Kuroshima (Kagoshima)

Kuroshima
Native name: <span class="nickname" ">Japanese: 黒島

Aerial photograph of Kuroshima
Geography
Location East China Sea
Coordinates 30°50′5.6″N 129°57′20.7″E / 30.834889°N 129.955750°E / 30.834889; 129.955750
Archipelago Ōsumi Islands
Area 15.37 km2 (5.93 sq mi)
Coastline 71.7 km (44.55 mi)
Highest elevation 621.9 m (2,040.4 ft)
Administration
Japan
Kagoshima
Demographics
Population 199 (2010)
Ethnic groups Japanese

Kuroshima (黒島), is one of the Satsunan Islands, usually classed with the Ōsumi Islands, belonging to Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. The island, 15.37 km² in area, has a population of 199 persons. The island can only be reached by ferry service to the city of Kagoshima on the mainland, as there is no airport. Travel time is about 6 hours. The islanders are dependent mainly on fishing, agriculture and seasonal tourism.

Geography

Kuroshima is the westernmost of the Ōsumi islands, and is located 110 kilometres (59 nmi) south of Kagoshima. The island is of volcanic origin, and has an area of approximately 15.37 square kilometres (5.93 sq mi). The highest elevation on the island is 620 metres (2,030 ft). above sea level.

Its climate is classified as subtropical, with a rainy season from May through September. The island is heavily forested.

History

Per local folklore, the island was one of the havens of the defeated Heike clan after they lost the Gempei War against the Minamoto clan. This is reflected in many local customs, and the remains of late Heian period and early Kamakura period fortifications. During the Edo period, Kuroshima was part of Satsuma Domain and was administered as part of Kawabe District. In 1896, the island was transferred to the administrative control of Ōshima District, Kagoshima, and from 1911 was part of the village of Toshima, Kagoshima. From 1946-1952, the southern seven islands in the Toshima group belonging to the Tokara archipelago came under the administration of the United States as part of the Provisional Government of Northern Ryukyu Islands; however, since Kuroshima is located north of 30 degrees North, it remained Japanese territory during this time, and came under the administration of the village of Mishima in Kagoshima Prefecture.

In 1979, the modern novelist Sawako Ariyoshi wrote a novel set on Kuroshima.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/17/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.