In the annals of Davao, 1917 is replete with important historical events. Aside from the establishment of the Davao Public Hospital, it was the year Kyosaburo Ohta, the pioneering Japanese plantation owner, died. His passing raised uncertainty for his investments, and there was palpable grief given the good-natured character of the man who was instrumental in introducing migrant labor in Davao and for transforming Mintal into a little Tokyo.
After over a year since his demise, stories on how he built his fortune, and the success he earned the pearling industry, still caught the fancy of many publications. The Manila-based magazine, The Philippines came out in the December 1918 issue a long narrative, which the New York Tribune, extensively quoted in its July 30, 1919, edition.
“On October 31, 1917, there died in the hospital of the imperial university at [Kyoto] a Japanese millionaire whose fortune was made out of the resources of the Philippine Islands. Kyosaburo Ohta came to the Philippines sixteen years ago.
“He started in Manila as a labor contractor in a humble capacity. In the course of his business, he early found it necessary to make long trips to various parts of the islands. This gave him an opportunity to appraise the country’s resources. He at once saw the opportunities and the vast resources offered in the Davao country, and transferred his office to the old town of Davao. There he engaged in trading in addition to his business as a labor contractor. He later organized the Ohta Development Company, with offices in Davao. Zamboanga, Manila and Kobe, and established the fine hacienda of cocoanuts and hemp at Talomo.
“His subsequent operations involved many of the natural resources of the Philippines. One of the most notable was his cultivation of the pearl-producing oyster, utilizing the discovery of a scientist fellow countryman of a method of forcing the oyster to produce pearls.
“At the time of his death the corporation over which Mr, Ohta presided operated one of the most modern and extensive pearl fleets in Philippine waters, fishing on all the pearl fields of the islands, in addition to its own leased waters and shore area, where its cultivated oysters were produced.”
Ohta’s death ignited discussion in the hemp industry about the fate of his plantations. Originally bought from the American planters, managing the estates fell on the lap of his co-incorporators who, inspiringly, continued to cultivate them into creative ventures. But his legacy of imported labor and land ownership was at the top of the heap. The article continues:
“It is to be noted that in the occupation of this agricultural land of Davao the Japanese, in recent years, have led all other nationalities. Practically all of the open land in this region belongs to the government and is acquired by private owners by purchase from the government or by lease for twenty-five years.
“During the first six months of the current year, sixteen corporations made applications to the Bureau of Lands for the purchase of land in Davao. Of these sixteen corporations, fourteen were financed by the Japanese, and the other two by Americans. During the same period, 24 corporations made applications to lease lands in Davao, nearly all of which were composed of Japanese.
“Of the total number of leases of government land throughout the [Philippines] executed during the first six months of 1918, the majority were made by Japanese for lands in Davao. During this period about 65,000 acres of land in Davao were leased and about 50,000 acres purchased.”
Ohta’s demise allowed Yoshizo Furukawa, to take over the mantle as the most significant Japanese investor in Davao by 1918. Not only did he acquire lands that matched Ohta’s extensive assets, he also expanded his investments to Sarawak, Malaysia, and Ecuador.
