Miyakojima, Okinawa
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Miyakojima
宮古島市 Myaaku | |
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 Flag | |
 Outline of Miyakojima (in red) in Okinawa Prefecture | |
  Miyakojima Location of Miyakojima in Okinawa Prefecture | |
| Coordinates: 24°48′20″N 125°16′52″E / 24.80556°N 125.28111°E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kyushu (Okinawa) |
| Prefecture | Okinawa Prefecture |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Toshihiko Shimoji |
| Area | |
• Total | 204.54 km2 (78.97 sq mi) |
| Population (December, 2012) | |
• Total | 54,908 |
| • Density | 268.45/km2 (695.3/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| - Tree | Banyan |
| - Flower | Bougainvillea and tiger's claw |
| - Bird | Grey-faced buzzard |
| - Butterfly | Paper kite |
| - Fish | Double-lined fusilier (Pterocaesio digramma) |
| - Shell | Chiragra spider conch (Lambis chiragra) |
| Phone number | 0980-72-3751 |
| Address | 186 Hirara Nishizato, Miyakojima-shi 906-8501 |
| Website | www |
Miyakojima (宮古島市, Miyakojima-shi, Miyako: Myaaku, Okinawan: Naaku) is a city jurisdiction located on several islands in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.
The modern city of Miyakojima was established on October 1, 2005, from the merger of the old city of Hirara, the towns of Gusukube, Irabu and Shimoji, and the village of Ueno (all from Miyako District). As a result of the merger, Miyako District only has one remaining village.
As of December 2012 the city has an estimated population of 54,908 and a population density of 268.45 per km2. The total area is 204.54 km2. The city had 24,728 households.[1] The mayor of Miyakojima is Toshihiko Shimoji (born 1945), who took office in the second mayoral election of the city in 2009.[2]
The islands administered by the city of Miyakojima include:
Transportation
The city of Miyakojima is served by two airports. Miyako Airport (MMY), the main commercial airport, is located on Miyako Island; and Shimoji Airport, initially a private field, is now a Class 3 facility operated by the prefectural government located on Shimojishima. This nearby island is close enough to be connected by a causeway bridge to the larger Miyako Island.
Notable residents
- Hideki Irabu, baseball player
- Katsuyoshi Tomori, golfer
- Kazumasa Uesato, footballer
- Masanobu Kikukawa, martial artist
- Mikio Shimoji, politician
Economy
Agriculture and livestock are the core financial industries in Miyakojima, with the main exports consisting of sugar cane, tobacco, and cattle. Fisheries and seaweed farms, producing species such as mozuku and sea lettuce, can be found in and around areas like Ikemajima and Irabujima. However, each year more and more land formerly used for agriculture is being sold and converted into residential and retail buildings.[3]
The tourism industry is a steadily growing component of Miyakojima's economy. Traveling to the islands is facilitated primarily through airlines and cruise lines. With the addition of international flights made available through the opening of Shimoji Airport in 2019, flights connecting to Miyako have been increasing – over 730,000 plane tickets entering into Miyakojima were purchased in 2019 alone.[4] Since 2016 cruises have been a significant catalyst to Miyakojima's tourism industry, notably megaships servicing international tourists.[5][6] Efforts to introduce space travel have also been announced, as PD Aerospace proposes to create a spaceport at Shimojijima airport and begin flights in 2025.[7]
Environmental initiatives
In 2008, the city announced the first "Declaration of Eco Island Miyakojima" with a goal to encourage industrial development and environmental conservation, notably of ground water sources and coral reefs. [8] This initiative was also focused on creating a self-sustaining energy supply primarily through low-cost solar energy. As of 2009, the city has been certified as an Eco-Model City. A second version of the Declaration of Eco Island Miyakojima was introduced under the slogan "Toward the Future 1,000 Years From Now" in 2018, with an action plan released in 2019. [9] This updated version maintains similar goals with some added initiatives such as the eradication of foreign animal species, namely peacocks, and the reduction of household waste discharge.[10] Under this second declaration, a greater emphasis has been placed on the promotion of these environmental initiatives through actions such as the establishment of an Eco Island Miyakojima brand, the creation of a contests, and the integration of environmental sustainability education into local public schools. [9] In 2019, the city was awarded a gold medal, also known as the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry Prize, in the New Energy Awards for its efforts in proliferating solar energy throughout the island. [11]
German influence
In 1873, the German ship Robertson was shipwrecked on Miyako Island.[12] The crew were saved and cared for by the local islanders. As a gift for the islanders' kindness, and as an excuse for German warships to enter Ryūkyūan waters, Kaiser Wilhelm I erected a monument on the island in 1876, known locally as the German Emperor's Tributary Monument or the Friendship Monument.[12] After Japan annexed the Ryūkyū Kingdom, Japan used this as evidence of a history of friendship between Japan and Germany.[12]
In 1987, the Ueno German Culture Village opened in Ueno village, Miyako.[13] Internet websites under the name Ueno German Cultural Village can be easily found, however Ueno Village, Miyako Island, no longer exists as a jurisdiction since, as mentioned above, all of the separate cities, towns and villages on the island were merged into Miyakojima city in 2005.
