Kumejima, Okinawa

Template:Template other 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. since 1 October 2020Template:Dated maintenance category (articles), the town had an estimated population of 7,192 and a population density of . The total area is Template:Cvt.

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 Template:Cvt of land and sea is protected as the Kumejima Prefectural Natural Park and Template:Cvt 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 (Template:Category handler)
• Gima (Template:Category handler)
• Gushikawa (Template:Category handler)
• Higa (Template:Category handler)
• Hiyajō (Template:Category handler)
• Itōtorishima (Template:Category handler)
• Janadō (Template:Category handler)
• Kadekaru (Template:Category handler)
• Kanegusuku (Template:Category handler)
• Kitahara (Template:Category handler)
• Magari (Template:Category handler)
• Maja (Template:Category handler)
• Nakachi (Template:Category handler)
• Nakadomari (Template:Category handler)
• Nakandakari (Template:Category handler)
• Nishime (Template:Category handler)
• Ōhara (Template:Category handler)
• Ōta (Template:Category handler)
• Ou (Template:Category handler)
• Shimajiri (Template:Category handler)
• Torishima (Template:Category handler)
• Uegusuku (Template:Category handler)
• Uezu (Template:Category handler)
• Une (Template:Category handler)
• Yamagusuku (Template:Category handler)
• Yamazato (Template:Category handler)
• Zenda (Template:Category handler)

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 Template:Ill.

Kumejima Town operates municipal elementary and junior high schools.

Junior high schools:

• Kumejima Nishi Junior High School (Template:Category handler)
• Kumi Junior High School (Template:Category handler)

Elementary schools:

• Hiyajiyo (Template:Category handler)
• Kumeshima (Template:Category handler)
• Misaki (Template:Category handler)
• Nakazato (Template:Category handler)
• Otake (Template:Category handler)
• Shimizu (Template:Category handler)

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

Folk Cultural Properties

• Taizan ishigantō stone (Template:Category handler) (Municipal)

Historic Sites

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

Places of scenic beauty

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

Natural Monuments

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

• Template:Ill, historian and writer who wrote the lyrics to the "Song of Okinawa Prefecture"

Sister cities

• Template:Flagicon Hawaiʻi County, Hawaiʻi, United States

Gallery

• Tatami ishi
  Tatami ishi

External links

• Template:Sister-inline
• Kumejima official website Template:In lang
• English Language Guide
• Official OTEC Website