Hachijojima in the Meiji and Taisho Eras

1922: 11th year of Taisho

Three dairy cows exhibited at the Tokyo Peace Exposition win 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes
Granson cow sets world record for milk yield

In 1879, volunteers petitioned the government for Western cattle, and a Western cattle ranch was established in Sueyoshi Village. After that, Holsteins and other cattle were received from the government free of charge, and improvements and breeding were encouraged, earning Hachijojima a reputation for its livestock industry.

1923: 12th year of Taisho

Hachijojima Condensed Milk Co., Ltd. is established (later Morinaga Milk Industry Hachijojima Factory)

Butter production using milk began in 1908, and after experiencing numerous difficulties, Hachijojima Condensed Milk Co., Ltd. was established in 1923. This company became Morinaga Milk Industry Hachijojima Factory in 1939.

1926: 15th year of Taisho

June: Kyobashi Tsukiji Police Station Hachijojima Branch becomes Hachijojima Police Station

July: Hachijojima Agency is abolished and becomes Tokyo Metropolitan Hachijo Island Branch Office

1880: 13th year of Meiji

Hachijojima's first post office is established

The island's first fourth-class postal station was established in Nakanogo Village. (23 years later, in 1903, it was relocated to Okago Village as the Hachijojima Postal Agency)

1881: 14th year of Meiji

Freedom and People's Rights Movement activist Matsuzawa Kyusaku comes to the island and works for island government reform

Matsuzawa Kyusaku, a native of Nagano Prefecture, heard about the island's local official system and its dictatorship from Asanuma Shohei, a native of Hachijojima whom he met while in prison. After his release, he came to the island and engaged in activities such as educating the islanders about the need for island government reform and establishing a private trading company.

Two or three stores open, and the island's monetary economy begins

1888: 21st year of Meiji

Nippon Yusen begins service to Hachijojima

The government subsidized Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha. It opened a regular route between Yokohama, Hachijojima, and the Ogasawara Islands four times a year. The islanders, who had only ever seen sailing ships, were surprised by the steamship, which was over 3,000 tons.

1900: 33rd year of Meiji

Tokyo Metropolitan Hachijo Island Branch Office established

1902: 35th year of Meiji

Tamaki Han'emon starts sugar production on Minamidaitojima

Born in Okago Village, Han'emon was full of pioneering spirit from a young age and achieved success through ventures such as exporting albatross feathers from Torishima. In his later years, he aimed to develop Minamidaitojima, recruited immigrants from Hachijojima, and succeeded in landing on and developing Minamidaito Island on January 9, 1899. In 1902, he succeeded in manually producing brown sugar from sugarcane.

1903: 36th year of Meiji

Tokyo Bay Kisen Co., Ltd. begins service to Hachijojima

Tokyo Bay Steamship Co., Ltd. (now Tokai Kisen Co., Ltd.) started a temporary voyage between Reiganjima and Hachijojima

1906: 39th year of Meiji

Telegraph service begins at Hachijojima Post Office

In October, the undersea cable work between Izu Shimoda and Hachijojima was completed, and telegraph service began in November.

1907: 40th year of Meiji

Osaka Tunnel connecting the island opens

The road connecting Sakaue and Sakashita was steep, prone to collapse, and a major obstacle. Asaka Taichiro, who was appointed as the island chief, spent two years and overcame many difficulties to open the new road.

1909: 42nd year of Meiji

Payment in kind (Kihachijo) is abolished and land tax is paid in cash.The land tax (tax on land) was changed from payment in kind with silk fabric to payment in cash. (1 tan was converted to 1 yen, 72 sen, and 5 rin)

1868: 1st year of Meiji

Many exiles pardoned due to the Meiji Restoration

Many exiles pardoned due to the Meiji Restoration Through two amnesties, 359 people, over 90% of the exiles on the island at the time, were pardoned.

1871: 4th year of Meiji

Comes under the jurisdiction of Nirayama Prefecture, after which jurisdiction changes frequently

The Izu Islands, including Hachijojima, changed their affiliation and name with the abolition of feudal domains and establishment of prefectures in 1871, becoming Nirayama Prefecture in July, Ashigara Prefecture in November, and then Shizuoka Prefecture in 1876.

1872: 5th year of Meiji

Sueyoshi Public Elementary School founded

In 1872, the school system was established, and the Sueyoshi Sekigakko school, opened by the exile Hirakawa Chikayoshi, became the island's first public elementary school.

1875: 8th year of Meiji

Mitsune and Nakanogo Elementary Schools founded

Mitsune Elementary School opened using Mr. Asanuma Kizo's sericulture room as the school building. Nakanogo Elementary School opened on the site of Mr. Kikuchi Jihei's house.

1877: 10th year of Meiji

Okago and Kashitate Elementary Schools founded

Okago Elementary School opened at Sofukuji Temple in Osato. Kashitate Elementary School opened using a room in the house of the village headman, Osawa Kyuhei.

1878: 11th year of Meiji

Comes under the jurisdiction of Tokyo Prefecture

In this year, the Izu Islands were transferred to the jurisdiction of Tokyo Prefecture, which improved convenience, but the Edo period system of local officials continued until the establishment of the island agency (dispatch of an island chief) in 1900.