Ogami Island (大神島, ''Ogami-jima)'' is one of the islands of the
Miyako Islands
The (also Miyako Jima group) are a group of islands in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, belonging to the Ryukyu Islands. They are situated between the Okinawa Island and Yaeyama Islands.
In the early 1870s, the population of the islands was estim ...
. It is located about 4km north of
Miyako-jima (island) and belongs to
Miyakojima City. Miyakojima City was created in 2005 by a merger of many smaller towns located on the island chain. Before the merger, it belonged to
Hirara City. The area is 0.24 km
2, and the population is 35.
Transportation
The island has no airport and is not connected by bridge to other nearby islands. The only way to reach the island is by boat. There are four round-trip boat rides per day.
Population
Settlements are concentrated on the south coast of the island, near the port. There is also another settlement near the center of the island, at the highest point.
Economy
The island's economy is based on fishing, with dried
octopus
An octopus ( : octopuses or octopodes, see below for variants) is a soft-bodied, eight- limbed mollusc of the order Octopoda (, ). The order consists of some 300 species and is grouped within the class Cephalopoda with squids, cuttle ...
being a specialty. In recent years, the islands has tried to promote tourism by setting up
tourism site
Demographics
The population of the islands is approximately 35 people, most of whom are elderly. The island's population is expected to decrease as residents age.
Language
Residents speak the Ogami Dialect,
a dialect of
Miyakoan that is phonologically different than other Miyakoan dialects. Like Miyakoan itself, the dialect is in danger of dying out as younger residents do not speak it.
References
{{Reflist
Islands of Japan
Islands of Okinawa Prefecture