HIROSHIMA, Feb 07 (News On Japan) –
Located off the coast of Takehara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Ōkunoshima—popularly often called “Rabbit Island”—is house to tons of of untamed rabbits. Every 12 months, hundreds of vacationers go to the island to work together with the animals, however few are conscious of its somber previous as a former poison fuel manufacturing web site.
A brief practice experience from JR Mihara Station adopted by a three-minute stroll results in the ferry terminal. Even earlier than setting foot on the island, rabbit motifs may be seen in all places—from pink rabbit-themed postboxes to an array of souvenirs comparable to T-shirts and postcards. Bags of rabbit meals, bought for 200 yen, are a typical buy amongst guests. Ferries, painted in matching pink hues, transport about 50 passengers per journey, operating twice per hour.
Ōkunoshima, a small uninhabited island spanning roughly 4 kilometers in circumference, is a scenic spot the place guests can discover nature trails and work together with an estimated 500 to 600 rabbits. To defend the animals, vehicles are prohibited on the island, and guests can lease electric-assisted bicycles or compact mobility automobiles for ease of exploration.
Many guests specific their love for the rabbits, with one vacationer from Kobe bringing 2.5 kilograms of rabbit meals from house. “They’re so friendly—they come right up to you asking for food,” he stated, smiling.
However, strict guidelines are in place to make sure the welfare of the rabbits: guests will not be allowed to the touch them, should take leftover meals with them, and are prohibited from bringing different pets onto the island.
Despite its present picture as a rabbit haven, Ōkunoshima has a little-known darkish historical past. Between 1930 and the top of World War II, the island housed a secret poison fuel manufacturing facility operated underneath the direct management of the Imperial Japanese Army. The web site produced chemical weapons comparable to mustard fuel, saved in six huge tanks with a mixed capability of 100 tons. At its peak, over 6,000 staff had been engaged in manufacturing.
Traces of this previous stay on the island. Visitors can discover the ruins of storage amenities, tunnels, and an outdated energy plant that after equipped electrical energy to the manufacturing unit. Walls blackened by fireplace function a stark reminder of the island’s wartime position. Additionally, an outdated gun battery relationship again to the Russo-Japanese War nonetheless stands, having been constructed to defend in opposition to Russian naval assaults.
The Ōkunoshima Poison Gas Museum shows artifacts from this period, together with manufacturing gear, protecting fits, and fuel masks designed to stop publicity to poisonous chemical compounds. One of probably the most hanging displays is a historic map from 1938, the place Ōkunoshima was intentionally erased, reflecting the secrecy surrounding its operations.
Shinmoto, 74, a neighborhood information, has devoted himself to preserving and sharing the island’s historical past. “Because it was an island, it was easier to keep things secret. Workers were not allowed to speak about their jobs,” he defined. “The government even removed Ōkunoshima from maps.”
Although the island is now a peaceable retreat, Shinmoto emphasizes the significance of remembering its previous. “Today, people know it as ‘Rabbit Island,’ which is wonderful, but we must not forget what happened here. Some records suggest rabbits were used in poison gas experiments. I believe it’s my duty to ensure people understand the island’s full history.”
Ōkunoshima is a spot the place the previous and current coexist—the place lovable rabbits roam freely, but the scars of historical past stay.
Source: ABEMAニュース