Tokunoshima, Kagoshima

Tokunoshima (徳之島町, Tokunoshima-chō) is a town located on Tokunoshima, in Ōshima District, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.^[1]As of 1 April 2024^[update], the town had an estimated population of 9,403 in 4493 households and a population density of 90 persons per km².^[2] The total area of the town is 104.92 km² (40.51 sq mi).

Tokunoshima 徳之島町
Town
Kametoku Port
Flag Seal
Location of Tokunoshima in Kagoshima Prefecture
Tokunoshima
Coordinates: 27°43′36″N 129°01′07″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu (Amami Islands)
Prefecture	Kagoshima
District	Ōshima
Government
• Mayor	Hideki Takaoka
Area
• Total	104.92 km2 (40.51 sq mi)
Population  (April 1, 2024)
• Total	9,403
• Density	90/km2 (230/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number	0997-82-1111
Address	7203 Kametsu, Tokunoshima-machi, Ōshima-gun, Kagoshima-ken 891-7101
Website	Official website

Geography

Tokunoshima occupies the northeastern portion of the island of Tokunoshima, with the Pacific Ocean to the east.

Surrounding municipalities

• Amagi
• Isen

Climate

The climate is classified as humid subtropical (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and mild winters (average temperature 21.1 °C (70.0 °F)). Precipitation is high throughout the year, but is highest in the months of May, June and September. Because of its climate, tropical and sub-tropical fruits are in abundance.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Isen is as shown below:

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1940	21,215	—
1950	19,804	−6.7%
1960	16,445	−17.0%
1970	12,142	−26.2%
1980	15,553	+28.1%
1990	14,536	−6.5%
2000	13,127	−9.7%
2010	12,090	−7.9%
2020	10,147	−16.1%

History

From the Ritsuryo period, Tokushima was part of Ōsumi Province and was part of the holdings of Kagoshima Domain in the Edo period. On 1 April 1908 the village of Kametsu was founded with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was upgraded to town status on January 1, 1942. As with all of Tokunoshima, the town came under the administration of the United States from 1 July 1946 to 25 December 1953. On 1 April 1958, Kametsu merged with the neighboring village of Higashi-Amagi, and was renamed Tokunoshima.

Government

Tokushima has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 14 members. Tokushima, collectively with the other municipalities of Oshima District, contributes two members to the Kagoshima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Kagoshima 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Hamlets

The town as a governmental entity comprises several hamlets. The largest is Kametsu, is focused around the district of the same name and the neighboring port of Kametoku. Kametsu is the main center of commerce and services on the island.

• Boma
• Inokawa
• Kametoku
• Kametsu
• Kaminomine
• Kanami
• Kedoku
• Omo
• San
• Shimokushi
• Shirai
• Shoda
• Tete
• Todoroki
• Tokuwase

Education

Tokushima has eight public elementary school and six public junior high schools operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Kagoshima Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railways

Toshushima, as with the rest of Tokunoshima Island, does not have any passenger railway services.

Highways

Tokushima is not located on any national highway or expressway.

Seaports

• Kametoku Port

Noted people from Tokunoshima

• Asashio Tarō III, sumo wrestler
• Kyokudōzan Kazuyasu, sumo wrestler
• Ichinoya Mitsuru, sumo wrestler