Koshikijima Islands

Koshikijima Islands (甑島列島 "Koshikijima rettō") in the East China Sea are an island chain that belongs to the city of Satsumasendai, Kagoshima, Japan. It is located 38 km west of the port city of Ichikikushikino, Kagoshima. Kagoshima Prefecture itself exists on the island of Kyūshū.

Major islands

* Kami-Koshikijima (上甑島), located northward. Area: 45.08 km²
* Naka-Koshikijima (中甑島), located near center. Area: 7.29 km²
* Shimo-Koshikijima (下甑島), located southward. Area: 66.27 km²

Minor islands

* Nojima (野島)
* Chikajima (近島)
* Futagojima (双子島)

Total area: 118.68 km²

History

The islands once consisted of 14 villages, belonging to Shikijima gun, Satsuma Province ("Satsuma no Kuni") during the Meiji period.In 1889, the islands were consolidated into Kami-Koshiki and Shimo-Koshiki villages.In 1897, the islands were merged with Satsuma gun. Later, Kashima village and Sato village broke off, totalling in 4 villages.In 2004, during "the great Heisei merger", the villages were merged with Sendai, a city that exists on the main island of Kyūshū.

External links

* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=31.753277,129.784241&spn=0.307698,0.726471&t=k&om=1 Map at Google Maps]