Called a 'mobile flower vase', the girl bought a 700,000 m2 island

The uninhabited island of Yanaha in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, was once planned for development by the Soneva Hotel Group, a company known for its luxury resorts in the Maldives. However, in 2019, the island’s owner ran into financial difficulties, was unable to complete the transaction, and put it up for auction.

One person revealed that the starting price of Yanaha Island was only about 600,000 USD. However, the actual transaction value is rumored to be up to 60 million USD.

Regarding the price rumors, Zhang Shuqing - the buyer of the island - explained: "The auction information is public and easily found online. However, the auction has been canceled many times for various reasons. The price of 60 million USD is a number based on rumors."

Zhang also said that the purchase of Yanaha Island was the result of a private deal with the previous owner, completed in late 2020. The actual transaction amount was not disclosed, but she insisted that it was a reasonable price.

"This island is rare and close to my hometown Qingdao. I have had a special affection for the sea and islands since I was young, which motivated me to make the deal," Zhang added.

Yanaha has a beautiful location, but the transaction process was not easy. Zhang said that the previous owner had divided the ownership into many parts, with a total of 917 certificates. Her family bought back 720 certificates, mainly concentrated in the central area, taking a total of 4 years from receiving the news to completing the handover on February 2, 2021.

In January 2023, Zhang Shuqing set foot on the island for the first time. "When I arrived here, I was most impressed by the clear water, where you can clearly see the bottom at a depth of three meters," she said.

Zhang Shuqing was born into a poor family in Qingdao, China. Her parents separated when she was young, and she lived with her mother. Later, Zhang went to Japan to study and met her husband - a Chinese-American with an excellent academic background.

After getting married, Zhang followed her husband to study and learn about business. She started a small curry restaurant in her hometown of Qingdao, doing everything herself, from buying ingredients to serving customers.

With her hard work and determination, Zhang expanded her restaurant chain, adding hot pot restaurants and other catering services. However, the Covid-19 pandemic forced all of her restaurants to close.

Not giving up, Zhang shifted his business to online sales and achieved initial success.

"I used to be looked down upon as a 'mobile vase' by everyone, so I always tried to prove myself. By 2020, I started doing what I really loved, including buying an island to affirm my self-worth," she said.

Currently, Zhang Shuqing has no plans to privatize or commercially develop the island. She plans to organize fun activities for company employees in the summer and preserve the island's natural ecosystem.

"If I meet the right investor, I am willing to cooperate to develop the island to high standards. If not, I will leave it to the next generation," Zhang said.