Shinojima (篠島) is an inhabited island in Mikawa Bay on the Pacific coast of Japan.[1] The island is administered as part of the town of Minamichita in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of 2015[update], the island's population was 1,653 inhabitants in 622 households. All of the island is within the borders of the Mikawa-wan Quasi-National Park.
Native name: 篠島 | |
|---|---|
 Aerial photograph of Shinojima | |
  Shinojima  Shinojima | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Mikawa Bay, Aichi Prefecture, Japan |
| Coordinates | 34°40′30″N 137°0′15″E / 34.67500°N 137.00417°E |
| Area | 0.94 km2 (0.36 sq mi) |
| Coastline | 8,200 m (26900 ft) |
| Highest elevation | 49 m (161 ft) |
| Administration | |
Japan | |
| Prefecture | Aichi |
| District | Chita |
| Town | Minamichita |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1,653 (2015) |
| Ethnic groups | Japanese |
Geography
editShinojima is located approximately 10 kilometers from either Chita Peninsula or Atsumi Peninsula and three kilometers south of Himakajima. The highest point on the island is 49 meters, and is located in approximately the center of the island. Settlement is concentrated in a single hamlet. The total area of the island is 0.94 square kilometers. The island is rocky, and is surrounded by numerous offshore rocks and reefs.
Minor associated islands
editShinojima has nine smaller associated islands - Kijima, Oisojima, Chikimijima, Nojima, Matsushima, Togamejima, Hirashima, Koisojima, and Nakatejima. Due to modern landfill work, Koisojima and Nakatejima are now physically attached to the main Shinojima island.
History
editEarliest settlement
editShinojima has been inhabited since at least the Jōmon period. On Koisojima, archaeologists found ancient pottery dating back to the early Jomon period, roughly 9000 ago. At Shimei Shrine, a shell mound was unearthed containing jomon pottery, notched deer antlers, and bone and antler tools. Archaeological layers containing pottery, stone tools, accessories and other items dating to the late Jomon, roughly 4000 years ago, have been found throughout the island.[2] archaeologists have also found Yayoi period and Kofun period remains.
Links with Ise Shrine
editLong associated with Ise Shrine, the island is mentioned in the Nara period Man'yōshū poetry anthology. It has supplied salted and dried sea bream to the shrine for use as offerings since before the Nara period. These offerings are made three times a year. The salted sea bream are first blessed in the Obendai Dedication Ceremony on Shinojima, before being transported to Ise City by fishing boat. Finally they are offered to the diety at the Gojoden in the Ise Shrine as part of a Shinto festival.[3]
Due to its connection with Ise Shrine, during these earlier periods, Shimojima belonged to the Shima Province (later Ise Province),[4] despite its geographical distance. During the reconstruction of Ise Shrine every twenty years, one of the buildings from Ise Shrine is always dismantled and Ishipped to Shinojima, where it is re-erected as the honden of the local Shimmei Jinja, founded in 771 AD.
Later periods
editDuring the Edo period, it was part of the holdings of Owari Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate and contained a fishing settlement. Kato Kiyomasa is said to have used granite quarried on Shinojima in the construction of Nagoya Castle. With the establishment of the modern municipalities system after the start of the Meiji period, the island was organized as a village within Chita District, Aichi. It merged with surrounding towns and villages to form the town of Minamichita on June 1, 1961.
Fisheries
editThe waters around Shinojima are teaming with fish, and support strong fisheries of red snapper, oysters, fugu, and conger eel. The island catches the most whitebait (shirasu) of any fishery area in Japan.[4] Because of the ready availability of seafood, it appears in many of the regional dishes of the island.[5]
Flora and fauna
editThe area around Shinojima is a breeding ground for the endangered Red Sea turtle.[6]
Tourism
editIn August 2024, actor and celebrity Junior Chihara was appointed tourism ambassador for Shinojima. He became a fan of the island after travelling there for a TV show he was a part of.[7]
Festivals
editShinoshima Gion Festival - held in July (July 13 in 2024), this is the island’s major festival.[7]
The Shinojima music festival has been held in early August since 2007. In returned in 2024 after a five year hiatus due to the COVID epidemic.[8]
Access
editShinojima is 10 minutes by high speed ferry, or 20 minutes by car ferry from Morozaki Port, 30 minutes by high speed ferry from Kowa Port, and 25 minutes by high speed ferry from Irago Port.[9] Ferries to and from the island are run by Meitetsu.
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Izu Shotō," Japan Encyclopedia,.
- ^ 日本の島 (Islands of Japan), issue 80, 8/8/2023, DeAtostini Japan, p.5.
- ^ "神嘗祭で神前に供える鯛の干物「御幣鯛（おんべだい）」を伊勢神宮に奉納 愛知・南知多町の篠島から | 東海地方のニュース【CBC news】 | CBC web (1ページ)". CBCニュース (in Japanese). 2024-10-13. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ a b 日本の島 (Islands of Japan), issue 80, 8/8/2023, DeAtostini Japan, p.2.
- ^ "魚が食べたい！＃１８９ 愛知県篠島漁港（シラス、ワタリガニ）". www.bs-asahi.co.jp (in Japanese). 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ "骨になったウミガメ、先生たちは組み上げた 変わらぬ島の自然願って：朝日新聞デジタル". 朝日新聞デジタル (in Japanese). 2024-05-31. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ a b "海の幸、人情「どっぷりはまってます」 千原ジュニアさんが篠島観光大使に：中日新聞Web". 中日新聞Web (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ "吉田拓郎さんファンの「伝説の地」南知多・篠島で音楽祭 ５年ぶり開催：中日新聞Web". 中日新聞Web (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ 日本の島 (Islands of Japan), issue 80, 8/8/2023, DeAtostini Japan, p.4.
References
edit- Teikoku's Complete Atlas of Japan, Teikoku-Shoin., Ltd. Tokyo 1990, ISBN 4-8071-0004-1
External links
edit
Media related to Shino Island at Wikimedia Commons