Hikoshima (彦島) (also called Hikishima (引島) in Nihon Shoki) is an island on the south-west tip of Honshu, Japan.
Native name: 彦島 Hikoshima | |
|---|---|
  Hikoshima Location in Japan | |
| Geography | |
| Location | East China Sea |
| Coordinates | 33°56′14″N 130°54′52″E / 33.93722°N 130.91444°E |
| Area | 10.58 km2 (4.08 sq mi) |
| Length | 5.7 km (3.54 mi) |
| Width | 2 km (1.2 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 111.8 m (366.8 ft) |
| Highest point | mount 大山 (Ooyama) |
| Administration | |
Japan | |
| Prefecture | Yamaguchi Prefecture |
| city | Shimonoseki |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 30182 (2011) |
| Pop. density | 2,853/km2 (7389/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Japanese |
Geography
editThe island is irregularly shaped and hilly. The strait, as narrow as 40 metres (44 yd), separates the island from the main island of Honshu. The parts of sprawling city of Shimonoseki occupy most of the island, making it the most populous minor island in Yamaguchi Prefecture, albeit only sixth in size by area.
Transportation
editThe island is connected to the Japanese mainland of Honshu by three bridges, one above ship lock. Kanmon Railway Tunnel connects island to Kyushu, but San'yō Main Line has no stop-overs on island, nearby station being the Shimonoseki Station in the downtown area.[1] Also, bridge connection exist to the small 竹の子島 (Takenoko-jima) on the north-western tip of the Hikoshima.
History
editThe island was inhabited since prehistory, as evidenced by petroglyphs found in 1918.[2] Following the Battle of Dan-no-ura, the refugees from the Taira clan has migrated to island and set the basis for the local agriculture. The island was an important site of Shimonoseki Campaign in 1863-1864 when it was much feared the island would become the Japanese variant of Hong Kong.[3] The island industrialization began in 1924 with the building of ammonium sulphate plant with German license in 1924.[4] Currently island is heavily populated and industrialized, including shipyard[5] and titanium&zinc smelter.[6]
Attractions
editNotable residents
edit- Michiyo Kogure - film actress
- Shinji Yamashita - actor
- Atsushi Tamura - comedian
- Shinobu Otowa - enka singer
- Hideo Fujimoto - baseball pitcher
- Masashi Nishiyama - judoka
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Let's travel around Japan - Shimonoseki city
- ^ David S. Whitle, "Handbook of Rock Art Research", p. 766
- ^ Keiya Mizuno, Naoki Naganuma, "Life Works Itself Out: (And Then You Nap)", p.48
- ^ Akira Kudo, "Japanese-German Business Relations: Co-operation and Rivalry in the Interwar Period", p. 240
- ^ Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works Enoura Plant/ Yamatomachi Plant
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook, 2013, V. 3, Area Reports, International, Asia and the Pacific, p. 13.9
- ^ Yamaguchi travel guide - Hikojima
External links
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