Sakishima Islands - Sakishima Islands

A general term for the Miyako and Yaeyama islands of Okinawa Prefecture. Named (in the Meiji era) because they are located beyond the main island of Okinawa when viewed from the mainland. They are also simply called the Sakishima Islands. Together with the Okinawa Islands, they make up the Ryukyu Islands (a general term for all islands in Okinawa Prefecture). In addition to 18 inhabited islands, centered around Miyako Island, Ishigaki Island, and Iriomote Island, the area is made up of 19 uninhabited islands, including the Senkaku Islands. During the Ryukyu Kingdom era, the area was known for suffering from poll taxes and malaria, and is also frequently hit by typhoons.

[Shigekazu Mezaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

沖縄県の宮古(みやこ)、八重山(やえやま)両列島の総称。本土からみて、沖縄本島より先にあるための命名（明治時代）。単に先島とも呼称する。沖縄諸島とともに琉球諸島(りゅうきゅうしょとう)（沖縄県すべての島の総称）を構成する。宮古島、石垣島、西表(いりおもて)島を中心に18島の有人島のほか、尖閣(せんかく)諸島などの19島の無人島からなる。琉球王府時代には、人頭税やマラリアなどで苦難した地域として知られ、台風常襲地域でもある。

［目崎茂和］

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