Amami Islands

The Amami Islands are in Japan.

They are a group of many islands. The islands are made of old coral.

It is very warm in the summer. It is mild in the winter. It rains a lot all year.

Big storms called typhoons can come to the islands. People there sing special songs. These songs are called shima uta. They are very special to the islands.

The Amami Islands are a group of islands in Japan.

They sit in the Satsunan Islands. This group is part of the Ryukyu Islands. The islands are southwest of Kyushu.

Most of the islands are made of old coral. The largest island is Amami Ōshima. Its highest point is Yuwandake. It is 694 meters tall.

The weather is warm and wet. Summers are very warm. Winters are mild. It rains a lot during the year. Rain is highest in May, June, and September. Big storms called typhoons often hit the area.

People have lived here for a long time. They made clay pots 6,000 years ago. In the past, people lived in castles called gusuku. Today, many people live in the islands. There are 104,281 people in the group. The people have a special culture. They sing folk songs called shima uta. This name means "community songs."

These songs are a big part of life.

The Amami Islands are a beautiful group of islands in Japan.

They are part of the Satsunan Islands and the Ryukyu Islands. You can find them southwest of Kyushu. Most of these islands are made of limestone from old coral. The total area is about 1,200 square kilometers.

The largest island is Amami Ōshima. It is home to the highest point called Yuwandake. That peak reaches 694 meters high.

The weather in the islands is very warm and wet. This is called a humid subtropical climate. Summers are very warm and winters stay mild. It rains a lot throughout the whole year. The rainiest months are May, June, and September.

Big storms called typhoons often visit the area too. These islands are a very green and lively place. People living there must be ready for the changing weather.

History tells us that people have lived here for a very long time. They started making clay pots 6,000 years ago. This was influenced by the Jōmon culture in Kyushu. Later, they made a special style of pottery called Usuki Lower Style.

Around the 12th century, people began farming instead of hunting. This led to a time called the gusuku period. During this time, leaders called aji lived in castles called gusuku. Famous ones include Beru Castle and Yononushi Castle.

The islands have seen many different rulers over the years. For a long time, the Ryukyu Kingdom controlled them. In 1609, the Satsuma Domain from Kyushu invaded the area.

Satsuma ruled the islands for over 170 years. They made people grow lots of sugarcane for taxes. This caused some hard times and famines for the people. After World War II, the United States controlled the islands for a while.

They were finally returned to Japan on December 25, 1953. The U.S. called this a "Christmas present to Japan."

Today, the Amami Islands have a culture that is very special. The local people have their own language called Amami. Most people also speak standard Japanese now.

They are also known for beautiful folk songs called shima uta. In the local language, shima means community. So, these are "community songs."

Singers of these songs are called utasha. These songs are a very important part of life on the islands. They help keep the history and spirit of the people alive.

The Amami Islands are a Japanese archipelago located within the Satsunan Islands.

They form part of the larger Ryukyu Islands. Geographically, they sit southwest of Kyushu. Administratively, the islands belong to Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan. The group consists of several islands made of limestone from coralline origins. The total land area is approximately 1,200 square kilometers. This area includes the city of Amami-shi and the district of Oshima-gun.

The islands experience a humid subtropical climate, known as Cfa in the Köppen classification. This means the summers are very warm and the winters remain mild. Precipitation is high during every month of the year. Rainfall reaches its highest levels during May, June, and September. The region is also subject to frequent typhoons.

The landscape is shaped by these wet conditions and the limestone base. High points like Yuwandake on Amami Ōshima reach 694 meters.

Other notable islands include Kikaijima, Tokunoshima, and Yoronjima.

Human history on the islands began thousands of years ago. Islanders started producing earthenware about 6,000 years ago. This was influenced by the Jōmon culture of Kyushu. While early styles resembled those of mainland Japan, a unique local style emerged. This is called the Usuki Lower Style.

Written mentions of the islands appear in Japanese literature from the late 7th century. The Nihon Shoki and Shoku Nihongi both contain entries regarding the islands. During this prehistoric era, locals refer to the time as the Amami period.

Around the 12th century, a major shift occurred in how people lived. Agriculture arrived, and the population moved from hunting to farming. This led to the gusuku period. During this time, a nobility class known as the aji developed. These leaders lived in fortified castles called gusuku. Examples include Beru Castle in Kasari and Yononushi Castle in Wadomari.

Eventually, the aji had to pay tribute to stronger nations to keep their autonomy. This included the kings of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

The Ryukyu Kingdom expanded into the islands during the 1430s and 1440s. By 1450, they had conquered almost all the islands except Kikai Island. However, this control was interrupted in 1609. The Shimazu clan of the Satsuma Domain invaded the Ryukyu Kingdom. They landed on Amami Ōshima and several other islands. Satsuma eventually defeated Ryukyu and captured the capital of Shuri. The islands were ceded to the Satsuma Domain in 1611.

Satsuma's rule lasted for over 170 years and changed the local economy. As the domain faced financial trouble, they began to exploit the islands. They imposed high taxes that had to be paid in sugar. This forced the islands into sugarcane monoculture. Growing only one crop often led to severe famines. During these difficult times, people found comfort in local culture. They sang folk songs and drank awamori, a liquor made from sugarcane.

This era also changed local names, resulting in many unique one-character surnames.

After World War II, the islands entered a period of American military control. The United States referred to them as the Northern Ryukyu Islands. In 1946, the islands were officially separated from Japan. This caused great dissatisfaction among the local people. Many residents wanted to return to Japanese rule. A massive movement for restoration began, with 99.8% of locals over age 14 signing petitions.

On December 25, 1953, the United States returned the islands to Japan. This event was called a "Christmas present to Japan."

Today, the Amami Islands maintain a distinct cultural identity. They belong to the Ryukyuan cultural sphere, but they are different from Okinawa. Amami was more influenced by Japan, while Okinawa had more Chinese influence. The local people speak the Amami language, which includes several dialects.

While most people speak standard Japanese, many use Amami Japanese. This dialect uses an Amami accent and local words. Music remains vital through shima uta, or "community songs." Singers of these songs are called utasha. These songs remain a central part of the islands' spirit.