Miyako-jima
| Native name: Miyakojima (宮古島) | |
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 The location of Miyakojima City in Okinawa. |
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 Location in Japan
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| Geography | |
| Location | Okinawa Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 24°46′N 125°19′E / 24.767°N 125.317°E |
| Archipelago | Miyako Islands |
| Area | 158.70 km2 (61.274 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 115 m (377 ft) |
| Highest point | Nakao |
| Country | |
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Japan
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| Demographics | |
| Population | 55,914 (as of 30 October 2006) |
| Density | 275.4 /km2 (713.3 /sq mi) |
Miyakojima (Japanese: 宮古島; Miyako: [mjaːku]; Okinawan: [naːku, mjaːku]) is the largest and the most populous island among the Miyako Islands of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It lies approximately 400 kilometres east of Taipei, Taiwan. With an area of 158.70 square kilometres, Miyako is the fourth-largest island in Okinawa Prefecture.
Miyakojima is well-known for its beauty, particularly the Eastern Cape (東平安名岬 Higashi-hennazaki), which is considered by many as one of the most beautiful spots in Japan. Other places worth noting include Maehama beach, the German Cultural Center, Painagama Beach, and the sights on Irabu-jima. Miyako also has its own version of Miyako soba.
There are two close islands which are connected by bridges to Miyako-jima:
- Ikemajima (池間島 Ikema-jima)
- Kurimajima (来間島 Kurima-jima)
The Miyako language, one of several Ryukyuan languages, is spoken here.
Miyako airport is the only airport on the island.
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[edit] Rites unique to Miyakojima
There is a unique festival called Paantu (パーントゥ), which occurs in the ninth month of the old (lunar) calendar. Three men dressed in grasses and mud go about smearing it everywhere. They carry sticks in one hand and a simple but scary mask in the other. Those people who have been dirtied by the Pantu will have a year of protection. Owners of new homes will also invite Pantu to give a 'blessing' to their homes.
[edit] Miyako culture
- Otori is a custom of drinking Awamori, a distilled beverage native to Okinawa Japan. It is performed by people sitting (usually around a table). One offers a toast, drinks from a small glass, and then offers some to each person at the table making a round, and usually going to the right. When the toaster makes his way back to his spot the person who passed the Otori before pours him another glass. He then announces "TSUNAGIMASU" and drinks his second glass. After some brief interval it is then the turn of the next person to pass the Otori. This continues until the celebration is ended.
[edit] Points of interest
- Miyakojima City Tropical Plant Garden
- Japan Airlines maintains a ticketing office on Miyakojima island. It is only for domestic flights.[1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "JAL Group Offices Information." Japan Airlines. Retrieved on July 22, 2011. "MIYAKO Only Domestic Ticketing Available Address 223 Nishizato Hirara Miyako City, 906-0012" Map
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Miyakojima, Okinawa |
- Miyakojima Website (Japanese)
- Pantu in Japanese
- Iphone website in english of miyakojima
- WLCM.net, Miyako Folklore English translation by Mark Wisniewski
- WLMC.net, Miyako Natural Science English translation by Mark Wisniewski
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