Hamamatsu Information Book

Oda Risaburō engaged with the industrial development in Hamamatsu in middle of Meiji Period especially on the aspect of the agriculture in Enshū area as he supported the process of export of local products, such as laffas, peanuts, and gingers, and promoted the hitotsubo nōgyō (backyard farming) in schools.

 

He was born on March 3, 1857, in Nagoya as the third son of Tada Rishichi, who was a haiku poet. He was adopted by a friend of his father who had a temple called Anfukuji Temple.His adoptive parents took him to Hamamatsu and built Seifukuji Temple. It is now a branch of Okuyama Hansōbō. He donated the temple and its land to Okuyama Hansōbō when his adoptive father passed away. He wasn't much interested in running a temple. In 1873, he opened a toy shop in front of the temple. As the shop, which sold cards, dolls, drums, and more, earned popularity, it moved to the city's downtown. 

When he visited Yokohama to purchase goods, he thought of selling farm goods. He recommended farmers in the area to grow gingers, laffas, and peanuts to sell abroad. This grew him into an agriculture advisor. He actively presented his goods at fairs around the nation including the national industrial exposition in 1895. In order to develop industry further, he felt a need to establish an association. Gonikai Hamamatsu-shibu established in 1896. As he was selected as a councilor of Hamamatsu Town in 1897, he exerted himself even more for Hamamatsu. The model of elephant made with laffas presented at an exhibition in France in 1900 was appreciated. He returned from France and established a union of farmers growing gingers, laffas, red peppers, and peanuts with himself as the president in 1901. The union's office was located inside the pavilion of local products in Ta-machi. The uniqueness of the union attracted many visitors. Later, when the union of agriculture in Hamamatsu established, he became the president. Upon Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904, he purchased western furniture, curtains, and many other goods. Forecasting that life style in Japan would shift to western one, he reformed his toy shop as a furniture store. 

Oda introduced hitotsubo nōgyō, a sort of backyard farming, to schools all around the nation. He was in touch with farming himself, and grew gingers, peanuts, western flowers such as sweet peas and carnations, and vegetables. 

In 1908, he was granted the Medal of Honor with Blue Ribbon for his achievement. 

Oda passed away on September 19, 1923. Genchūji Temple in Ta-machi enshrines him. The union built a big multiple-storied pagoda that honors Oda at Seifukuji Temple in Taka-machi, responding to his wish that he would like a stone pagoda instead of a statue.

 

His short-temper was softened when he married with Mineko after three fail marriages.

 

"Enshū Ijinden Daiikkan" (Stories of Great Figures of Enshū vol.1)