Ohta Kyozaburo

Ohta Kyozaburo was a Japanese entrepreneur, who, shortly after the turn of the 20th century, migrated to Davao City, Philippines, and cultivated vast lands around the shores of Davao Gulf into abaca and coconut plantations, and who is considered by local historians as the “Father of Davao Development.”

Ohta Kyozaburo was born in Hyogo, Japan in February 1876, and established the Ohta Development Company, the first Japanese abaca plantation company in the Philippines in May 3, 1907. He also established several other companies such as Mintal Plantation Company, Riverside Plantation Company, Talomo River Plantation Company, Guianga Plantation Company, and was instrumental in Davao's economic growth and prosperity.

Japanese plantation workers started to settle in Davao in 1903 and had a profound effect on its economic and cultural life. Japanese built their own schools, hospitals and road networks, published their own newspapers, erected an embassy, and a Shinto Shrine. During this time, private farm ownership and large-scale business interests such as copra, timber, fishing, and import-export trading by the Japanese had flourished in Davao region.

Transportation and communication facilities had also much improved and over time, the locals learned from the Japanese the modern techniques of cultivation. Hence, agriculture became the main lifeblood of Davao which paved the way for the province’s economic growth and prosperity.

Ohta Kyozaburo died in Kyoto, Japan in October 31, 1917 at age 41. To honor the memory of Ohta Kyozaburo a Monument was erected in 1926 in Bago Oshiro in Calinan District, Davao City.