Kabushima Explained

Kabushima
Native Name:蕪島
Sobriquet:Seagull Island
Map:Japan Aomori Prefecture
Map Relief:yes
Coordinates:40.5389°N 141.5575°W
Location:Hachinohe, Aomori
Length M:300
Width M:140
Coastline M:800
Elevation M:19
Country:Japan

is a small island located in Hachinohe, Aomori, in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan. Part of the Tanesashi Coast, it was incorporated into the Sanriku Fukkō National Park from May 2013.

Geography

The island has a length of 300m (1,000feet) and a width of . The highest point of the island measures in elevation. The total area of the island is approximately . Although called it is an island, it is connected to the mainland by a causeway constructed in 1942 so that people may walk to it from the shore.

Important Bird Area

The island is noted as a nesting ground for Black-tailed gulls and has been protected as a National Natural Monument of Japan since 1922.[1] It has also been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International.[2] The sound of the umi-neko at Hachinohe was selected by the Ministry of the Environment as one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan.[3]

Kabushima Shrine

right|270px|thumb|Kabushima Shrine is a small Shinto shrine located on Kabushima island. The shrine is a branch of the Itsukushima Shrine and is dedicated to Benzaiten. According to shrine legend, it was established in 1269 by local fishermen. The shrine burned completely down on 5 November 2015,[4] but it was rebuilt and expanded at the cost of 5 billion yen. The shrine reopened on 26 March 2020 after a small reopening ceremony. The ceremony was scaled down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] The main festival of the shrine is held on the third Sunday of April.

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/401/89 蕪島ウミネコ繁殖地 - Agency for Cultural Affairs database
  2. Web site: Kabushima islet . . 2021 . BirdLife Data Zone . BirdLife International . 27 January 2021.
  3. Web site: 残したい日本の音風景100選 . . 18 March 2017.
  4. News: ウミネコ繁殖地の蕪島、蕪嶋神社が全焼 放火の可能性も . . 5 November 2015 . 5 November 2015.
  5. News: 蕪島神社、再建の社殿披露 15年に焼失、青森・八戸. Reconstruction of Kabushima Shrine, after it burned down '15, Aomori, Hachinohe . ja . . 26 March 2020 . 18 April 2020.