Ama, Shimane

Ama (海士町, Ama-chō) is a town located on Nakanoshima, in Oki District, Shimane Prefecture, Japan.

Ama

海士町
Town
Oki Shrine
Flag
Seal
Location of Ama in Shimane Prefecture
Ama
 
Coordinates: 36°6′N 133°6′E
CountryJapan
RegionChūgoku
San'in
PrefectureShimane Prefecture
DistrictOki
Government
 • -MayorMichio Yamauchi
Area
 • Total33.50 km2 (12.93 sq mi)
Population
 (March 1, 2017)
 • Total2,293
 • Density68/km2 (180/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number08514-2-0111
Address1490 Ama, Ama-machi, Oki-gun, Shimane-ken 684-0403
Websitewww.town.ama.shimane.jp

As of March 2017, the town had an estimated population of 2,293 and a population density of 68 persons per km². The total area was 33.50 km2 (13 sq mi).

Geography

Ama occupies all of the island of Nakanoshima, in the Oki Islands archipelago in the Sea of Japan, along with a number of offshore uninhabited islands and rocks. Much of the island is within the borders of Daisen-Oki National Park.

Climate

Ama has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and cool winters. Precipitation is abundant throughout the year.

History

Ama was part of the ancient Oki Province, and the island consisted of a single district, also called Ama, and three villages. Emperor Go-Toba, defeated in the Jōkyū War in 1221, was exiled to the Oki Islands, and lived in Ama for 19 years until his death in 1239. Oki Shrine was built in 1939 to commemorate the 700th year of his death.[1]

Ama came under the control of the Matsue Domain in the Edo period, and was divided into seven villages. After the Meiji restoration, the Oki Islands became part of Tottori Prefecture in 1871, but were transferred to Shimane Prefecture in 1881.[2] Ama Village was established in 1904. Its population peaked in 1950 with 6,986 inhabitants, and has declined ever since. It was raised to town status on January 1, 1969.

Economy

The town economy is primarily based on agriculture and commercial fishing.

Notable people from Ama

Media related to Ama, Shimane at Wikimedia Commons

References
  1. Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan – A Story of Oki Islands
  2. "Shimane Prefecture – History". Archived from the original on 2009-01-15. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
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