Kamijima, Ehime Explained

Kamijima
Native Name Lang:ja
Settlement Type:Town
Seal Type:Emblem
Image Map1:Kamijima in Ehime Prefecture Ja.svg
Pushpin Map:Japan
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Japan
Coordinates:34.25°N 145°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Japan
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Shikoku
Subdivision Type2:Prefecture
Subdivision Name2:Ehime
Subdivision Type3:District
Subdivision Name3:Ochi
Extinct Title:Now part of
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Title1:Vice Mayor
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Total Km2:30.38
Population Total:6,332
Population As Of:September 30, 2022
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:JST
Utc Offset1:+09:00
Blank Name Sec1:City hall address
Blank Info Sec1:210 Shimoyuge, Yuge, Kamijima-chō, Ochi-gun, Ehime-ken 794-2592
Module:
Embedded:yes

right|thumb|270px|Kamijima Town Hallright|thumb|270px|Iwaki port is a town located in Ochi District, Ehime Prefecture, Japan., the town had an estimated population of 6,332 in 3780 households and a population density of 210 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the town is 30.38sqkm.

Geography

Kamijima is an archipelago of 25 islands (seven of which are inhabited) the Seto Inland Sea in between Shikoku and Honshu, and is considered a subgroup of the Geiyo Islands. The highest elevation is Mount Sekizen on Iwaki Island, with a height of 370 meters. The main islands are Yugeshima, Sashima, Iwagishima, Akonejima, Tsunamijima, Ikinajima, Uoshima, Takaikamishima, Teshima, Enoshima, Hyakunoshima, Hyakkanjima (the northernmost tip of Ehime Prefecture)

Climate

Kamijima has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kamijima is 15.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1418 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in January, at around 27.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.2 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Kamijima has been generally decreasing since the 1960s and is now less than it was a century ago.

History

The area of Kamijima was part of ancient Iyo province, and during the Edo Period was part of the holdings of Iyo-Matsuyama Domain. The islands were strategically important for controlling trade in the Seto Inland Sea and became part of the route for daimyō from far western Japan to travel to-and-from the Shogun's court in Edo as part of their sankin kōtai obligation. The village of Yuge was established on December 15, 1889, with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was elevated to town status on January 1, 1953. On October 1, 2004, Yuge merged of the villages of Ikina, Iwagi, and Uoshima, to form the town of Kamijima.

Government

Kamijima has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 13 members. Kamijima, together with Imabari, contributes six members to the Ehime Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Ehime 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Kamijima is centered on aquaculture, horticulture and nursing care. The area around the islands is noted as a fishing ground for sea bream. Nori seaweed farming has long been popular. Shipbuilding-related industries are located on Iwagishima, including a machinery factory owned by Imabari Shipbuilding.

Education

Kamijima has four public elementary schools and three public middle school operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Ehime Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Transportation is entirely depends on sea transportation. Distance between the larger inhabited islands is short, and there are ferries that operate shuttles, albeit small ones, during the daytime hours. However, the car ferry is only connected to the Hiroshima Prefecture side, and there is no means of direct access by car to Ehime Prefecture.

Points of interest

Noted people from Kamijima

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kamijima town official statistics. Japan. ja.
  2. https://en.climate-data.org/asia/japan/ehime-prefecture/kamijima-57374/ Kamijima climate data
  3. https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-ehime.php Masaki population statistics
  4. https://www.dsincs-music.com/full-bio-english FULL BIO English