Kumejima, Okinawa
Encyclopedia
is a town
located in Shimajiri District
, Okinawa
, Japan
. The town is on the islands of Kumejima
, Ōjima, Ōhajima, Torishima, and Iōtorishima. Among the islands, only Kumejima and Ōjima are populated.
As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 8,953 and a population density of 141 persons per km². The total area is 63.50 km².
Kumejima is located approximately 100 km west of Naha
, and can be accessed by the New Kumejima Ferry, Japan Transocean Air, or Ryukyu Air Commuter. It is well known for its textiles (Kumejima-tsumugi
, an Important Intangible Cultural Property), Kumesen Awamori (Okinawan sake), and deep sea water. 255 ha
of wetland have been designated a Ramsar Site
.
Historically due to Kumejima's abundance of freshwater, rice was once extensively cultivated. Recently however Kumejima's main industry is sugar cane (sato-kibi) and tourism.
Kumejima is often said to be one of the most beautiful of the Okinawa Islands
and the Ryukyu Islands
. During the time of the Ryūkyū Kingdom
, Kumejima was often visited by Chinese envoys called "sapposhi" on their way to Shuri Castle
on Okinawa Island
. When the Ryūkyū kingdom was abolished by Japan, many noble families were moved from Shuri to Kumejima.
Kumejima Airport
serves the island.
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
located in Shimajiri District
Shimajiri District, Okinawa
is a district located in Okinawa, Japan. Roughly translated, Shimajiri means "Butt of the island" which refers to its southerly position on the island of Okinawa. Compare this to Kunigami District, Okinawa....
, Okinawa
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The town is on the islands of Kumejima
Kumejima Island
is an island, part of the Okinawa Islands and administratively in the Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It has an area of 59.11 km². It belongs to the Ryukyu Islands . The main town Kumejima has a population of 8,713 ....
, Ōjima, Ōhajima, Torishima, and Iōtorishima. Among the islands, only Kumejima and Ōjima are populated.
As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 8,953 and a population density of 141 persons per km². The total area is 63.50 km².
Kumejima is located approximately 100 km west of Naha
Naha, Okinawa
is the capital city of the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa.Naha is a coastal city located on the East China Sea coast of the southern part of Okinawa Island, the largest of the Ryukyu Islands...
, and can be accessed by the New Kumejima Ferry, Japan Transocean Air, or Ryukyu Air Commuter. It is well known for its textiles (Kumejima-tsumugi
Kumejima-tsumugi
is the Japanese craft of silk cloth practised in Kumejima, Okinawa Prefecture. Kumejima tsumugi has the longest history of the approximately two hundred forms of tsumugi, and is the oldest kasuri fabric...
, an Important Intangible Cultural Property), Kumesen Awamori (Okinawan sake), and deep sea water. 255 ha
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
of wetland have been designated a Ramsar Site
Ramsar sites in Japan
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. Adopted in 1971, it entered into force in 1975 and as of March 2011 has 160 Contracting Parties. Japan was the twenty-fourth party to accede, on 17 October 1980...
.
Historically due to Kumejima's abundance of freshwater, rice was once extensively cultivated. Recently however Kumejima's main industry is sugar cane (sato-kibi) and tourism.
Kumejima is often said to be one of the most beautiful of the Okinawa Islands
Okinawa Islands
Okinawa Islands are a group of islands that belongs to Okinawa Prefecture. Okinawa Prefecture makes up a portion of the Ryukyu Islands. The prefectural capital Naha, as well as most of the population, exists on the largest island, Okinawa Island...
and the Ryukyu Islands
Ryukyu Islands
The , also known as the , is a chain of islands in the western Pacific, on the eastern limit of the East China Sea and to the southwest of the island of Kyushu in Japan. From about 1829 until the mid 20th century, they were alternately called Luchu, Loochoo, or Lewchew, akin to the Mandarin...
. During the time of the Ryūkyū Kingdom
Ryukyu Kingdom
The Ryūkyū Kingdom was an independent kingdom which ruled most of the Ryukyu Islands from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Kings of Ryūkyū unified Okinawa Island and extended the kingdom to the Amami Islands in modern-day Kagoshima Prefecture, and the Sakishima Islands near Taiwan...
, Kumejima was often visited by Chinese envoys called "sapposhi" on their way to Shuri Castle
Shuri Castle
Shuri Castle is a gusuku in Shuri, Okinawa. It was the palace of the Ryūkyū Kingdom. In 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa, it was almost completely destroyed...
on Okinawa Island
Okinawa Island
Okinawa Island is the largest of the Okinawa Islands and the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, and is home to Naha, the capital of Okinawa Prefecture. The island has an area of...
. When the Ryūkyū kingdom was abolished by Japan, many noble families were moved from Shuri to Kumejima.
Kumejima Airport
Kumejima Airport
is an airport in Kumejima, a city and island in the Okinawa Prefecture of Japan.The prefecture operates the airport, which is classified as a third class airport.-Airlines and destinations:-External links:* * from Japan Airlines...
serves the island.