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Kumejima, Okinawa

is a town located in Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The town consists of the islands of Kume, Ōjima, Ōhajima, Torishima, and Iōtorishima. Among the islands, only Kumejima and Ōjima are populated. Kumejima is located approximately west of Naha. The town can be accessed by the New Kumejima Ferry, Japan Transocean Air, or Ryukyu Air Commuter. Kumejima Airport serves the island. , the town had an estimated population of 7,192 and a population density of . The total area is .

Kume Island is often said to be one of the most beautiful of the Okinawa Islands. It is well known for its textiles, called Kumejima-tsumugi which are designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property. The town is also known for its Kumesen Awamori (Okinawan sake) and deep sea water. Kumejima's main industries are sugar cane (sato-kibi), tourism, and deep seawater products.

History

Historically due to Kume's abundance of freshwater, rice was once extensively cultivated. In 1506, the Ryukyu Kingdom invaded Kume under the leadership of Shō Shin. During Ryukyuan rule, Kume Island was often visited by Chinese envoys called "sapposhi" on their way to Shuri Castle on Okinawa Island. When the Ryukyu Kingdom was annexed by Japan, many noble families moved from Shuri to Kume.

At the end of World War 2, Japanese troops led by Tadashi Kayama refused to accept the surrender of Japan and killed 20 islanders suspected of being spies or collaborators, including a baby and children.

Geography

An area of of land and sea is protected as the Kumejima Prefectural Natural Park and of wetland have been designated a Ramsar Site.

Numerous unique rock formations around the island can be viewed including Tatami Rocks, Bird Mouth Rock, Miifugaa, Garasaa Mountain, Tachijami, and the Yajiyagama Cave system.

Administrative divisions

The town includes twenty-seven wards.

  • Aka ()
  • Gima ()
  • Gushikawa ()
  • Higa ()
  • Hiyajō ()
  • Itōtorishima ()
  • Janadō ()
  • Kadekaru ()
  • Kanegusuku ()
  • Kitahara ()
  • Magari ()
  • Maja ()
  • Nakachi ()
  • Nakadomari ()
  • Nakandakari ()
  • Nishime ()
  • Ōhara ()
  • Ōta ()
  • Ou ()
  • Shimajiri ()
  • Torishima ()
  • Uegusuku ()
  • Uezu ()
  • Une ()
  • Yamagusuku ()
  • Yamazato ()
  • Zenda ()

Climate

Kumejima has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) bordering on a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af) with very warm summers and mild winters. Precipitation is abundant throughout the year; the wettest month is May and the driest month is July.

Education

Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education operates .

Kumejima Town operates municipal elementary and junior high schools.

Junior high schools:

  • Kumejima Nishi Junior High School ()
  • Kumi Junior High School ()

Elementary schools:

  • Hiyajiyo ()
  • Kumeshima ()
  • Misaki ()
  • Nakazato ()
  • Otake ()
  • Shimizu ()

Culture

Uezu House is a traditional Ryukyuan Governor's house dating back hundreds of years. The walled grounds contain gardens, a main house, and outlying buildings. The house is a quiet and peaceful look back into the history of Okinawa.

In order to maintain and preserve the historic estate, there is a 300 yen entry fee for adults, payable at the house. If an attendant is not available, it is customary to leave the amount in a tray.

There are five castle sites on Kume Island that can be visited. The most prominent is Uegusuku Castle on Mount Uegusuku, which is the highest situated castle in Okinawa Prefecture. Gushikawa Castle is also designated a National Treasure.

Cultural Properties

There are sixty-three cultural properties in Kumejima Town.

