Ninomiya Sontoku was born to a poor peasant family with a name of Kinjiro in Kayama (栢山), Ashigarakami-gun, Sagami province.

He was opposed by his fellow bureaucrats who reminded him that permission had to be granted by the shōgun for commoners to have access to the rice stores.

Though he did not leave written philosophical work, his ideas were later transcribed by his disciples: Tomita Takayoshi, Fukuzumi Masae and Saitō Takayuki.

Ninomiya combined three strands of traditional teachings — Buddhism, Shintōism and Confucianism — and transformed them into practical ethical principles that matured out of his experiences.

Each member of the village union could borrow interest-free funds for 100 days, while the entire membership shared the cost in case of default.

[3] Additional statues have been removed starting in the 1970s, as they were perceived to set a poor example for children walking near motor vehicle traffic while distracted by reading.

The father often tells the story of Ninomiya Sontoku to his children, relating how "Up early to the mountains for wood before the rooster calls 'ko-ke-kok-ko!'

Nichols presented the statue of Ninomiya Sontoku in 1946 to then Rollins President Hamilton Holt who promised to keep it in the main lobby of the college's Warren Administration Building forever.

[6] At first, the college rejected the offer made by Okinawan officials, who suggested that a replica of the statue would be presented to the school if the original was returned.

However, after consulting with the U.S. State Department and the college's board of trustees, then Rollins President Rita Bornstein accepted the offer.