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Ogami Island

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ōgami Island
Native name:
Ōgami-jima (大神島)
Aerial view of Ōgami-jima
Ōgami Island is north of Miyako Island, and east of Ikema Island
Geography
LocationOkinawa Prefecture
Coordinates24°54′59.4″N 125°18′28.6″E / 24.916500°N 125.307944°E / 24.916500; 125.307944
ArchipelagoMiyako Islands
Total islands1
Area0.24 km2 (0.093 sq mi)[1]
Administration
Japan
Demographics
Population35[1] (2019)
Pop. density145.83/km2 (377.7/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsRyukyuan, Japanese

Ōgami Island (大神島, Ōgami-jima), Ōgami dialect: Ukam, is one of the islands of the Miyako Islands. It is about 4km north of Miyako-jima (island) and belongs to Miyakojima City, which was created in 2005 by a merger of many smaller towns on the island chain. Before the merger, it belonged to Hirara City. The area is 0.24 km2, and the population is 35.[1]

Transportation

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The island has no airport and is not connected by bridge to any other island. The only way to reach it is by boat. There are four round-trip boat rides per day.[2]

Population

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Settlements are concentrated on the south coast of the island, near the port. There is also another settlement near the center of the island, at the highest point.

Economy

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The island's economy is based on fishing, with dried octopus being a specialty. In recent years, the island has tried to promote tourism by setting up a tourism website.

Demographics

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The population of the islands is approximately 35 people, most of whom are elderly.[3] The island's population is expected to decrease as residents age.

Language

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Older residents speak the Ōgami dialect,[4] a dialect of Miyakoan that is phonologically different from other Miyakoan dialects. Like Miyakoan itself, the dialect is in danger of dying out as younger residents do not speak it.

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Ogami Island - Visit Okinawa", 2019. Retrieved on 4 Aug 2021.
  2. ^ "島から出られない…人口20人の切実な問題 沖縄・大神島、旅客船が故障中". 沖縄タイムス+プラス (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-08-04.
  3. ^ "大神島│宮古島から4km離島案内". 大神島. Retrieved 2021-08-04.
  4. ^ NetCommons (1999-12-27). "南琉球大神島方言の音対応と音変化". 岩手大学教育学部研究年報 = Annual report of the Faculty of Education, University of Iwate (in Japanese). 59 (2): 39–53. ISSN 0367-7370.