Amami Oshima is an island located right in-between Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures. It covers an area larger than Tokyo’s 23 cities and is the second largest remote island after Sadogashima. Because the richness of its natural landscapes is reminiscent of ancient earth, it is called the “Galapagos of the East. On (the neighboring) Tokunoshima Island, traces of humans were found at the Amangusuku site dating back to about 30,000 years ago. It is said that these people were actively engaged in trade with mainland Japan since the Jomon period. It has also been ascertained that interpreters of the Amami language existed, indicating the formation of a unique culture and language. In the mid-15th century, when the Ryukyu Kingdom was established, Satsuma (Kagoshima) and Ryukyu (Okinawa) fought for control of the Amami area. Ryukyu won the battle and continued to rule Amami Oshima until the late 16th century. After that, the Tokugawa Shogunate was established and Satsuma, brought under the jurisdiction of the shogunate, raised an army and conquered Ryukyu. With that, Satsuma took control of Amami. Although Amami Oshima is a remote island in Kagoshima Prefecture, Ryukyu traditions continue to be practiced in some areas. Satsuma made a fortune from Amami sugarcane. As its military power increased, it became the main force behind the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate, bringing about the Meiji Restoration in Japan. It could be said that this small island, selected to be a World Natural Heritage Site is a “big island” (oshima) in terms of the huge impact it made on the history of Japan.