Climate
The climate of Miyakojima is on the boundary between a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen climate classification Af) and a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and mild winters. Precipitation is abundant throughout the year; August is the wettest month, and January and July are the driest.
| Climate data for Miyakojima, Okinawa | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 20.4 (68.7) |
20.9 (69.6) |
22.7 (72.9) |
25.1 (77.2) |
27.5 (81.5) |
29.9 (85.8) |
31.6 (88.9) |
31.2 (88.2) |
30.0 (86.0) |
27.8 (82.0) |
25.0 (77.0) |
22.0 (71.6) |
26.2 (79.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 18.0 (64.4) |
18.3 (64.9) |
20.0 (68.0) |
22.4 (72.3) |
24.8 (76.6) |
27.2 (81.0) |
28.7 (83.7) |
28.5 (83.3) |
27.4 (81.3) |
25.4 (77.7) |
22.7 (72.9) |
19.7 (67.5) |
23.6 (74.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 16.0 (60.8) |
16.2 (61.2) |
17.7 (63.9) |
20.2 (68.4) |
22.7 (72.9) |
25.2 (77.4) |
26.6 (79.9) |
26.3 (79.3) |
25.3 (77.5) |
23.6 (74.5) |
20.8 (69.4) |
17.8 (64.0) |
21.5 (70.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 130.8 (5.15) |
141.3 (5.56) |
137.8 (5.43) |
160.3 (6.31) |
207.7 (8.18) |
185.5 (7.30) |
130.8 (5.15) |
262.5 (10.33) |
230.0 (9.06) |
156.2 (6.15) |
146.9 (5.78) |
131.3 (5.17) |
2,021.1 (79.57) |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 72 | 75 | 77 | 80 | 82 | 84 | 80 | 80 | 79 | 75 | 73 | 70 | 77 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 86.4 | 82.6 | 112.0 | 123.2 | 151.1 | 191.9 | 246.7 | 220.5 | 184.6 | 153.8 | 112.0 | 101.3 | 1,766.1 |
| Source: JMA (1981-2010) [14] | |||||||||||||
References
- ^ 宮古島市の人口 [Population of Miyakojima City] (in Japanese). Miyakojima City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: Miyakojima City. 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
- ^ 市長プロフィール [Profile of Mayor] (in Japanese). Miyakojima City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: Miyakojima City. 2012. Retrieved Dec 18, 2012.
- ^ "農地転用が急増／市農業委18年度まとめ ｜ 宮古毎日新聞社ホームページ -宮古島の最新ニュースが満載！-". www.miyakomainichi.com. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
- ^ "入域観光客数について｜行政情報｜宮古島市". www.city.miyakojima.lg.jp. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
- ^ Author, No (2016-12-09). "Cruise liner influx overwhelming Miyakojima's economy". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "来年は300回超計画／平良港へのクルーズ船寄港 ｜ 宮古毎日新聞社ホームページ -宮古島の最新ニュースが満載！-". www.miyakomainichi.com. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
- ^ "PDエアロスペース、沖縄に宇宙旅行拠点 25年度開始". 日本経済新聞 (in Japanese). 2020-09-11. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
- ^ "エコアイランド宮古島宣言｜行政情報｜宮古島市". www.city.miyakojima.lg.jp. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
- ^ a b "エコアイランド宮古島宣言2.0". City of Miyakojima.
- ^ "宮古島市環境モデル都市行動計画" (PDF). City of Miyakojima. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
- ^ "令和元年度 新エネ大賞 | 新エネ大賞-New Energy Award- | 一般財団法人 新エネルギー財団". www.nef.or.jp. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
- ^ a b c Kerr, George. Okinawa: History of an Island People. Tokyo, Charles E. Tuttle Company, 1958. Page 410.
- ^ http://www.hakuaiueno.com/ 沖縄宮古島の「うえのドイツ文化村」ホームページ
- ^ "Miyakojima Climate Normals 1981-2010" (in Japanese). Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
External links
- Miyakojima City official website (in Japanese)
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