View source for Tokashiki, Okinawa

{{unclear|date=September 2021}}{{Infobox settlement
| name = Tokashiki
| official_name = 
| native_name = {{nobold|渡嘉敷村}}
| native_name_lang = ja
| settlement_type = Village
| other_name = Tukasici
| image_skyline = 渡嘉敷村役場.jpg
| image_caption = Tokashiki Village Office
| image_flag = Flag of Tokashiki, Okinawa.svg
| image_seal = Emblem of Tokashiki, Okinawa.svg
| image_map = Tokashiki in Okinawa Prefecture Ja.svg
| map_caption = Location of Tokashiki in [[Okinawa Prefecture]]
| pushpin_map = Japan
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Japan
| coordinates = {{coord|26|12|0|N|127|22|0|E|region:JP|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Japan
| subdivision_type1 = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kyushu]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Okinawa Prefecture]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Districts of Japan|District]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Shimajiri District, Okinawa|Shimajiri]]
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Masashige Zamami
| leader_title1 = Vice Mayor
| leader_name1 = 
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_total_km2 = 19.18
| population_total = 718
| population_as_of = October 1, 2020
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone1 = [[Japan Standard Time|JST]]
| utc_offset1 = +09:00
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code = 
| blank_name_sec1 = City hall address
| blank_info_sec1 = 183 Tokashiki, Tokashiki-son, Shimajiri-gun, Okinawa<br />901-3592
| blank_name_sec2        = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info_sec2        = [[Humid subtropical climate|Cfa]]
| website = {{URL|http://www.vill.tokashiki.okinawa.jp/en/index.htm/}}
| module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
 | tree = [[Livistona|Chinese Fan Palm]]
 | flower = Kerama [[Azalea]]
 | bird = 
 | butterfly = 
 | fish = [[Skipjack tuna]]
}}
}}

{{nihongo|'''Tokashiki'''|渡嘉敷村|Tokashiki-son|{{langx|ryu|Tukasici}}|lead=yes}} is a [[List of villages in Japan|village]] located in the [[Kerama Islands]] in [[Okinawa Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. The village is part of [[Shimajiri District, Okinawa|Shimajiri District]].<ref name="n"/> Tokashiki is known for its corals, sea, beach and sun. From Tomari Port in [[Naha, Okinawa|Naha]], it takes less than one hour to reach this island.

On 28 March 1945, during [[World War II]], 394 inhabitants, mostly from farmer families, were forced by Japanese soldiers to kill themselves, initially with grenades, after the landing of US troops.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/the-most-haunting-interview-youll-ever-read-when-j | title=The Most Haunting Interview You'll Ever Read: When Japanese Islanders Were Ordered to Commit Mass Suicide | date=13 June 2014 }}</ref><ref name="hastings"/>

==Geography==

The [[Tokashiki Island|island of Tokashiki]] consists of 10 islands of various sizes in the center of the Kerama Islands. The village is located approximately {{Convert|30|km|mi}} west of [[Naha]], the prefectural capital of Okinawa. These islands are rugged and mountainous.<ref name="n"/>

===Administrative divisions===
The village includes three wards, with the Tokashiki ward being divided in two villages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=沖縄県 > 島尻郡渡嘉敷村の郵便番号一覧 - 日本郵便株式会社 |url=https://www.post.japanpost.jp/cgi-zip/zipcode.php?pref=47&city=1473530&mode=list |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=www.post.japanpost.jp}}</ref>
*Aharen ({{Nihongo2|阿波連}})
*Maejima ({{Nihongo2|前島}})
*Tokashiki ({{Nihongo2|渡嘉敷}})
**Tokashiki ({{Nihongo2|渡嘉敷}})
**Tokashiku ({{Nihongo2|渡嘉志久}})

===Climate===
{{Tokashiki weatherbox}}

==History==

===Early history===

Prior to World War II Tokashiki produced charcoal for the city of Naha. Bonito fishing was also a mainstay of the population of the island, but as the bonito industry declined, the population of the village was reduced greatly.

