Awaji Island

Infobox Islands
name = Awaji

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image caption = Map of Awaji Island
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locator
Location map|Japan|lat=34.383333|long=134.833333
map_custom = yes
native name = 淡路島 "Awaji-shima"
native name link = Japanese language
nickname =
location = Seto Inland Sea
coordinates = coord|34|23|N|134|50|E|display=inline,title
archipelago =
total islands =
major islands =
area = convert|592.17|km2|sqmi
length =
width =
highest mount =
elevation = convert|606|m|ft
country = Japan
country admin divisions title = Prefecture
country admin divisions = Hyōgo Prefecture
country admin divisions title 1 =
country admin divisions 1 =
country admin divisions title 2 =
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country largest city =
country largest city population =
population = 157,000
population as of = 2005
density = 265
ethnic groups = Japanese
additional info =

nihongo|Awaji Island|淡路島|Awaji-shima is an island in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, in the eastern part of the Seto Inland Sea between the islands of Honshū and Shikoku. As a transit between those two islands Awaji originally means "the road to Awa", [cite web |url=http://www.fredhong.com/arch693/martin_bermudez/Arch%20693%20Edited%20Paper%232.doc |title=Geophysical and Seismic Analysis: Of Two Architectural Wonders |accessdate=2008-03-23 |author=Martin Bermudez |date= |work= |publisher=Geolabs-Hawaii Hillside Design Laboratory at the University of Hawaii School of Architecture] the historic province bordering the Shikoku side of the Naruto strait now part of Tokushima Prefecture. Awaji was also written as 淡道.

Geography

The island is separated from Honshū by the Akashi Strait and from Shikoku by the Naruto Strait. Since April 5 1998 it is connected to Kobe on Honshū by the Akashi-Kaikyō Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the world. [cite web |url=http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/julaug98/worlds.htm |title=World's Longest Suspension Bridge Opens in Japan |accessdate=2008-03-22 |author=James D. Cooper |date=July/August 1998 |work= |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation] Since its completion the Kobe Awaji Naruto Expressway across the island has been the main eastern land link between Honshū and Shikoku. The Naruto whirlpool forms in the strait between Naruto, Tokushima and Awaji.

The Nojima fault, responsible for the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake, cuts across the island. A section of the fault was protected and turned into the nihongo|Nojima Fault Preservation Museum|野島断層保存館 in the nihongo|Hokudancho Earthquake Memorial Park|北淡町震災記念公園 to show how the movement in the ground cut across roads, hedges and other installations.cite web |url=http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/ttp/ptg/PS/pg-606.pdf |title=AWAJI ISLAND and SHODO ISLAND |accessdate=2008-03-22 |author= |date=2001 |work= |publisher=Japan National Tourist Organization] Outside of this protected area the fault zone is less visible. The nihongo|Onaruto Bridge Memorial Museum|大鳴門橋記念館|Onarutokyo Kinenkan and the nihongo|Uzushio Science Museum|うずしお科学館|Uzushio Kagakukan are located near Fukura.

History

According to the creation myth of Shinto faith Awaji was the first of the "ōyashima" islands born from the two kami Izanagi and Izanami. [cite web |url=http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_1/kojiki.html |title=Japanese Creation Myth |accessdate=2008-03-22 |author=Genji Shibukawa |date= |work=Tales from the Kojiki |publisher=Harcourt Brace Custom Publishing |] Awaji constituted a province between the 7th and the 19th century, Awaji province, and was a part of Nankaidō. Today the island consists of three municipalities, Awaji, Sumoto and Minamiawaji.

The Awaji Ningyō-Jōruri, a over 500-years-old form of traditional puppet theater or "ningyō-jōruri", daily performs several shows in the nihongo|Awaji Ningyō-Jōruri Hall|人形浄瑠璃館 in Minamiawaji, Hyōgo in the southern part of the island and is designated an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Japan. The Awaji puppets perform popular traditional dramas but have their origins in religious rituals. [cite web |url=http://www.accu.or.jp/ich/en/arts/A_JPN3.html |title=Awaji Ningyo Joruri |accessdate=2008-03-22 |author=Hiroko Yamamoto |date= |work= |publisher=Asia-Pacific Database on Intangible Cultural Heritage]

Tadao Ando designed several structures on the island, amidst them the nihongo|Hompukuji water temple|本福寺 [cite web |url=http://www.floornature.com/articoli/articolo.php/id34/sez3/en |title= Tadao Ando, Water Temple, Hompuki, Japan, 1989-1991 |accessdate=2008-03-22 |author=Flores Zanchi |date=September 2002 |publisher=Floornature] [cite web |url=http://viatraveldesign.com/archive/E277EDA0CC06CDAB/ |title= Water Temple | ARCHITECTURE OF NOTE | Hompukuji|accessdate=2008-03-22 |publisher=Via Travel Design] and the Awaji Yumebutai, [cite web |url=http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/awaji/index.htm |title=Awaji Yumebutai, Hyōgo, Japan |accessdate=2008-03-22 |author=Kari Silloway |date=2004 |work= |publisher=Galinsky] [cite web |url=http://www.yumebutai.org/english/yumebutai/yumebutai.html |title=About Yumebutai |accessdate=2008-03-23 |author= |date=2006 |work= |publisher=Awaji Yumebutai International Conference Center] both located in Awaji, Hyōgo.

Maps

References

External links

*ja [http://web.pref.hyogo.jp/area/awaji/ Awaji website of Hyōgo prefecture]
*ja [http://www.awaji-navi.jp/ Awaji Island Tourism Association]
*ja [http://www.awaji-web.com/ Awaji Island Portal]
*wikitravel