Ōgami Island (大神島, ''Ōgami-jima)'',
ÅŒgami dialect: ''Ukam'', is one of the islands of the
Miyako Islands
The (also Miyako Jima group) are a group of islands in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, belonging to the Ryukyu Islands. They are situated between Okinawa Island and the Yaeyama Islands.
In the early 1870s, the population of the islands was estim ...
. It is about 4km north of
Miyako-jima (island) and belongs to
Miyakojima City, which was created in 2005 by a merger of many smaller towns on the island chain. Before the merger, it belonged to
Hirara City. The area is 0.24 km
2, and the population is 35.
Transportation
The island has no airport and is not connected by bridge to any other island. The only way to reach it is to take a boat from
Miyako-jima
is the largest and the most populous island among the Miyako Islands of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Miyako Island is administered as part of the City of Miyako Island, which includes not only Miyako Island, but also five other islands.
Geogr ...
. There are four round-trip boat rides per day and it takes around 15 minutes per trip.
Population
Settlements are concentrated on the south coast of the island, near the port. There is also another settlement near the center of the island, at the highest point.
Economy
The island's economy is based on fishing, with dried
octopus
An octopus (: octopuses or octopodes) is a soft-bodied, eight-limbed mollusc of the order Octopoda (, ). The order consists of some 300 species and is grouped within the class Cephalopoda with squids, cuttlefish, and nautiloids. Like oth ...
being a specialty. In recent years, the island has tried to promote tourism by setting up a tourism website.
Demographics
The population of the islands is approximately 35 people, most of whom are elderly. The island's population is expected to decrease as residents age.
Language
Older residents speak the ÅŒgami dialect,
a dialect of
Miyakoan that is phonologically different from other Miyakoan dialects. Like Miyakoan itself, the dialect is in danger of dying out as younger residents do not speak it.
Gallery
File:Ogami_Island_-_from_a_distance_b_-_2020_March_25.jpg, The Island seen from a distance
File:Ogami_Island_-_port_and_boat_-_2020_March_25.jpg, The port and a boat
File:Ogami Island - 2020 3 25.webm, thumbtime=5, Several views, 2020
File:Ogami Island - local food - 2020 March 25.jpg, Local food
File:Ogami Island - random view B - 2020 March 25.jpg, A road near the port
File:Ogami_Island_-_random_view_E_-_2020_March_25.jpg, Curved road and view
File:Ogami Island - view from top B - 2020 March 25.jpg, View of the port from the highest point on the island
References
{{Reflist
Islands of Okinawa Prefecture