is a List of towns of Japan, town on Okushiri Island, located in Hiyama Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. As of September 2016, the town has an estimated population of 2,812, and a population density, density of 20 persons per km². The total area is 142.98 km². Hiyama Prefectural Natural Park encompasses the entire island and town.

Etymology

The name Okushiri comes from the Ainu language, Ainu name ''Ikusyun-shiri''. ''Iku'' means ''other side'' and ''shiri'' means island. However, the Japanese meaning of the two kanji used for the name mean "deep inside/innermost" and "buttocks/hips".

History

On July 12, 1993, the 1993 Okushiri earthquake, Southwest Hokkaido Open Sea earthquake (北海道南西沖地震) of Richter magnitude scale, magnitude 7.8 in the Sea of Japan off southwest Hokkaido created a devastating tsunami. This tsunami killed 198 people in the town, despite a tsunami warning system and a seawall, and also caused landslides on the hills above. Another 32 people were missing, including 3 in Russia and 129 were injured. The subsequent fire burned down much of what remained. The island was reshaped by the tsunami, which was 10 meters high in town. The tsunami struck within five minutes of the earthquake, leaving residents absolutely no warning. *1906: The village of Okushiri was founded. *1966: Okushiri Village became Okushiri Town. *1993: Southwest Hokkaido Open Sea earthquake occurred.

Climate

Okushiri has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification, Köppen ''Dfa'') closely bordering on a humid subtropical climate (''Cfa''). The average annual temperature in Okushiri is . The average annual rainfall is with August as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around , and lowest in January, at around . The highest temperature ever recorded in Okushiri was on 10 August 1999; the coldest temperature ever recorded was on 2 February 1996.

Transportation

Okushiri Island is accessible by air or sea. Okushiri Airport serves the island with daily flights to and from Hakodate Airport. Regular ferry services to and from Esashi, Hokkaido (Hiyama), Esashi (2 hours and 20 minutes) and Setana (1 hour and 40 minutes) are provided by Heartland Ferry, and time timetable changes seasonally. A local bus service operates year-round.

Education

* High schools ** Hokkaido Okushiri High School * Junior high schools ** Okushiri Junior High School ** Aonae Junior High School (closed in 2017 to merge with Okushiri Junior High School) * Elementary schools ** Okushiri Elementary School ** Aonae Elementary School

Etymology

History

Climate

Transportation

Education

Sister city

References

External links