  • Name (Japanese) (Type of registration)

Cultural Properties

  • Anchor Stone from Uegusuku Castle () (Municipal)
  • Criminal Records () (Municipal)
  • Former Nakazato Magiri Warehouse stone walls () (National)
  • Kominato Matsubara Tomb () (Municipal)
  • Painting: flowers and birds, colour on silk, by Son'oku () (Prefectural)
  • Portrait of Kikumura Keisō (Katami Jitudē), colour on paper () (Prefectural)
  • Public records of Kume Nakazato Magiri () (Municipal)
  • Public records of the villages of Kume Nakazato Magiri () (Municipal)
  • Round Black Lacquer Outer Box with Chrysanthemums, Flowers, Birds, and Insects, Chinkin Technique () (Prefectural)
  • Round Green Lacquer Inner Box with Phoenixes and Clouds, Chinkin Technique () (Prefectural)
  • Tenkō-gÅ« Shrine () (Prefecture)
  • Uezu Family Documents () (Prefectural)
  • Uezu Family Residence () (National)

Folk Cultural Properties

  • Taizan ishigantō stone () (Municipal)

Historic Sites

  • Chinaha Castle Site () (Prefectural)
  • Chinpē Dunchi Praying Site () (Municipal)
  • Dakidun Uganju Praying Site and its Large Banyan Tree () (Municipal)
  • Gushikawa Castle Site () (National)
  • Gushikawa Magiri Kuramoto (Administrative Office) Site () (Municipal)
  • Hantabaru Site () (Municipal)
  • Hōtoku Jinja Shrine () (Municipal)
  • IshidōnÄ« Rock () (Municipal)
  • Kanegusuku Utaki Sacred Site and plant community () (Municipal)
  • Kume Island Ōhara Shell Mound () (Prefectural)
  • Nakazato Magiri Kuramoto (Administrative Office) Site () (Prefectural)
  • Namida Ishi (Tears Rock) () (Municipal)
  • Nana Utaki Jinja Shrine () (Municipal)
  • Shimojibaru Cave Site () (Municipal)
  • Shimojibaru Shell Mound () (Municipal)
  • Shimojibaru Site () (Municipal)
  • Sonami Beacon () (Municipal)
  • Stone Tomb of Shimajiri () (Municipal)
  • Suhara Castle Site () (Municipal)
  • Tunnaha Castle Site () (Municipal)
  • Uegusuku Castle Site () (National)
  • Utida Stone () (Prefectural)
  • Utida Stone of Shimajiri () (Municipal)
  • Watchtower Office Site () (Municipal)
  • Yamato Tomari Coast () (Municipal)

Places of scenic beauty

  • Aka-gurushi Hill () (Municipal)
  • Aka-no-Higemizu Waterfall () (Municipal)
  • Hiyajō-banta Cliff () (Municipal)
  • Tokujimu Coast and Andesite Cobble Area () (Municipal)
  • Ueda Forest () (Municipal)

Natural Monuments

  • Anmāgusuku Rock () (Municipal)
  • Bedrock in the area of Ikkachi (fish stone wall) () (Municipal)
  • Dianthus superbus (flower) () (Municipal)
  • Giant Sago Palm Tree Cycas revoluta of Une () (Prefectural)
  • Kume Goeda-no-matsu Pine Tree () (National)
  • Lone Pine Tree of Kumibaru Utaki () (Municipal)
  • Lone Pine Tree of Sesu () (Municipal)
  • Maja beautiful fukugi tree lane () (Prefectural)
  • Pine tree lane of Takinda () (Municipal)
  • Sea almond and deigo tree of Nangijō Praying Site () (Municipal)
  • Sea almonds and banyan trees of Kumejima Elementary School () (Municipal)
  • Sea almonds and banyan trees of Nakazato Elementary School () (Municipal)
  • Sea almond of Gima Shiradōgura () (Municipal)
  • Six Pine Trees of Ikeda () (Municipal)
  • Tachijami Rock () (Municipal)
  • Tatami-ishi rock formation of Ou Island () (National)
  • Ūrii Utaki area plant community () (Municipal)

Deep Seawater and OTEC

Since 2001, the Okinawa Prefecture Deep Seawater Research Institute has researched the uses of deep seawater on Kumejima, fostering the development of new aquaculture and production industries totaling $20 million in yearly revenue. Due to the deep seawater resource, Kumejima now has the largest market share of Sea Grapes and Kuruma Prawns in Japan.

In March 2013, Okinawa Prefecture completed the world's only fully operational Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Demonstration Facility. The facility is open to tours by appointment for free.

Notable people

Sister cities

Gallery

References

External links