===World War II===

The American forces landed on Tokashiki on March 27, 1945, as an early part of the Battle of Okinawa. On the following day, March 28, 1945, 394 inhabitants of Tokashiki, mostly from farming families, killed themselves after the landing of US troops, at the command of Japanese soldiers, in a practice that became known as ''shūdan jikketsu'', or group suicide. Residents were taken to a cave and given grenades to kill themselves, resorting to beating each other with clubs and rocks once they ran out of grenades.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/the-most-haunting-interview-youll-ever-read-when-j | title=The Most Haunting Interview You'll Ever Read: When Japanese Islanders Were Ordered to Commit Mass Suicide | date=13 June 2014 }}</ref> The group suicide on Tokashiki in late March was a precursor to large-scale group suicides on Okinawa Island in the following months.<ref name="hastings"/>

===Maejima===
The island Maejima once had a population of 380, but a string of powerful typhoons forced the inhabitants to eventually abandon their homes and leave the island, with the last 4 families leaving in February 1962. From then on the island was uninhabited for 42 years until in 2003 a former resident moved back to the island together with his family.<ref name="Maejima"/> They then left in 2024 leaving the island inhabited again

==Transportation==
Tokashiki port is connected to [[Naha]] by ferry.<ref name="n"/> But the small Mitshushima ferry also connect the Aharen port to [[Zamami Island|Zamami]] and [[Aka Island|Aka]].

==Economy==

===Agriculture===

Tokashiki is home to small-scale farming. A small amount of vegetables are produced in the village.<ref name="n"/>

===Tourism===

The village of Tokashiki is part of [[Okinawa Kaigan Quasi-National Park]] and is blessed with a remarkable number of spots of scenic beauty. Due to this, the village has promoted tourism as a primary industry since the reversion of Okinawa Prefecture to Japan in 1972. Numerous tourist facilities such as hotels, esplanades, and viewing towers have been built across Tokashiki Island.<ref name="n"/>

==Noted places==
*Shinrin Park. The park is accessible from the Aharen district only by foot, and consist of a wide grassy area and a large wooden playground for children. Shinrin Park is quiet as it has relatively few visitors.<ref name="info" />

==Cultural and natural assets==
Tokashiki Village hosts twelve tangible cultural properties and monuments, only two of which are designated at the municipal level.<ref>{{Cite web |title=歴史・文化財{{!}}渡嘉敷村 |url=https://www.vill.tokashiki.okinawa.jp/soshiki/sitekanri/2/1/1/2/index.html |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=www.vill.tokashiki.okinawa.jp |language=ja}}</ref> 
*Name (Japanese) (Type of registration)

===[[Cultural Property (Japan)|Cultural Properties]]===
*Aharen'ura Shell Mound ({{Nihongo2|阿波連浦貝塚}})
*Funakoshibaru Site ({{Nihongo2|船越原遺跡}})
*Katsuobushi Factory Site ({{Nihongo2|鰹節製造工場跡}})
*Kubandaki Praying Site ({{Nihongo2|クバンダキ}})
*Kuba-yama (fan palm tree mountain) of Aharen ({{Nihongo2|阿波連のクバ山}})
*Kumi-chijiyama Sacred Site ({{Nihongo2|クミチジ山 (久米頂山)}})
*Mīya Dunchi-gwā Shrine ({{Nihongo2|海神宮}})
*Nemoto Residence Stone Wall ({{Nihongo2|根元家の石垣}}) (Municipal)
*Nishi Utaki Sacred Site ({{Nihongo2|北ウタキ}})
*Strength stone of Aharen (in the garden of the community centre) ({{Nihongo2|阿波連の力石 (生活館中庭)}})
*Tomb of the God-of-Learning ({{Nihongo2|学問の世の神様の墓}})

===[[Monuments of Japan#Designated monuments of Japan|Places of scenic beauty]]===
*View of the Kerama Straits from Mount Nishi ({{Nihongo2|にし山(北山)山頂から望む慶良間海峡}}) (Municipal)

==References==
{{reflist|2|refs=

<ref name="info">{{cite web | url = http://www.okinawainfo.net/kerama/tokashikij2.htm | script-title=ja:渡嘉敷島 |trans-title=Tokashiki Island | year = 2011 | publisher = Okinawa Information IMA | location = Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan | accessdate = 2013-05-21 | language = Japanese}}</ref>

<ref name="n">{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia = Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) | title = 渡嘉敷（村） | url = http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | accessdate = 2013-05-02 | year = 2013 | publisher = Shogakukan | location = Tokyo | language = Japanese | trans-title = Tokashiki | oclc = 153301537 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | archivedate = 2007-08-25 }}</ref>

<ref name="hastings">{{cite book | last = Hastings | first = Max | title = Nemesis: the battle for Japan, 1944-45 | publisher = HarperPress | location = London | year = 2007 | isbn = 9780007219827 | oclc = 148289737 | page = 372}}</ref>

<ref name="Maejima">{{cite web | url = http://english.ryukyushimpo.jp/2012/06/10/7288/ | title = Ryukyu Shimpo: "Book on the history of Maejima Island published" | accessdate = 2019-07-31}}</ref>

}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}

{{Okinawa}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in Okinawa Prefecture]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Japan]]