Yaeyama Islands

The Yaeyama Islands (八重山諸島 "Yaeyama-shotō" Yaeyama: "Yaima" Okinawan: "Ēma") are an archipelago in the Okinawa Prefecture, a part of the nation of Japan.

The isles are the remotest part of Japan from the main islands and contains both the most southern (Hateruma) and most western (Yonaguni) inhabited islands of the island nation of Japan.

The Yaeyamas are far closer to Taiwan (km to mi|125|wiki=yes) than to Okinawa Island, much less the Japanese mainland.

The islands form the southern part of the volcanic Ryukyu Islands. The administrative division of Yaeyama District covers all of the Yaeyama Islands except Ishigaki and the disputed Senkaku Islands.

Culture

The Yonaguni language is the indigenous language of the island of Yonaguni, location of the mysterious undersea Yonaguni monument but the Yaeyama language is the indigenous language all of the rest of the islands in the chain. Japanese is widely spoken as a second language.

Rites Particular to Yaeyama

14 July: "Mushaama" Festival. On Hateruma Island, this harvest festival is celebrated during "Obon". Its notable features include a parade of the local fertility god "Miruku" and his children (the local children), "shishi" ("lion") dances, and staff dances.

Islands grouping

*Japanese Archipelago
**Ryukyu Islands (Nansei Islands)
***Ryūkyū Shotō
****Sakishima Islands
*****Yaeyama Islands

Inhabited islands

*Yaeyama Islands (Yaeyama Subprefecture)
**
***Ishigaki Island ("Ishigaki-jima")
**
***Aragusuku Island ("Aragusuku-jima")
***Hateruma Island ("Hateruma-jima")
***Iriomote Island ("Iriomote-jima")
***Kohama Island ("Kohama-jima")
***Kuroshima Island ("Kuroshima")
***Taketomi Island ("Taketomi-jima")
***Yubu Island ("Yubu-jima")
**
***Yonaguni Island ("Yonaguni-jima")

External links

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