Okinoerabujima ( 沖永良部島 , Okinoerabu : いぃらぶ Yirabu , archaic Northern Ryukyuan : せりよさ Seriyosa ) , also known as Okinoerabu , is one of the Satsunan Islands , classed with the Amami archipelago between Kyūshū and Okinawa .
13-568: The island, 93.63 km in area, has a population of approximately 14,000 persons. Administratively it is divided into the towns of Wadomari and China in Kagoshima Prefecture . Much of the island is within the borders of the Amami Guntō National Park . Okinoerabujima is isolated from the other Amami islands, and is located in between Tokunoshima and Yoronjima , approximately 536 kilometres (289 nmi) south of
26-405: Is 40.37 km². Wadomari is located on the northern end of Okinoerabujima. The climate is classified as humid subtropical ( Köppen climate classification Cfa ) with very warm summers and mild winters. Precipitation is high throughout the year, but is highest in the months of May, June and September. The area is subject to frequent typhoons. Wadamori Village was founded on 1 April 1908. It
39-463: Is a local administrative unit in Japan . It is a local public body along with prefecture ( ken or other equivalents) , city ( shi ) , and village ( mura ) . Geographically, a town is contained within a district . The same word (町; machi or chō ) is also used in names of smaller regions, usually a part of a ward in a city. This is a legacy of when smaller towns were formed on the outskirts of
52-441: Is located in east side of the island. Flights connect the island to Kagoshima, Tokunoshima, Amami (via Tokunoshima), and Okinawa (Naha). Wadomari, Kagoshima Wadomari ( 和泊町 , Wadomari-chō ) is a town located on Okinoerabujima , in Ōshima District , Kagoshima Prefecture , Japan . As of October 2020, the town has an estimated population of 6,246 and a population density of 155 persons per km². The total area
65-598: The 8th century onwards. From 1266 it was part of Hokuzan , and from 1422 the Ryukyu Kingdom . The island was invaded by samurai from Satsuma Domain during the 1609 Invasion of Ryukyu and its incorporation into the official holdings of Satsuma was recognized by the Tokugawa shogunate in 1624. Satsuma rule was harsh, with the inhabitants of the island reduced to serfdom and forced to raise sugar cane to meet high taxation, which often resulted in famine. The island
78-558: The injuries across the island were caused by collapsing buildings. Okinoerabujima is home to several rare species of reptiles and insects endemic to the island itself, or more generally to the Ryukyu Islands. The island is one of fewer locations where swimming with whales ( humpback whales ) is legally approved. With moderate rainfall and a warm climate, the island is suitable for agriculture. Main crops include sweet potatoes, sugar cane and floriculture . Brown sugar refining and
91-492: The island is surrounded by a coral reef . Okinoerabujima has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfa ) with very warm summers and mild winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is somewhat lower in winter. The island is subject to frequent typhoons . It is uncertain when Okinoerabujima was first settled. It was ruled by the Aji nobility who built numerous gusuku fortifications from
104-507: The other Amami Islands, it was occupied by the United States until 1953, at which time it reverted to the control of Japan. In September 1977, a massive typhoon ( Typhoon Babe (1977) ) devastated the island, which experienced winds in excess of 210 km/h (130 mph) for two hours as the typhoon passed by. Nearly two-thirds of the homes across the island were damaged or destroyed by the storm and 73 people were injured. Most of
117-847: The prefectural capital Kagoshima . It takes between 17 and 18 hours. Okinoerabu Airport , is located in Wadomari. Wadomari is located on Kagoshima Prefectural Route 84. Junior high schools: Elementary schools include: Okinoerabu High School [ ja ] , located in China , is operated by the Kagoshima Prefectural government. It was formed in 1949 through the merger of China High School and Wadomari High School. It initially had separate campuses in China and Wadomari. List of towns in Japan A town (町; chō or machi )
130-463: The production of distilled shōchū liquor is the major industry. The island is not a major tourist destination, unlike many in the Amami archipelago. The port of Wadomari, located in the town of the same name, has regular ferry services to Okinawa and Kagoshima. The smaller port of China, in the town of China, has ferries to Kagoshima and other of the Amami islands. Okinoerabu Airport , in Wadomari,
143-469: The southern tip of Kyūshū and 60 kilometres (32 nmi) north of Okinawa . The island is an elevated coralline island with a length of approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) and width of 7 kilometres (4.3 mi), with Mount Ōyama at 246 metres (807 ft) above sea level at its highest peak. In the eastern part of the island is an extensive limestone cave system, one of the largest in Asia. The coast of
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#1732801739641156-673: Was subordinate to Tokunoshima from 1616 to 1690, when an independent daikansho was established. Throughout the Satsuma period, the island was used as a prison settlement, especially for political offenders, including many members of the Ryukyuan royal family. Saigō Takamori was exiled to Okinoerabujima from 1862 to 1864. After the Meiji Restoration the island was incorporated into Ōsumi Province and later became part of Kagoshima Prefecture. Following World War II , along with
169-484: Was upgraded to town status on 1 May 1941. As with all of Okinoerabujima, the town came under the administration of the United States from 1 July 1946 to 25 December 1953. Sugar cane , sweet potato, and peanut farming are popular. Floriculture is also practiced. However, due to the lack of local jobs, there has been an outflow of residents. Wadomari Port is the main ferry port on the island, with connections to
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