Ogasawara Subprefecture
Encyclopedia
is a subprefecture
of Tokyo
, Japan
. The subprefecture covers the Bonin Islands and includes the village of Ogasawara
; and the prefectural government maintains a main office on Chichijima and a branch office on Hahajima.
The Ogasawara Islands refer to a scattered group of islands in the Northwest Pacific south of the Japanese main island of Honshū. They consist of the Ogasawara archipelago
, the Volcano (Io or Iwo) Islands and several isolated islands.
These Bonin Islands (the Ogasawara archipelago) are composed of the three island groups:
These main island clusters are encompassed within the Tokyo prefectural administrative area known as the Ogasawara Subprefecture; but only the islands of the Ogawawara archipelago are traditionally considered to be the Bonin Islands. These geologically older and larger islands are traditionally considered distinct from the administratively-related but geologically newer and smaller island clusters and other isolated outcroppings in this part of the Pacific.
The current Japanese administrative structure has its historical organizational roots in the post-war occupation of these strategically positioned Pacific islands. In the 23 years that US Trust Territory was administered by the Americans, the region was known as the Bonin-Volcano Islands. Prior to repatriation
in 1968, this military strategic area remained under the control of U.S. military occupation forces.
-- the northern-most cluster.
-- the middle cluster.
The islanders also stress the uniquely multicultural roots of the Ogasawara life, where roughly one-tenth of the Japanese population is descended from early European and American settlers, with some families going back up to seven generations.
27.09566°N 142.191042°W
Subprefectures of Japan
Certain prefectures of Japan are now, or once were, divided into subprefectures. The subprefecture is the jurisdiction surrounding a of the prefectural government. Normally, the area of a subprefecture consists of a few to a dozen cities, towns, and/or villages. Subprefectures are formed to...
of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The subprefecture covers the Bonin Islands and includes the village of Ogasawara
Ogasawara, Tokyo
is a village in Ogasawara Subprefecture, Tokyo, Japan, that governs the Bonin Islands, Volcano Islands and three remote islands .-Geography:...
; and the prefectural government maintains a main office on Chichijima and a branch office on Hahajima.
The Ogasawara Islands refer to a scattered group of islands in the Northwest Pacific south of the Japanese main island of Honshū. They consist of the Ogasawara archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
, the Volcano (Io or Iwo) Islands and several isolated islands.
History
Until 1830, the Ogasawara Islands were uninhabited and thus called "Muninjima" (meaning "uninhabited island"). This Japanese name was transliterated or transformed into the more widely known English name—the Bonin Islands.These Bonin Islands (the Ogasawara archipelago) are composed of the three island groups:
-
-
- Chichijima Islands
-
- Hahajima Islands
- Mukojima Islands.
These main island clusters are encompassed within the Tokyo prefectural administrative area known as the Ogasawara Subprefecture; but only the islands of the Ogawawara archipelago are traditionally considered to be the Bonin Islands. These geologically older and larger islands are traditionally considered distinct from the administratively-related but geologically newer and smaller island clusters and other isolated outcroppings in this part of the Pacific.
The current Japanese administrative structure has its historical organizational roots in the post-war occupation of these strategically positioned Pacific islands. In the 23 years that US Trust Territory was administered by the Americans, the region was known as the Bonin-Volcano Islands. Prior to repatriation
Repatriation
Repatriation is the process of returning a person back to one's place of origin or citizenship. This includes the process of returning refugees or soldiers to their place of origin following a war...
in 1968, this military strategic area remained under the control of U.S. military occupation forces.
Geography
The three main groups which comprise the archipelago. All the islands together comprise only 61 square kilometers; and they are:-
- ... plus a few outcrops, the most remote northerly one is
-
- ... plus islets known only as
-
- ... plus islets known only as
- the -- the southern-most cluster.
-
- ... plus a few other small and miscellaneous islands known as
-
- ... plus a few other small and miscellaneous islands known as
Development
Lessons learned the hard way from the experience of the Galapagos Islands are potentially paradoxical. The ecosystem fragility is well documented; and it suggests comparisons with the cautious development history of the Galapagos.The islanders also stress the uniquely multicultural roots of the Ogasawara life, where roughly one-tenth of the Japanese population is descended from early European and American settlers, with some families going back up to seven generations.
See also
- Subprefectures of JapanSubprefectures of JapanCertain prefectures of Japan are now, or once were, divided into subprefectures. The subprefecture is the jurisdiction surrounding a of the prefectural government. Normally, the area of a subprefecture consists of a few to a dozen cities, towns, and/or villages. Subprefectures are formed to...
- Ogasawara, TokyoOgasawara, Tokyois a village in Ogasawara Subprefecture, Tokyo, Japan, that governs the Bonin Islands, Volcano Islands and three remote islands .-Geography:...
- Volcano IslandsVolcano IslandsThe Volcano Islands is a group of three Japanese islands south of the Bonin Islands that belong to the municipality of Ogasawara...
External links
- Ogasawara Subprefecture website
27.09566°N 142.191042°W