. Unable to run like the other rabbits, it dragged its leg awkwardly. Despite that handicap, she maintained a foothold in her territory and even gave birth to babies. On the island, however, the babies practically the same age as her. Looking back at the photos and videos, she is almost always shown eating; perhaps she was constantly hungry, as there were hardly any still photos of her otherwise. Seeing those babies grow up and eat alongside their mother, Chop, I was amazed that a rabbit with such a disability could manage to live that way—yet, in the end, her life was cut short in less than a year and a half. Even now, when I walk near the wisteria trellis at the visitor center, I am reminded of Chop—running toward me, dragging her leg as she went.

Urara's glowing eyes captivated everyone Fluffy hair had simmering gold and white tint to it Urara undoubtedly received special treatment from everyone 9/21/26 I remember that back when the rabbit named Urara was around, fluffy rabbits weren't as common as they are now; the combination of her fluffiness and cuteness made her immensely popular. I recall meeting her for the first time right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when mostly only regular visitors were coming to the island. I knew nothing about this rabbit named Urara at the time. When I first spotted her on the outer loop path, she fixed her round, soulful eyes on me, and I remember thinking what a remarkable rabbit she was. Her fluffy fur had a shimmering golden hue, and I was amazed that such an adorable rabbit actually existed on Okunoshima. There were quite a few people who visited specifically to see this rabbit, and it seems Urara received especially delicious treats from them. Rabbits that receive such exceptional treatment tend to live longer lives. A grave was built for Urara somewhere along the outer path, and it appears that people still come to pay their respects every year.

She spent much of her time alone While others ate, Oreo just sat there Early in the morning when everyone was hungry, Oreo did not join the crowd to eat 9/20/26 She was a fluffy black-and-white rabbit named Oreo. Unlike other friendly rabbits that would approach people in hopes of getting food, Oreo never warmed up to humans—even from a young age—and that very temperament may be the reason she managed to reach adulthood. Before the rescue, Oreo looked clearly different from how I had seen her before; she was breathing strangely, and I felt a sense of alarm at the fact that she was barely eating. She refused to eat anything but soft food, and even then, the amount she consumed was minuscule. After the rescue, medical exams revealed that the bones in her nose and ears had dissolved and vanished due to infection. She had virtually no sense of smell, and the diagnosis suggested she likely couldn't hear either, owing to a severe middle-ear infection. Regarding her molars, multiple roots were destroyed, leading to the conclusion that she probably hadn't been able to eat properly. What must life have been like for Oreo? A world where she could hear nothing. Food that had no scent. After reading the diagnosis, I finally understood Oreo’s behavior, which had seemed as though she were completely cut off from everything around her. She spent much of her time alone; when eating with others, she would often sit motionless without consuming anything, or—even when she appeared to be eating—she was observed letting the food simply fall from her mouth. People think of Okunoshima as a petting zoo. However, there are no zookeepers or veterinarians at this "zoo."

She looks normal at one glance large tumor (6cm x 5cm) under her root of her left leg is malignant and incurable 9/19/26 Here is the latest update on Niki-chan, who was rescued on September 6th due to an issue with her left leg. Following a diagnosis and two weeks of treatment for severe skin necrosis and a large mass extending from her left elbow and armpit across a wide area of ​​her left chest wall, the infection and necrosis have significantly improved, and her appetite and energy levels have stabilized—saving her life. However, it was revealed that the mass (measuring 6cm by 5cm) hidden beneath the necrotic skin was not an abscess but a highly recurrent malignant tumor (fibrosarcoma). The cancer has progressed and is deeply adhered to the chest wall and forearm; complete surgical removal is already difficult at this stage, and the condition is considered incurable. Moving forward, Niki-chan will be receiving palliative care. For those who wish to support Niki-chan until the very end, please consider making a donation to the "Ohkunoshima Rabbit Medical Fund" via the GoFundMe link in @junkohiking profile in Instagram.

Is feeding and giving them water really helping rabbits? 9/15/26 On 9/4/26, we visited the Chugoku-Shikoku Regional Environmental Office in Okayama to discuss the matter. One of my objectives was to seek an exemption to the ban on removing rabbits from the island, specifically for the purpose of medical rescue. The ban exists to prevent the spread of disease; while tourists themselves could potentially be carriers, the restrictions on rabbits are so strict because humans are considered uncontrollable. However, there appears to be a possibility that medical rescues could be treated as an exception if disease control concerns can be addressed, so I intend to follow up on this. After all, the Ministry of the Environment certainly does not believe that feral rabbits should be exploited for tourism only to die needlessly. The Ministry of the Environment does not view the presence of rabbits on the island favorably; while it recognizes that feeding them is the primary driver of their population growth, various circumstances prevent it from implementing a ban, making this an ongoing challenge. If one truly cares about the rabbits, the best course of action is to provide neither food nor water. This is because, should a rabbit fall ill or sustain an injury, the chances of it receiving medical treatment are virtually non-existent. Reproduction should not be allowed. I would like you to take a moment to reconsider: is it truly right to wish for the island's rabbits to remain there simply because they bring you comfort? Is it actually in the best interest of the rabbits?

It was not a paradise Rabbits in the morning 9/17/26 I miss the days when Okunoshima was full of rabbits and it was fun to visit. It was carefree back then, just feeding them without a second thought. The rabbits are provided with food and water and live for a certain period, only to eventually die from illness or injury without receiving any care. This vicious cycle has repeated for decades, yet it is somehow plausibly justified. Tourism has flourished, while the rabbits have been left behind. It appears as though there are always plenty of rabbits precisely because they keep breeding; in reality, however, their numbers remain constant only because rabbits are constantly dying and new ones are constantly being born. If the authorities are not going to step in to care for or protect the rabbits, I believe the time has come for each individual to seriously consider what is truly in the best interests of rabbits.

Niki's left leg injury was serious Female rabbit with a limp at shrine was constantly being chased Appears to be an abscess resulting from bite wound Appears to be an abscess resulting from bite wound 9/16/26 Once again, we encountered many injured or sick rabbits. What stood out in particular was the large number of them suffering from abscesses and bite wounds. While injuries caused by humans are a serious issue for the island's rabbits, injuries resulting from fights between the rabbits themselves are just as prevalent. Minor injuries may heal on their own, but severe ones can prove fatal. Keeping male and female rabbits together in a free-roaming environment is a cause of injuries. Among the rabbits rescued over the past two years, some recovered after treatment for large abscesses and are currently living healthy lives, whereas others died during treatment due to the excessive size or number of their abscesses. Unless the situation regarding the free-roaming rabbits on the island changes, it is impossible to prevent injuries caused by fighting; even rescue efforts become a futile, never-ending cycle.

Wild boars strutting about as if they own the place 9/15/26 I am fed up with the wild boars that are constantly roaming about. It is a common occurrence to be feeding the rabbits only to find a boar suddenly standing right behind you. It is frightening how they seem to know that humans carry food; watching the rabbits get fed, they display an attitude that suggests, "Maybe I'll get some too." The boars here look so much like domestic pigs—especially around the hindquarters—and seem to lack the typical ferocity of wild boars, leading some to speculate that they might actually be hybrids (wild boar-pig crosses). Apparently, these hybrids have a reproductive rate about five times higher than that of pure wild boars. At this rate, I worry this place might truly turn into an "Island of Boars." Still, one must not let one's guard down just because they resemble domestic pigs. Do not try to be a touron who wants to take a photo with them.