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Hegurajima (舳倉島[1]) (anglicised as Hegura or Hekura) is a small island located in the Sea of Japan at the far north of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. It lies approximately 47 km from the northern tip of Noto Peninsula,[2] and is administratively part of Amamachi township within the city of Wajima. Hegurajima (literally helm-storehouse island) is approximately 2 km by 1 km in size and can easily be walked around in less than an hour.
Native name: Japanese: 舳倉島 | |
|---|---|
 View of Hegurajima in 1975 | |
  Hegurajima | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Sea of Japan |
| Coordinates | 37°51′5″N 136°55′7″E / 37.85139°N 136.91861°E |
| Area | 0.55 km2 (0.21 sq mi) |
| Coastline | 5 km (3.1 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 12.4 m (40.7 ft) |
| Administration | |
Japan | |
| Prefecture | Ishikawa |
| City | Wajima |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 20-30 |
| Ethnic groups | Japanese |
The island is made of andesite, with steep cliffs on its northern side, and a sandy beach on it southern side, which is used as a shelter by fishermen. The island had a population of 164 in the year 2000 census, which dropped to 110 people in the 2010 census; however, the actual number of full-time residents is considerably less.
It is thought that Hegurajima corresponds to the island called Neko-no-Shima (Isle of the Cat) in a tale found in Konjaku Monogatari, an early 13th-century folktale collection.
Notable facts
editThere is a lighthouse in the center of the island and a small minshuku. During the summer months female ama divers dive for abalone, Turbo sazae and Gelidiaceae for about 4–5 hours per day, following a long tradition that predates the use of wetsuits.[3] There is a small fishing port, and a ferry runs to Wajima on the mainland. The island is a haven for migratory birds, and attracts tourists for birdwatching.
Climate
edit| Climate data for Hegurajima (2014−2020 normals) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[4] | |||||||||||||
References
edit- ^ Teikoku's Complete Atlas of Japan, ISBN 4-8071-0004-1
- ^ Campbell, Allen; Nobel, David S (1993). Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. Kodansha. p. 514. ISBN 406205938X.
- ^ Mohri M, Torii R, Nagaya K, Shiraki K, Elsner R, Takeuchi H, Park YS, Hong SK (June 1995). "Diving patterns of ama divers of Hegura Island, Japan". Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine. 22 (2): 137–43. PMID 7633275. Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
Further reading
edit- Maraini, Fosco (1962). Hekura: The Diving Girls' Island (English edition translated from Italian). London: Hamish Hamilton.
External links
edit
- Island school website in Japanese
- Ferry Company "Hegura Kōro" in Japanese
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