Awaji Island

Japanese: 淡路島 - あわじしま

Awaji Island is the largest island in the Seto Inland Sea, located in the southern part of Hyogo Prefecture, separating Osaka Bay from the Harima Sea. It is the fourth largest island in Japan after Sado Island, Amami Oshima Island, and Tsushima Island, with an area of 592.00 square kilometers and a population of 143,041 (2010). After the "Great Heisei Merger," Awaji City was divided into three cities, Awaji City, Sumoto City, and Minami Awaji City, in 2006 (Heisei 18). Sumoto City is the administrative, cultural, and economic center. In June 1985 (Showa 60), the Onaruto Bridge was opened, connecting Minami Awaji Town (now Minami Awaji City) and Shikoku (Naruto City). Then, in April 1998, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge was opened, connecting Awaji Town (now Awaji City) and Honshu (Kobe City). The Kobe Awaji Naruto Expressway, connecting Honshu and Shikoku, runs across the island.

[Shigeki Yoshida]

Nature

The Tsuna Hills, consisting mainly of granite, extend from the central to northern parts of the island. They are separated from the Rokko Mountains, which are also made of granite, by the collapse of the Akashi Strait. The highest point of the Tsuna Hills is Mt. Myoken (522 meters), a hilly area one level lower than the Rokko Mountains, with fault cliffs on both sides, and a fault mountain range known as a rafter. In the southern part of the island, the Yuzuruha Mountains stretch from east to west, consisting mainly of Izumi sandstone, with a significant fault cliff on the southern coast. Mt. Yuzuruha (608 meters), located in the center of this mountain range, is the highest point on Awaji Island. It is connected to the Izumi Mountains from the Kitan Strait to the east, and to the Sanuki Mountains of Shikoku from the Naruto Strait to the west, but has become an isolated mountain range due to the collapse of both straits. To the south of these mountains and ranges runs a major fault line called the Median Tectonic Line, which divides Southwest Japan into the Outer and Inner Zones. Between the Tsuna Hills and the Yuzuruha Mountains lies the Awaji Plain, which is the center of agriculture and livestock on the island. The climate is predominantly Seto Inland Sea type, with annual precipitation of around 1,300 mm except on the southern coast, and the coldest month being around 5°C, making it generally warm and with little rain.

[Shigeki Yoshida]

history

Both the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki describe Awaji Island as the first island born in Japan, which tells us that the Awaji Sea People (ama) tribe belonged to the Imperial Court in Kinai from early on. Awaji is an island on the route to Awa Province, and its name comes from the meaning of Awa Road (ahajji). The Wamyōshō records 10 townships in Tsuna County and 7 townships in Mihara County as Awaji Province along the Nankaido, and identifies the ancient provincial capital as being near the present Ichi district of Minami Awaji City. In the Middle Ages, 23 manors were established, and development of the entire island progressed early on. After the upheaval of the Northern and Southern Courts, the Hosokawa clan of Awa ruled Awaji, but during the Sengoku period it came under the control of the Miyoshi clan, and later the Oda and Toyotomi clans, and in 1615 (Genwa 1) it became the property of the Hachisuka clan of Awa. With the abolition of feudal domains and the establishment of prefectures in 1871 (Meiji 4), Awaji and Awa became Myodo Prefecture (later Tokushima Prefecture), but in 1876 the entire island of Awaji was incorporated into Hyogo Prefecture.

[Shigeki Yoshida]

industry

Awaji Island is a major market for horticulture, dairy farming, and livestock farming, with the Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe region being major markets. It is the second largest producer of onions in Japan after Hokkaido, accounting for over 90% of the prefecture's production. It is also the largest producer of lettuce, Chinese cabbage, and cabbage in the prefecture, and production of bell peppers, strawberries, and green onions is also increasing. This is largely due to the rapid increase in triple cropping (rice → Chinese cabbage, lettuce → onions) that began in the 1970s. Flower cultivation using greenhouses and frames is popular on Higashiura Beach in the north of the island, and dairy farming has developed mainly in Minami-Awaji City in the south, with the number of dairy cows exceeding 40% of the prefecture. Beef cattle breeding is also on par with Tajima cattle in the north of the prefecture, and Awaji cattle, along with pigs, have developed into one of the prefecture's leading breeding areas. It is also one of the leading producers of Unshu mandarins, loquats, and summer mandarins in the prefecture. In 2003, Awajicho, Hokudancho, and Higashiuracho (now Awaji City) were certified as special natural industry zones as part of structural reform, and new agricultural land development projects have begun. Awaji is also well-known for its fishing industry, which accounts for 30% of the prefecture's total catch, the majority of which is sand lance, followed by sardines, shrimp, octopus, and sea bream. Yellowtail was the main product of aquaculture, but this has declined sharply since 1978 due to the outbreak of red tides, and instead, seaweed and nori farming has increased.

