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.
奄美大島は、
amami ooshima ha,
Amami Oshima
鹿児島県
kagoshima kenn
Kagoshima [prefecture]
沖縄県の
okinawa kenn no
Okinawa prefectures
位置している
ichi shite iru
located
東京23区の面積
toukyou nijuu sann ku no mennseki
Tokyo’s twenty three cities
広く、
hiroku,
(it covers an area) larger
日本の離島の中では
nihonn no ritou no naka deha
and remote island
佐渡島の
sadogashima no
Sadogashima
大きな島です。
ookina shima desu.
is the largest
豊かな自然は
yutakana shizenn ha
(the) richness of (its) natural landscapes
思わせます。
omowase masu.
is reminiscent
ガラパゴス」
がらぱごす
garapagosu”
と呼ばれています。
to yobarete i masu.
(it is) called
徳之島
tokunoshima
(the neighboring) Tokunoshima Island
3万
sann mann
thirty thousand
アマングスク遺跡
amanngusuku iseki
(the) Amangusuku site
確認されています。
kakuninn sarete i masu.
were found
日本本土
nihonn'honndo
(the) mainland Japan
縄文時代
joumonn'jidai
(the) Jomon period
行われていた
okonawarete ita
(these people were) engaged in
言われています。
iwarete i masu.
(it) is said
「奄美語」
“amami'go”
(the) Amami language
通訳の
tsuuyaku no
interpreters
確認されており、
kakuninn sarete ori,
(it) has been ascertained that
形成されていたことが
keisei sarete ita koto ga
(the) formation of
分かっています。
wakatte i masu.
indicating
琉球王国が
ryuukyuu'oukoku ga
(the) Ryukyu Kingdom
成立する
seiritsu suru
was established
(鹿児島)
(kagoshima)
Kagoshima
の間で
no aida de
[between]
奄美地域
amami'chiiki
(the) Amami area
支配権
shihai'kenn
control
争いが起こりました。
arasoi ga okori mashita.
fought
制したのは
seishita noha
(the) won
16世紀
juu roku seiki
(the) sixteenth century
奄美大島の
amami ooshima no
Amami Oshima
続けました。
tsuduke mashita.
continued
徳川幕府が
tokugawa'bakufu ga
(the) Tokugawa Shogunate
成立し、
seiritsu shi,
seiritsu shi,
傘下となった
sannka to natta
brought under the jurisdiction
制圧。
seiatsu.
conquered with that
奄美大島
amami ooshima
Amami
支配権は
shihai'kenn ha
control
移りました。
utsuri mashita.
took
奄美大島は、
amami ooshima ha,
Amami Oshima
鹿児島県
kagoshima kenn
Kagoshima Prefecture
離島
ritou
(a) remote island
琉球文化が
ryuukyuu'bunnka ga
Ryukyu traditions
残っています。
nokotte i masu.
to be practiced
薩摩は、
satsuma ha,
Satsuma
奄美大島の
amami ooshima no
Amami
サトウキビ
satoukibi
sugarcane
成しました。
nashi mashita.
made
軍事力を
gunnji'ryoku wo
(its) military power
高めた
takameta
as increased
薩摩は
satsuma ha
it (Satsuma)
中心と
chuushinn to
(the) main force
日本は
nihonn ha
(in) Japan
明治維新を
meiji'ishinn wo
(the) Meiji Restoration
迎えます。
mukae masu.
bringing about
世界自然遺産
sekai'shizenn'isann
(a) World Natural Heritage Site
歴史
rekishi
(the) history
もたらした
motarashita
(it) made
という意味では、
to iu imi deha,
in terms of
「大島」
“ooshima”
(a) big island (oshima)
言えます。
ie masu.
(it) could be said