Amami Ōshima

nihongo|Amami Ōshima|奄美大島| is one of the Ryūkyū Islands (also known as Nansei Islands). Its area is 712.35 km². Lying roughly two-thirds of the way north of the island chain, it is part of Kagoshima Prefecture, in the Kyūshū region of Japan. The Amami dialect is part of the Ryūkyūan languages group. The island once belonged to the Ryūkyū Kingdom until 1624, when it was annexed by the Daimyo of Satsuma.

The city of Amami is located on Amami Ōshima.

Amami is home to the rare Amami black rabbit and the Habu Habu, a native snake. Both are found only on Amami Ōshima.

The Amami black rabbit is special because it represents an ancient Asian lineage that has elsewhere disappeared.

The Habu Habu is a poisonous snake that is located nearly everywhere is Amami Ōshima. Mongooses were brought in to kill some of the Habu Habu, as the bite from one can kill you very quickly. As of today, the mongooses have bred with each other and are now becoming another problem.

Amami Airport serves Amami Ōshima.

Islands grouping

*Ryūkyū/Nansei Islands
**Satsunan Islands - part of Kagoshima Prefecture
***Amami Islands
****Amami Ōshima