[Shigeki Yoshida]

culture

Many bronze bells and swords representative of Yayoi culture have been excavated from Awaji Island, some of which have been designated as Important Cultural Properties by the national government. Awaji Ningyo Joruri, a traditional Japanese puppet theater with over 400 years of tradition, has been designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the national government, and the Awaji Ningyo Jorurikan (inside the Onarutobashi Memorial Museum) is a permanent museum in Fukura, Minamiawaji City. At Sanjo Hachimangu Shrine in the same city, there is a stone monument marking the birthplace of Awaji puppets. Awaji Island is also characterized by its many scenic coastal sites with white sand and green pines, such as Keino Matsubara (a national scenic spot), and literary monuments can be found all over the island, including a monument to Kakinomoto no Hitomaro, whose poems are often written about in the Manyoshu.

Although the area sustained serious damage in the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake of 1995, reconstruction measures have been implemented, and as part of this, the Awaji Flora Expo "Japan Flora 2000" was held in 2000 with the theme of "Communication between People and Nature." During the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan, the area was the training camp site for the England team, and was one of the venues for the 2006 "Nojigiku Hyogo National Athletic Meet."

[Shigeki Yoshida]

"Folklore of Awaji Island" edited by Wakamori Taro (1964, Yoshikawa Kobunkan)

Onaruto Bridge
The view from the Ogeshima side of Naruto City. Awaji Island is on the opposite shore. Minamiawaji City, Hyogo Prefecture and Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture ©Tokushima Prefecture ">

Onaruto Bridge

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
View from the Awaji City side. Kobe City and Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture © Awaji Island Tourism Association ">

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

Keino Pine Grove
Setonaikai National Park area. Nationally designated scenic spot Minami Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture ©Minami Awaji City ">

Keino Pine Grove

Lake Yuzuruha
A dam lake located northwest of Mount Yuzuruha. Minamiawaji City, Hyogo Prefecture ©Minamiawaji City ">

Lake Yuzuruha

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

兵庫県南部、大阪湾と播磨灘(はりまなだ)を隔てている瀬戸内海最大の島。佐渡島、奄美(あまみ)大島、対馬(つしま)に次ぐわが国第四の島で、面積592.00平方キロメートル、人口14万3041（2010）。「平成の大合併」を経て、2006年（平成18）には淡路市、洲本(すもと)市、南あわじ市の3市となった。行政、文化、経済の中心地は洲本市である。1985年（昭和60）6月南淡町（現、南あわじ市）と四国（鳴門市）を結ぶ大鳴門橋が開通。次いで1998年4月には淡路町（現、淡路市）と本州（神戸市）を結ぶ明石海峡大橋(あかしかいきょうおおはし)が開通した。本州と四国を連絡する神戸淡路鳴門(なると)自動車道が島を縦断している。

［吉田茂樹］

自然

島の中央部から北部にかけて津名丘陵が広がり、おもに花崗岩(かこうがん)からなり、明石海峡の陥没によって、同じ花崗岩質の六甲(ろっこう)山地と分断されている。津名丘陵の最高地点は妙見山（522メートル）で、六甲山地より一段低い開析の進んだ丘陵地で、両側が断層崖(がい)となり、地形的に地塁とよばれる断層山地である。島の南部には諭鶴羽山地(ゆづるはさんち)が東西に延び、おもに和泉(いずみ)砂岩からなり、南岸は著しい断層崖となる。この山地の中央にある諭鶴羽山（608メートル）は淡路島の最高地点であり、東は紀淡海峡から和泉山脈、西は鳴門海峡から四国の讃岐(さぬき)山脈へ連なったものであるが、両海峡の陥没によって孤立化した山地となった。これら山地、山脈の南側には、西南日本を外帯と内帯とに分ける中央構造線（メディアンライン）とよばれる大断層線が走っている。津名丘陵と諭鶴羽山地の間には淡路平野が開け、島内の農牧業の中心地となっている。気候は瀬戸内式気候が卓越し、南岸を除くと年降水量は1300ミリメートル内外で、最寒月も5℃前後と、一般に温暖少雨である。

