is a

village A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to ...

located in the

Kerama Islands The are a subtropical island group southwest of Okinawa Island in Japan. Geography Four islands are inhabited: Tokashiki Island, Zamami Island, Aka Island, and Geruma Island. The islands are administered as Tokashiki Village and Zamami Villa ...

Okinawa Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi). Naha is the capital and largest city o ...

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

. It includes 10 islands, of which only Tokashiki and Maejima are inhabited, with Maejima only having very few residents. The village is part of

Shimajiri District is a district located in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Modern translation of Shimajiri means "Butt of the island" which may refer to its southerly position on the island of Okinawa. Compare this to Kunigami District, Okinawa. However, there are ...

. Tokashiki is known for its corals, sea, beach and sun. From Tomari Port in

Naha is the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture, the southernmost prefecture of Japan. As of 1 June 2019, the city has an estimated population of 317,405 and a population density of 7,939 persons per km2 (20,562 persons per sq. mi.). The total area i ...

, it takes less than one hour to reach this island. On 28 March 1945, during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, 394 inhabitants, mostly from farmer families, were forced by Japanese soldiers to immolate themselves with grenades after the landing of US troops.

Geography

The village of Tokashiki consists of 10 islands of various sizes in the center of the Kerama Islands. The village is located approximately west of Naha, the prefectural capital of Okinawa. The islands of village, particularly on Tokashiki Island itself, are rugged and mountainous.

Climate

History

Early history

Prior to World War II Tokashiki produced charcoal for the city of Naha. Bonito fishing was also a mainstay of the population of the island, but as the bonito industry declined, the population of the village was reduced greatly.

World War II

The American forces landed on Tokashiki on March 27, 1945, as an early part of the Battle of Okinawa. On the following day, March 28, 1945, 394 inhabitants of Tokashiki, mostly from farming families, immolated themselves with grenades after the landing of US troops, at the command of Japanese soldiers, in a practice that became known as ''shūdan jikketsu'', or group suicide. The group suicide on Tokashiki in late March was a precursor to large-scale group suicides on Okinawa Island in the following months.

Maejima

The island Maejima once had a population of 380, but a string of powerful typhoons forced the inhabitants to eventually abandon their homes and leave the island, with the last 4 families leaving in February 1962. From then on the island was uninhabited for 42 years until in 2003 a former resident moved back to the island together with his family.

Transportation

Tokashiki Island is connected to Tomari Port in Naha by ferry.

Economy

Agriculture

Tokashiki is home to small-scale farming. A small amount of vegetables are produced in the village.

Tourism

The village of Tokashiki is part of

Okinawa Kaigan Quasi-National Park is a Quasi-National Park on the coast of Okinawa and the Kerama Islands, Japan. It was established as a Prefectural Park in 1965 and re-designated with the return of Okinawa to Japanese administration in 1972. See also * List of national park ...

and is blessed with a remarkable number of spots of scenic beauty. Due to this, the village has promoted tourism as a primary industry since the reversion of Okinawa Prefecture to Japan in 1972. Numerous tourist facilities such as hotels, esplanades, and viewing towers have been built across Tokashiki Island.

Noted places

*Shinrin Park. The park is accessible from the Aharen district only by foot, and consist of a wide grassy area and a large-scale wooden for children. Shinrin Park is quiet as it has relatively few visitors.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Villages in Okinawa Prefecture Populated coastal places in Japan