Ōshima | |||
Native Name Lang: | ja | ||
Settlement Type: | Town | ||
Pushpin Map: | Japan#Japan Kanto | ||
Pushpin Map Caption: | |||
Coordinates: | 34.7501°N 139.3555°W | ||
Subdivision Type: | Country | ||
Subdivision Name: | Japan | ||
Subdivision Type1: | Region | ||
Subdivision Name1: | Kantō | ||
Subdivision Type2: | Prefecture | ||
Subdivision Name2: | Tokyo Metropolis | ||
Established Title: | First official recorded | ||
Established Date: | 620 AD | ||
Established Title2: | Town settled | ||
Established Date2: | April 1, 1955 | ||
Leader Title: | Mayor | ||
Leader Name: | Chōichi Sakaue (from April 2023) | ||
Area Total Km2: | 90.76 | ||
Population Total: | 7102 | ||
Population As Of: | October 1, 2020 | ||
Population Density Km2: | 78.3 | ||
Timezone1: | Japan Standard Time | ||
Utc Offset1: | +9 | ||
Blank Name Sec1: | Phone number | ||
Blank Info Sec1: | 04992-2-1443 | ||
Blank1 Name Sec1: | Address | ||
Blank1 Info Sec1: | 1-1-14 Motomachi, Ōshima-machi, Tokyo 100-0101 | ||
Blank Name Sec2: | Climate | ||
Blank Info Sec2: | Cfa | ||
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is a town located in Ōshima Subprefecture, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan., the town had an estimated population of 7,102, and a population density of 78.3 persons per km2. Its total area is 90.76sqkm.
Ōshima Town covers the island of Izu Ōshima, in the Izu archipelago in the Philippine Sea, 120km (80miles) south of central Tokyo.
Per Japanese census data,[1] the population of Ōshima has declined in recent decades.
It is uncertain when human settlement first began on Ōshima, but archaeological finds from the Jōmon period have been discovered, and the island is mention from early Nara period documents. It is mentioned in historical records for its many volcanic eruptions. After the start of the Meiji period, in 1878, the island came under the control of Tokyo-fu and was organized into six villages (Okada, Motomura, Senzu, Nomashi, Sashikiji and Habuminato) under Oshima subprefecture on April 1, 1908. The six villages were merged to form Ōshima Town on April 1, 1955.
In the mid-1930s, Izu Ōshima became a popular suicide destination after three schoolgirls jumped into the active volcano in the center of the island. In 1935 alone, more than 800 suicides were recorded.[2]
The central volcano on the island, Mount Mihara erupted in 1965 and again in 1986, forcing the temporary evacuation of the inhabitants.
On 16 October 2013, Typhoon Wipha passed over the island, dropping 80cm (30inches) of rain in 24 hours and causing a landslide that killed 35 people.[3]
Fishing and seasonal tourism are the mainstays of the economy of Ōshima.
Ōshima town operates three public elementary schools and three public junior high schools.
Junior high schools:
Elementary schools:
The Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education operates two high schools in the municipality. Ōshima High School is an agriculture school known for producing baseball players, and is a marine biology school. Ōshima High School is attended primarily by children native to the island. Ōshima International Maritime Academy draws students from mainland Tokyo and neighboring Izu in order to participate in its marine biology program.
The island is known for its Camellia Festival, Hanabi Festival, five black sand beaches, and several onsen.