Tokunoshima, Kagoshima

Tokunoshima (徳之島町, Tokunoshima-chō) is a town located on Tokunoshima, in Ōshima District, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

Tokunoshima 徳之島町
Town
Kametoku Port
Flag Seal
Location of Tokunoshima in Kagoshima Prefecture
Tokunoshima
Coordinates: 27°46′02″N 129°0′06″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu (Amami Islands)
Prefecture	Kagoshima Prefecture
District	Ōshima
First official recorded	699 AD
Kametsu town settled	January 1, 1942
As current town name changed	April 1, 1958
Government
• Mayor	Hideki Takaoka
Area
• Total	104.87 km2 (40.49 sq mi)
Population  (October 1, 2020)
• Total	10,147
• Density	96.8/km2 (251/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number	0997-82-1111
Address	7203 Kametsu, Tokunoshima-machi, Ōshima-gun, Kagoshima-ken 891-7101
Website	www.tokunoshima-town.org

As of October 2020, the town has an estimated population of 10,147 and a population density of 96.8 persons per km². The total area is 104.87  km².

Geography

Tokunoshima occupies the northeastern portion of the island of Tokunoshima, with the Pacific Ocean to the east.

The town as a governmental entity comprises several districts containing a variety of villages and one larger town. This town, generally referred to as Kametsu, is focused around the district of the same name and the neighboring port of Kametoku. Kametsu is the main center of commerce and services on the island.

Towns and villages

• Boma
• Inokawa
• Kametoku
• Kametsu
• Kaminomine
• Kanami
• Kedoku
• Omo
• San
• Shimokushi
• Shirai
• Shoda
• Tete
• Todoroki
• Tokuwase

Surrounding municipalities

• Amagi
• Isen

Climate

The climate is classified as humid subtropical (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and mild winters (average temperature 21.1 °C (70.0 °F)). Precipitation is high throughout the year, but is highest in the months of May, June and September. Because of its climate, tropical and sub-tropical fruits are in abundance.

History

On 1 April 1908 Kametsu Village was founded. It was upgraded to town status on January 1, 1942. As with all of Tokunoshima, the town came under the administration of the United States from 1 July 1946 to 25 December 1953. On 1 April 1958, Kametsu merged with the neighboring village of Higashi-Amagi, and was renamed Tokunoshima.

Transportation

• Kametoku Port

Noted people from Tokunoshima

• Kyokudōzan Kazuyasu – sumo wrestler
• Ichinoya Mitsuru – sumo wrestler

External links

Media related to Tokunoshima, Kagoshima at Wikimedia Commons

• Tokunoshima official website (in Japanese)