Koshikijima Islands

The Koshikijima Islands (Japanese甑 岛 列岛, Koshikijima - RETTO ) or Koshiki Islands (甑 列岛, Koshiki RETTO ) are a chain of islands in the East China Sea, just over 20 km to the west front of Kyūshū. Administratively, the islands belong to the municipality Satsumasendai. However, there are only ferry to and from Ichiki - Kushikino.

Islands

The archipelago consists of three larger islands and some smaller, especially in the north. These are:

History

First mention is the group of islands in Shoku Nihongi, as the ruler of the living there Hayato 769 a court rank were awarded. 1889, the eight villages of the northern main island Kami- Koshikijima (including Naka- Koshikijima ) and the six villages of the southern main island of Shimo- Koshikijima were merged into the same two villages. 1891 while the eastern part Sato (里(村)) was demerged from Kami- Koshikijima and 1949, the northern district Imuta (蔺 牟 田) Shimo- Kishikijima as Kashima (鹿岛 村). In 2004, all four villages, together with Sendai, Hiwaki, Iriki, Tōgō and Kedōin, merged to form the new municipality Satsumasendai.

Culture

On the island of Shimo- Koshikijima the New Year instead of the ceremony Koshikijima no Toshidon (甑 島 の トシドン), pull in the demon-like figure clad adults than children Schreck Toshidon from house to house and scold the children for their failures and preach good behavior. In parting, they give the children mochi. This tradition was taken up in 2009 by UNESCO in the list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.