Main island - Honjima

The central island of the Shiwaku Islands in the Bisan Seto Strait in the west of Kagawa Prefecture. It belongs to Marugame City. Its area is 6.77 square kilometers. There are regular ferries from both Marugame and Kojima (Okayama Prefecture) to Tomari Port on the south coast. It is one of the Seven Islands of Shiwaku Islands that is historically important, and in the Middle Ages the Shiwaku Navy was active, and in recognition of their achievements, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu awarded 650 sailors with red seal letters recognizing the self-government system known as ninmyo. Four elders selected from the ninmyo conducted government affairs at the guardhouse on the main island. The remains of the guardhouse have been restored and are designated as a national historic site. The red seal letters are also preserved. The village of Kasajima in the northeast conveys the atmosphere of a port town in the Seto Inland Sea and has been designated as a national preservation district for groups of traditional buildings. There are also many other historical sites and cultural assets on the island. Shokakuin is an ancient temple founded during the Tenpyo period (729-749), and is home to many nationally designated important cultural properties, including the statues of Shokannon and Acala. In addition to self-sufficient agriculture, the area also cultivates kuruma shrimp. Tourism development is also underway following the opening of the Seto Ohashi Bridge. Depopulation is severe, and many villages have noticeable vacant houses. Population: 607 (2009).

[Yoshiaki Sakaguchi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

香川県西部、備讃(びさん)瀬戸に浮かぶ塩飽(しわく)諸島の中心をなす島。丸亀(まるがめ)市に属す。面積6.77平方キロメートル。南岸の泊(とまり)港へ丸亀、児島（岡山県）両港からの定期船便がある。歴史上重要な塩飽七島の一つで、中世には塩飽水軍が活躍し、その功績によって豊臣(とよとみ)秀吉や徳川家康は、人名(にんみょう)とよばれる自治制度を認める朱印状を650人の船方に与えた。人名から選ばれた年寄4人が本島の勤番所で政務をとった。勤番所跡は修復され、国の史跡に指定されている。また朱印状も保存されている。北東部にある笠島の集落は瀬戸内の港町の様子を伝え、国の伝統的建造物群保存地区に選定されている。このほか、島内には史跡や文化財が多い。正覚院(しょうかくいん)は天平(てんぴょう)年間（729～749）に創建された古刹(こさつ)で、聖観音(しょうかんのん)像、不動明王像など国指定重要文化財も多い。自給的農業のほか、クルマエビの養殖も行われる。瀬戸大橋開通に伴う観光開発も進んでいる。過疎化が著しく、空き家が目だつ集落も多い。人口607（2009）。

［坂口良昭］

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