FARMER

There is a place on Hachijojima called “the sacred place of insectivorous plants”. After the war, the legend of this place quietly and over a long period of time slowly grew and blossomed in abundance. That is the story of Isseien, which we will share here.

The history of the thriving horticultural culture of Hachijo-jima is said to be essential to the story of Isseien. We would like to look back on that history briefly and unravel the lives of Mr. Issei Okuyama and his wife, who created the plants and the sanctuary on Hachijo-jima.

History of Isseien

In 1958, about 70 years ago, Hachijojima island was found to be suitable for growing subtropical plants like those grown in Hawaii, and plant farmers and sales offices were gradually established. It was around that time when Chicken Ramen was developed and sold, and three years later, the rate of owning electric washing machines exceeded 50%. If we look back at the historical background of the time, it is clear that the post-war period was still a difficult time.

The founder, Issei Okuyama, spent his childhood on Tinian Island of the Mariana Islands, graduated from the Institute of Telecommunications, and served as a naval communications officer in the Japanese Navy. In 1960, he converted a room in his house in Hachijojima into a greenhouse and began growing orchids and ananas (pineapple plants) as a hobby, which was the beginning of Issei Okuyama Garden.

Before long, islanders living in Hachijojima who were familiar with plants began to gather at Isseien night after night, and after work, they would stay up late every night discussing gardening.

Finally, not only the islanders but also plant specialists and plant lovers from outside the island brought in various subtropical species and plants, which grew quietly and steadily over a long period of time on Hachijojima Island, which has plenty of sunshine and just the right temperature difference for trees in the tropics.
During the day, they would grow and record many plants, and create new species. At night, many plant lovers would gather together to exchange opinions and show off their results. In between, they would make catalogues of seedlings for sale, and the whole family would do the mimeograph printing and mailing.

These precious printed materials are still in existence today, and offer a glimpse into the breadth and excellence of the plants and seedlings handled by the Isseien garden at that time. You may wonder how much passion, effort, and labor went into the creation of this sanctuary. It is not something that just anyone can do.

Birth of the Hachijojima Insectivorous Plant Salon

Isseien was a “secret research institute and salon” located on Hachijojima, and Mr. and Mrs. Okuyama were always at its heart. It must have been the personalities and love of these two people that led to the birth of many new plant species on this small island of Hachijojima.

At the time, all the methods for growing plants were passed on by word of mouth, and it was a continuous process of trial and error every day.

It seems that the reason they originally focused on carnivorous plants was because they were similar to orchids in terms of their growth environment, and also because they were relatively well-suited to the humid climate of Hachijojima. At the time, they were not only focusing on carnivorous plants, but they were also trying out all kinds of other things, such as seedlings of tropical fruits, which were still rare and expensive at the time.

This vigorous enthusiasm for research is the reason why it is consequently called the "sacred land of insectivorous plants”. A rich horticultural culture was born on Hachijojima, far from Tokyo. It is amazing how such a great achievement could have been born in an age before the internet.

Insectivorous plants are very difficult and time-consuming to grow. They need frequent watering and sunlight, and the couple never missed watering even when they were not feeling well. Insectivorous plants come in a variety of patterns, sizes, and types, and they need sunlight to produce their insectivorous leaves (pot-like parts), and they do not need any fertilizer because they consume insects.

The more you hear about them, the more mysterious and fascinating they seem to be. They are originally from the subtropical regions of the Philippines and Malaysia, and there are male and female plants, so they cannot reproduce unless both sexes are present. It is easy to understand why they have such a rare and labor-intensive ecology, and why they were loved by many specialists.

By repeatedly crossing species to create new varieties, they have continued to produce many beautiful and hardy carnivorous plants that are unique to Hachijojima, and have attracted the attention of enthusiasts. It is said that the plants they have created are confirmed as new species at the conferences held regularly by enthusiasts. If recognized as new species, it is allowed to name it. There are also heartwarming episodes, such as the fact that the name of their favorite new species, which was particularly excellent, was that of their beloved son.

With tropical fruit trees

One of the reasons why Hachijojima has gained a high reputation as a plant production area is thank to Isseien. Many of the tropical fruit trees that are still on the island today originated from Isseien. They can be seen in the island's botanical gardens.

The island's “secret research institute and salon” that gained such a reputation is also becoming a legend as the population ages and the era of cheap, mass imports from around the world continues.

If you see insectivorous plants on Hachijojima now, they may be a precious and rare living witness to the island's history.

We hope you will remember such stories and love the beautiful plants that are the treasures of this island.