Ogasawara (å°ç¬ 原æ', Ogasawara-mura) is a village (rural municipality) in Ogasawara Subprefecture, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan, that governs the Bonin Islands, Volcano Islands and three remote islands (Nishinoshima, Minami Torishima and Okinotorishima).
Geography
The municipality consists of the following groups and single isolated islands:
- Bonin Islands (å°ç¬ 原群島, Ogasawara GuntÅ) 73.00 km²
- Nishino shima (西之島, literally: Western Island, also: Rosario Island), a single isolated Island west of Hahajima rettŠand north of the Volcano Islands, 0.29 km²
- Volcano Islands (ç«å±±åˆ—島, Kazan-rettÅ) 29.71 km²
- Kita Iwojima (北硫黄島, Kita-IÅtÅ, literally: North Sulphur Island) 5.57 km²
- Iwojima (硫黄島, IÅtÅ, literally: Sulphur Island) 20.60 km²
- Minami Iwojima (å—硫黄島, Minami-IÅtÅ, literally: South Sulphur Island) 3.54 km²
- Okinotorishima (沖ノ鳥島 or 沖鳥島, literally: Remote Bird Island) 0.01 km²
- Minamitorishima (å—鳥島, literally: Southern Bird Island, also: Marcus Island) 1.40 km²
The southernmost (uninhabited) group is known as the Volcano Islands. 700Â km further south is Okino Torishima, and 1,900Â km further east is Minamitorishima.
The population of the municipality resides on Chichi-jima (pop. about 2300) and Haha-jima (pop. about 500). The administration and village hall is located in the village of Omura on Chichi-jima. Besides, there is an air base with 400 soldiers on Iwojima of the Volcano Islands.
History
In 1940, five municipalities were created in the islands, which had been unincorporated before, two on Chichijima, two on Hahajima, and one on Iwojima
- ÅŒmura (大æ') on Chichijima
- ÅŒgimura-Fukurosawa (扇æ'袋沢æ', -mura) on Chichijima
- Kitamura (北æ') on Hahajima
- Okimura (æ²–æ') on Hahajima
- IÅtÅ (硫黄島æ', -mura) on Iwojima (IÅtÅ) (including all Volcano Islands)
Both villages of Kita Iwo Jima became part of newly created Iwojima municipality in 1940:
- Ishinomura (east)
- Nishimura (west)
Education
Ogasawara Village operates the island's public elementary and junior high schools.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education operates Ogasawara High School on Chichi-jima.
See also
- Ogasawara Subprefecture
- Bonin Islands
References
External links
- Ogasawara Village (Japanese)
- The Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands Language and Culture Site
- Ogasawara Channel (Japanese)
- "Ogasawara subtropical moist forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.Â
- National Archives of Japan: The faked map of 1752 mentioned in Hiroyuki Tanaka's 1998 article.
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Ogasawara-mura: maps/photos