About Amami | Discover Its Nature, History and Culture

What comes to mind when you hear the name Amami?

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The blue sea.

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A deep forest.

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Amami rabbit.

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Chicken rice.

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Island songs.

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While each of these things represents Amami, they alone do not give us a complete picture of the island.

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Amami Oshima boasts not only abundant nature, but also a history of being situated between Ryukyu and Satsuma, a culture passed down through generations in each settlement, a way of life that coexists with rain and typhoons, and strong connections between people.

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If you want to travel deeply within Amami, it's a good idea to first get to know a little about what kind of island it is.

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That alone changes what you perceive from the same sea, forest, or village landscape.

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Where exactly is Amami located?

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The word "Amami" does not refer to just one island.

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The Amami Islands lie south of mainland Kyushu, between the Tokara Islands and the Okinawa Islands. According to Kagoshima Prefecture, the archipelago consists of eight inhabited islands: Amami Oshima, Kakeroma, Uke, Yoro, Kikai, Tokunoshima, Okinoerabu, and Yoron.

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The largest of them all is Amami Oshima.

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Its area is approximately 712 square kilometers. Among Japan's inhabited islands, excluding Okinawa Island and the Northern Territories, it is the second largest after Sado Island.

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Amami Oshima is the island that Amami Experience primarily focuses on.

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However, rather than viewing Amami Oshima in isolation, it becomes easier to understand the cultural and historical connections when viewed as part of the Amami Islands, which are connected from north to south.

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Amami Oshima, where forests and the sea are close together

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One of the defining characteristics of Amami Oshima is the proximity of its forests to the sea.

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The island features rugged mountain ranges and deep valleys, surrounded by an intricate coastline. A diverse range of environments, from subtropical forests and mangrove forests at river mouths to tidal flats and the sea beyond, overlap within a relatively close range.

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On July 26, 2021, Amami Oshima, Tokunoshima, the northern part of Okinawa Island, and a portion of Iriomote Island were registered as a World Natural Heritage site under the name "Amami Oshima, Tokunoshima, the northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island." The central value that was recognized is not simply the beauty of the scenery, but the high level of biodiversity, including endemic and rare species that have uniquely evolved over a long geological history.

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The term "World Natural Heritage Site" might conjure up images of untouched nature.

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But when you walk around Amami, you'll find settlements right next to the forest, with the sea beyond.

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Nature and human life are not completely separate; they exist in close proximity.

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That scenery is also one of the things that makes Amami unique.

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A mild climate where people live in harmony with the rain.

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The climate of Amami is characterized by its warm and rainy climate.

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According to the Japan Meteorological Agency's average values from 1991 to 2020, the average monthly temperature in Naze is 15.0℃ in January and 28.8℃ in July. On the other hand, rainfall is 427.4mm in June alone, and the area receives a lot of rain throughout the year.

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Kagoshima Prefecture also describes the Amami Islands as having a subtropical oceanic climate, with annual rainfall exceeding 2,900 mm in Naze, Amami City.

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When you hear "southern island," you might imagine a place where it's sunny all year round.

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In reality, Amami experiences both rainy and cloudy days.

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During the rainy season, there is heavy rainfall, and from summer to autumn, the area may be affected by typhoons. In winter, there are also days when the sky remains cloudy due to the influence of seasonal winds.

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However, this rain nourishes the deep forests and rivers.

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In Amami, the weather is not just something that can disrupt your trip.

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Rain, too, is a factor that shapes the nature of this island.

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The history of Amami, situated between Ryukyu and Satsuma.

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Looking at current maps, Amami Oshima is an island that belongs to Kagoshima Prefecture.

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However, to understand a culture or way of life, it is essential to know its history.

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Located between Kyushu and Okinawa, Amami has been influenced by a variety of cultures and political systems. According to records from Kagoshima Prefecture, Amami Oshima came under the rule of the Ryukyu Kingdom around the 15th century, and after the Satsuma Domain's invasion of Ryukyu in 1609, it came under the direct control of the Satsuma Domain.

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From the rule of the Ryukyu Kingdom to the Satsuma Domain

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In Amami, customs and beliefs that suggest a connection to Ryukyu culture still remain.

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On the other hand, from 1609 onward, it came under the rule of the Satsuma Domain and was strongly influenced by Kagoshima.

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Therefore, Amami's culture cannot be simply described as "the same as Okinawa's" or "the same as Kagoshima's."

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According to the official tourism information for Amami Oshima, the local culture has developed as a distinct culture for each island and village, influenced by both Ryukyuan and Kagoshima cultures, while being rooted in Japanese culture.

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When traveling in Amami, I feel that it's somewhat similar to Okinawa.

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Conversely, something that makes me feel a connection to Kagoshima.

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And something that is different from both of those.

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Amami is located where all of those things overlap.

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The light and shadow left behind by brown sugar

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Brown sugar is also important when considering the history of Amami.

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Sugarcane and brown sugar are now among Amami's representative products, but under the rule of the Satsuma domain, brown sugar became an important cash crop that supported the domain's finances.

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Records from Kagoshima Prefecture show that in 1745, the Satsuma Domain required the payment of land tax in the form of brown sugar, and from 1777 onwards, it implemented a system of total brown sugar purchase. While these policies supported the finances of the Satsuma Domain, they placed a heavy burden on the people of Amami.

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When you taste brown sugar on the island today, you'll find this history behind its sweetness.

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Instead of viewing food and local specialties solely as current "famous products," it's important to understand their history and the events they have gone through.

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That's one way to understand the land.

