THE STORY
THE two faces
Deep green forests and black volcanic rock. Warm winds sweep across Hachijojima. Beneath its calm surface, Hachijojima hides a wild past. Storms, famine, and exiles shaped this island’s spirit.
THE HACHIJOJIMA EXILES
During the Edo period (1603–1868), many convicts were exiled to Hachijojima. Some brought hardship. Others arrived with new customs, fresh ideas, and wild hopes. Together, they forged a culture that exists nowhere else, leaving behind a legacy of unforgettable stories.
The master SHOCHU distiller
Danmune Shōemon
A merchant from Satsuma (Kagoshima), Shoemon was exiled to Hachijojima for his involvement in illicit trade. He smuggled in a distilling apparatus from his homeland and taught the islanders how to make Shochu. The craft brought new joy and prosperity, and soon everyone called him “Satsuma-jii,” the old man from Satsuma
The only ONE TO escape ON A
boat
Sato Kizaburō
The privileged son of a wealthy family, Kisaburo was also a renowned outlaw. Exiled for murder, he fell for Kacho, a former courtesan. Together, they did the impossible. They escaped the island by boat. He was later caught in Edo (Tokyo), became a model prisoner, and died soon after his release.
FIFTY-THREE YEARS IN WAITING
WITH GROWING DEVOTION
Kondo Tomizō
Exiled for taking seven lives, Kondo vowed never to kill again, not even the mosquitoes that bit him. For over 30 years, he mapped the island’s land and culture. Even after his pardon, he stayed on Hachijojima, the place he had come to love, until the end of his life.
