Nemuro Subprefecture

Nemuro Subprefecture 根室支庁
Nemuro-shichō
Prefecture	Hokkaidō
Capital	Nemuro
Area
• Total	3,406.23 km2 (1,315.15 sq mi)
Population (March 2009)
• Total	84,035
• Density	25/km2 (64/sq mi)
Website	nemuro.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp

Nemuro (根室振興局, Nemuro-shinkō-kyoku) is a subprefecture of Hokkaidō, Japan. The Japanese claim the disputed Southern Kurile Islands (known as the Northern Territories in Japan) as part of this subprefecture.

As of July 31, 2004, the subprefecture has an estimated population of 86,152 and a (claimed) area of 8533.96 km².

Nakashibetsu Airport, the easternmost airport in Japan, is located in the Town of Nakashibetsu, Shibetsu District.

History

• November 1897: Nemuro Subprefecture established
• November 1897: Shana Subprefecture established
• December 1903: Shana Subprefecture and Nemuro Subprefecture merged
• August 1945: Soviets occupy the Kuril Islands

Geography

Nemuro Subprefecture (under Japanese control)

Cities

• Nemuro (capital)

Towns and villages by district

• Menashi District
  • Rausu
• Notsuke District
  • Betsukai
• Shibetsu District
  • Nakashibetsu
  • Shibetsu

Districts in the Northern Territories

Also known as the Southern Kurile Islands (occupied and administered by Russia, claimed by Japan)

• Shikotan
  • Shikotan
• Kunashiri (Kunashir)
  • Tomari (Golovnino)
  • Ruyobetsu (Yuzhno Kurilsk)
• Etorofu (Iturup)
  • Rubetsu (Pioner)
• Shana
  • Shana (Kurilsk)
• Shibetoro
  • Shibetoro (Rudnaya)

Districts renounced in San Francisco Treaty

Nemuro Subprefecture (including Southern Chishima)

• Uruppu
• Shimushiro (Shimushir)
• Shumushu

Islands

• Habomai Rocks
• Shikotan Island
• Kunashiri
• Etorofu (Iturup)

Mergers

See List of mergers in Hokkaidō Prefecture#Nemuro Subprefecture.

External links

• (Japanese) Official website