Pillar Island

An island in the Akinada Sea in the southeastern part of Yamaguchi Prefecture. It belongs to Iwakuni City, and is an isolated island 26 km from Iwakuni Port, with an area of ​​3.12 square kilometers and a population of 220 (2009). Nearby islands include Hashima (area 0.67 square kilometers, population 48), Kobashirajima, Teshima, and Hodakajima, making up a group of 12 islands of various sizes. In the Middle Ages, it belonged to the Iyo Kutsuna Navy, and in the early modern period it was the property of the Iwakuni Kikkawa clan. Records from 1726 (Kyoho 11) state that there were 89 houses, a population of 505, and 12 boats on Hashirajima. The island is well cultivated, and there are many mandarin orange orchards. The main fishing methods are small bottom trawl nets, drift gill nets, and single-line fishing. During World War II, the area off the coast of the island was an anchorage for the Combined Fleet, and is known for the explosion and sinking of the battleship Mutsu. The Battleship Mutsu Tomb is located at Shubana on the southern tip of the island. The sandy beach on the northern coast of Shimajiri is crowded with bathers in the summer. Regular ferries operate from Iwakuni Port.

[Hajime Miura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

山口県南東部の安芸灘(あきなだ)にある島。岩国市に属し、岩国港から26キロメートルの離島で、面積3.12平方キロメートル、人口220（2009）。近くに端島(はしま)（面積0.67平方キロメートル、人口48）や小柱島、手島、保高(ほだか)島などがあって、大小12の島群をなす。中世には伊予忽那(いよくつな)水軍に属し、近世には岩国吉川(きっかわ)氏の所領であった。1726年（享保11）の記録には、柱島の家数89軒、人口505、船数12とある。島内はよく耕地化され、ミカン園が多い。漁業は小型底引網や流し刺網、一本釣りが盛ん。島の沖合いは第二次世界大戦中、連合艦隊の停泊地で、戦艦陸奥(むつ)が爆発沈没したことで知られ、南端の州鼻に戦艦陸奥英霊之墓がある。北岸島尻(しまじり)の砂浜海岸は夏海水浴客でにぎわう。岩国港から定期船が運航している。

［三浦　肇］

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