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US Administration and Amami’s Reversion to Japan

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After World War II ended, Amami experienced another major historical shift.

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In 1946, the Amami Islands were administratively separated from mainland Japan and placed under the rule of the U.S. military government.

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Subsequently, a movement calling for the island's return to Japan spread throughout the island.

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According to records from Amami City, in 1951, signatures for the petition for return to Japan reached 99.8% of residents aged 14 and over. Then, on December 25, 1953, the Amami Islands were returned to Japan.

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Okinawa was returned to Japan in 1972.

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The fact that Amami was returned to Japan approximately 19 years earlier is an important historical point when considering the differences in systems and societies between present-day Amami and Okinawa.

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Culture Passed Down in Each Shima Community

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In Amami, settlements are sometimes called "shima."

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A shima is more than simply a place where houses stand together.

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song.

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dance.

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words.

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Event.

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Food.

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Human connections.

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These traditions have been passed down through generations in each settlement.

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Therefore, even within Amami Oshima, the culture is not uniform.

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When you change regions, the language, songs, and forms of events also change.

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There is no single, uniform Amami culture shared identically across the island. The cultures of individual shima communities come together to shape Amami.

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When you think about it that way, a trip around the islands takes on a slightly different perspective.

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Island songs, August dance, Oshima Tsumugi silk

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One of the representative cultural elements of Amami is island songs.

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Island songs use local dialects and have been passed down from person to person through daily life.

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Furthermore, the August Dance, in which villagers sing and dance in a circle, is linked to traditional lunar calendar events and is still practiced in various regions. The official Amami Oshima tourism information also introduces island songs and the August Dance as representative performing arts and cultural traditions of Amami.

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Another symbol of Amami is Oshima Tsumugi silk fabric.

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Oshima Tsumugi is made through a long process that includes pre-dyeing techniques, where the silk threads are dyed before weaving, and dyeing with mud containing Rhaphiolepis indica and iron. Oshima Tsumugi was once an important industry on Amami Oshima Island.

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You can only see the beautiful finished products of island songs, dances, and textiles.

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But behind it all, there are people who have learned, taught, and continued to create it.

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To understand Amami's culture is also to understand the way of life of its people.

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Life in Amami as seen through food

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The island's history and way of life are also reflected in its food.

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Chicken rice is made by placing chicken, shredded egg, shiitake mushrooms, and other ingredients on top of rice and pouring chicken broth over it.

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Abura Somen, a type of noodle dish, has a different flavor in each household.

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Dishes made with pork.

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Brown sugar.

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Miki, a fermented beverage.

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Amami's cuisine encompasses a wide variety of dishes, from everyday meals to dishes prepared for welcoming guests and special occasions.

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Cooking is not just about the taste; it's also about "when and with whom you eat it."

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Therefore, learning about local cuisine is also a way of understanding the way of life of the people who have lived on the island.

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I look at the connections between people, not their "personality."

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I'm sometimes asked, "What kind of people are the people of Amami?"

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However, it's impossible to describe the people who live on the island with a single personality trait.

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Everyone is different in terms of where they come from, their generation, their job, and their way of thinking.

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On the other hand, when trying to understand life in Amami, it's important to look at the mechanisms that have connected people within the community.

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A survey of the Amami Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture revealed that the islands' appeal, as perceived by residents and those originally from the area, includes "the spirit of mutual support among residents" and "the close proximity of unique culture and traditions to daily life."

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This does not mean that "all people in Amami are kind."

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Rather, it is more natural to view these as evidence that relationships between people have remained in daily life through community events, communal work, and the transmission of culture.

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The sense of closeness you feel with people when traveling may stem not only from their individual personalities, but also from the history and way of life of the region.

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Traveling without separating nature from daily life

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In Amami, it's easier to understand the island if you don't try to separate trips focused on nature from trips focused on culture.

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There is a settlement very close to the sea.

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Water flowing from the forest travels through rivers and eventually reaches the sea.

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Climate affects agriculture and food, and seasons are related to events and festivals.

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From the daily life of the settlement, songs and dances were born, and there are people who have passed down that culture.

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Regarding the Amami Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture also cites both "a rich and diverse natural environment" and "a regional culture born from the relationship between people and nature" as characteristics of the region.

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See a spectacular view.

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Eat local cuisine.

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I listen to island songs.

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Walking through the forest.

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Talk to people.

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Instead of simply gathering each attraction as a separate tourist activity, try to feel the connections between them.

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From there, a truly Amami-style journey begins.

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Start your journey by getting to know Amami.

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Amami Oshima boasts natural beauty that has garnered international acclaim.

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At the same time, there are the lives of people who have lived through a long history.

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A culture influenced by both Ryukyu and Satsuma.

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The history etched into brown sugar.

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Island songs and August dances.

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Oshima Tsumugi silk fabric.

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table.

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A settlement.

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rain.

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forest.

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sea.

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It's not just one of these places that represents "Amami."

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All of these elements have come together to create Amami as it is today.

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You don't need to memorize everything before you travel.

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However, it's important to know that the scenery before you, the food, and the songs all have a history and a history behind them.

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And once you arrive at the location, see things with your own eyes and listen to what people have to say.

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The time spent traveling in Amami is

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Not just "where did they go,"

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"How much did you try to understand that land?"

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It also gradually deepens.

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Learning about Amami is the first step on your journey.

If you'd like to learn about experiences you can have on Amami Oshima, from the sea and forests to culture and lifestyle, please also check out " Things to Experience on Amami Oshima ."