Hegura Island

This island belongs to Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, and is located in the Sea of ​​Japan, 49 km north of Wajima Port on the Noto Peninsula. It is located at 136 degrees 55 minutes 50 seconds east and 37 degrees 51 minutes 8 seconds north, and has an area of ​​0.55 square kilometers and a circumference of 5.1 kilometers, forming an elongated oval shape. The population is 144 (2009). It is a low-lying island made of perilla andesite lava flows, and a lighthouse stands at the highest point (12.4 meters). The winter monsoon is strong but there is no snow. The northwest side forms a cliff, but there is a sandy beach on the leeward southeast side, where a settlement and Hegura Port are located. There are large grasslands of Japanese silver grass and Japanese bamboo, and although there are few trees, both southern and northern plants can be seen, and pine trees are planted. The coastal waters are extensive with reefs, and there is an abundance of fish, shellfish, and seaweed. This island is said to be the Nekonoshima Island in the Konjaku Monogatarishu, and was also called Okutsushima. It is said that the inhabitants migrated from Kanezaki, Munakata County, Chikuzen (now Munakata City, Fukuoka Prefecture), and were given a place to live in Ama-cho, Wajima, by the lord of Kaga. The fishermen of Ama-cho would "island-hop" around the 88th night of summer, and the female divers would dive to catch abalone, turban shells, and seaweed, and return to Ama-cho in November. After this, they would travel around the Noto countryside by boat, a journey called Nada-mawari, and trade pickled sardines for rice. This custom still remains today. There are also branch elementary and junior high schools, a nursery school, and a clinic. The area is also home to Okitsuhime Shrine, which is surrounded by stone walls to protect against the wind, Ryuujin-ga-ike Pond, Fuka-wan-do Cave, Tsukijima Island, and other sights. It takes 1 hour and 30 minutes by regular ferry from Wajima Port.

[Takao Yagasaki]

"Hegura Island and Nanatsu Islands" (1961, Hokkoku Shimbun)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

石川県輪島市(わじまし)に属す島で、能登(のと)半島輪島港の北方49キロメートルの日本海にある。東経136度55分50秒、北緯37度51分8秒に位置し、面積0.55平方キロメートル、周囲5.1キロメートルで長卵形をなす。人口144（2009）。紫蘇(しそ)輝石安山岩の溶岩流からなる低平な島で、最高所（12.4メートル）に灯台が建つ。冬の季節風は強いが積雪はなく、北西側は断崖(だんがい)をなすが、風下の南東側の一部に砂浜があり、集落や舳倉港がある。ススキ、メダケの草原が広く、樹木は少ないが、南方系、北方系両方の植物がみられ、松の植林が行われる。近海は岩礁が広く、魚貝類、海藻類が豊富である。『今昔(こんじゃく)物語集』の猫ノ島(ねこのしま)はこの島といわれ、奥津(おくつ)島ともいった。住民は筑前(ちくぜん)宗像(むなかた)郡鐘崎(かねがさき)（現、福岡県宗像市）から移動してきたと伝えられ、加賀藩主から輪島の海士町(あままち)に居所を与えられた。海士町の漁民は夏八十八夜ごろ「島渡り」し、海女(あま)は潜水してアワビ、サザエ、海藻類をとり、11月に海士町に帰った。このあと灘回(なだまわ)りと称し船で能登の農村を回り、糠(ぬか)漬けのイワシなどを米と交換した。いまもこの風習が残っている。小・中学校の分校、保育所、診療所などもある。また防風のため石垣で囲った奥津比咩(おきつひめ)神社や、竜神ヶ池、深湾洞(ふかわんどう)、築島(つきじま)などがあり、能登半島国定公園域。輪島港から定期船で1時間30分を要する。

［矢ヶ崎孝雄］

『『舳倉島・七ツ島』（1961・北国新聞社）』

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