［吉田茂樹］

歴史

『古事記』や『日本書紀』は、いずれも淡路島を日本で最初に生まれた島として記述するが、このことは淡路の海人(あま)族が早くから畿内(きない)の朝廷に属していたことを物語っている。淡路とは阿波(あわ)国に渡る道筋の島であり、阿波道(あはぢ)の意からきている。『和名抄(わみょうしょう)』では南海道淡路国として、津名郡10郷、三原郡7郷が記され、古代の国府はいまの南あわじ市の市(いち)地区付近に比定されている。中世に入ると23の荘園(しょうえん)が設立され、全島の開発が早くから進行していた。南北朝の動乱後は、阿波の細川一族が淡路を支配したが、戦国時代には三好氏、のち織田、豊臣(とよとみ)氏の支配下に入り、1615年（元和1）に阿波の蜂須賀(はちすか)氏の所領となった。1871年（明治4）の廃藩置県によって、淡路と阿波が名東(みょうどう)県（後の徳島県）となったが、1876年に淡路島全島が兵庫県に編入された。

［吉田茂樹］

産業

淡路島は京阪神地方を大市場としての園芸農業、酪農業および牧畜業が盛んである。特産のタマネギは北海道に次ぐ全国第二の大産地で、県下の90％以上を占め、レタス、ハクサイ、キャベツも県下最大の生産地となり、ピーマン、イチゴ、ネギの生産も増大している。これは昭和50年代から始まった三毛作（水稲→ハクサイ・レタス→タマネギ）の急増によるところが多い。島内北部の東浦海岸では温室、フレームによる花卉(かき)栽培が盛んで、酪農は南部の南あわじ市を中心に発達し、乳牛頭数で県下の40％を超えている。肉牛の飼育も、県北の但馬(たじま)牛と並び称され、淡路牛としてブタとともに県下有数の飼育地に発達した。また、温州(うんしゅう)ミカン、ビワ、ナツミカンの生産も県下有数である。2003年（平成15）には、淡路町、北淡(ほくだん)町、東浦町（いずれも現、淡路市）が構造改革特区として自然産業特区の認定を受け、新たな農地開発事業が開始されている。水産業も淡路を代表するもので、漁獲高は県下の30％を占め、その大半はイカナゴの水揚げであり、ついでイワシ、エビ、タコ、タイが多い。水産養殖ではハマチが中心であったが、赤潮の発生によって1978年から激減し、かわってワカメ、ノリの養殖が増大している。

［吉田茂樹］

文化

淡路島には弥生(やよい)文化を代表する銅鐸(どうたく)、銅剣の出土が多く、国の重要文化財に指定されているものもある。また、400年以上の伝統をもつ淡路人形浄瑠璃(じょうるり)は、国の重要無形民俗文化財に指定され、南あわじ市福良(ふくら)に常設館として淡路人形浄瑠璃館（大鳴門橋記念館内）が設置されている。同市の三条八幡宮(はちまんぐう)には「淡路人形発祥地」の石碑がある。さらに慶野(けいの)松原（国の名勝）など白砂青松の海岸景勝地が多く、『万葉集』などに多く詠まれ柿本人麻呂(かきのもとのひとまろ)の歌碑など、島内各地に文学碑がみられるのも淡路島の特色である。

　なお、1995年の阪神・淡路大震災では大きな被害を受けたが、復興対策が進められ、その一環として2000年には「人と自然のコミュニケーション」をテーマに淡路花博「ジャパンフローラ2000」が開催された。2002年のサッカー・ワールドカップ韓日大会ではイングランドチームのキャンプ地となり、2006年の「のじぎく兵庫国体」では競技開催地の一つとなった。

［吉田茂樹］

『和歌森太郎編『淡路島の民俗』（1964・吉川弘文館）』