Ryota Oyama wearing the Order of the Sacred Treasure on his chest (Ryota Oyama in his later years (at age 85))

Ryota Oyama was born in Okayama Prefecture in 1879. He manufactured igusa rush mats and was chairman of the Rush Agricultural Association. He travelled to the Amazon with his son, a Kotaku (Kokushikan Koto Takushoku Gakko (Kokushikan Colonization School)) graduate, at the request of Tsuakasa Uetsuka and successfully cultivated jute.