Matsushima

Japanese: 松島 - まつしま

Matsushima Bay and its coastal area in central Miyagi Prefecture. One of the Three Great Views of Japan. It spans Shiogama City, Matsushima Town, Higashimatsushima City, and Shichigahama Town. In 1902, it was designated Matsushima Prefectural Natural Park, and in 1952, it was designated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty by the national government. The 260 or so islands and coasts made of Neogene tuff and shale have been eroded by the sea, and present various strange sights. The name "Matsushima" was born from the fact that it is covered with black pine trees along with the surrounding hills. The view from Mt. Tamon (56m) on the Shichigahama Peninsula at the mouth of the bay is called "the great view," and the view from Mt. Otakamori (106m) on Miyato Island is called "the magnificent view," while the view from Mt. Toyama (117m) in the northern part of the bay is called "the beautiful view," and the view from Mt. Ogiya Sokan (56m) on the west coast is called "the mysterious view," and the four views of Matsushima have been called "the four great views of Matsushima" since ancient times, and the scenery of Matsushima changes depending on the location and the season. The contrasting landscapes of Uchi Matsushima, located inside the bay, and Soto Matsushima, located outside the bay, can be seen. There is also a toll road called the Panorama Line on Mt. Anetori (138m) on the west coast. The Matsushima Coast in the northwest of Matsushima Bay is the center of tourism in Matsushima due to its good transport links. It is home to the Matsushima Eight Islands, including Oshima and Fukuurajima, the main hall of Zuiganji Temple (designated as a national treasure in 1953), the Godaido Hall (designated as an important cultural property in 1901), and Kanrantei. There are also many aquariums, sightseeing boat docks, a yacht harbor, hotels, inns, and souvenir shops. The area around Miyato Island, Sabusawa Island, Nonojima, and the Koeboshi Islands in the eastern part of Matsushima Bay is called Oku Matsushima, and is known for its tranquility. To the east of Miyato Island is the sea cliff of Sagakei.

Matsushima

A district in the southwest of Kumamoto Prefecture, in the northeast of Kamishima Island in the Amakusa Islands. Former town name. In 1955, the three villages of Imazu, A, and Kyoragikawachi merged to form Matsushima Village, which was incorporated as a town in 1956. In March 2004, it merged with the three towns of Oyano, Himeto, and Ryugatake to form Kamiamakusa City. The former town name comes from the fact that the surrounding landscape resembles Matsushima, one of the Three Most Scenic Spots of Japan. Shrimp and pearls are cultivated here. Amura Port is the home of wooden and motor-sailboats. The Amakusa Pearl Line (National Route 266), which connects the five bridges of Amakusa, runs through the area, and ferries to the ports of Misumi, Yatsushiro, and Shimabara, as well as pleasure boats to Amakusa Matsushima, depart from Aitsu Port. The views of the Amakusa Matsushima Islands from Mt. Sengan and Mt. Takabuto (both designated as national scenic spots) are particularly spectacular, and part of the island is part of the Unzen-Amakusa National Park. National Route 266 and Route 324 (Rosario Line) branch off from the road near Gozu.

Matsushima

An island located in central Nagasaki Prefecture, about 1 km west of the west coast of the Nishisonogi Peninsula. Former village area. In 1955, it was merged with neighboring towns and villages to become Oseto Town, and in 2005 it became part of Saikai City. Coal mines were developed during the Taisho period, and the population reached 14,000 in 1920, but it was closed due to a submersion accident in 1934. Kamanoura flourished as a port for waiting for the wind and tide during the Edo period, and in the later period it was also a whaling base. An island of agriculture and fishing. In 1981, a 1,000,000 kW thermal power plant was built in the north, mainly using coal as fuel. There is a boat service from Sasebo Port and Seto Port on the opposite shore. Area 6.24 ^km2 . Population 789 (2000).

Matsushima

A warship of the Imperial Japanese Navy. One of the three Japanese capital ships, along with the Itsukushima and Hashidate, during the First Sino-Japanese War. Launched in 1891, it had a displacement of 4,300 tons, a speed of 16 kn, and one 32 cm gun and eleven 12 cm guns. It was active in the Battle of the Yellow Sea. The second Itsukushima was a minelayer, with a displacement of 1,970 tons, a speed of 17 kn, and 300 mines. (→ Sankei-kan )

Matsushima

The title of a Tokiwazu-bushi song. The original title was "Kishi no Sazanami Tokiwa Matsushima (The Ripples on the Shore, the Evergreen Matsushima)." The lyrics were by Kawatake Mokuami, and the music was by the 6th Kishizawa Shikisa. It was written in 1884 to commemorate the reconciliation between the Tokiwazu and Kishizawa schools, and sings of Matsushima, a scenic spot in the Tohoku region.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

宮城県中部，松島湾とその沿岸一帯の地域。日本三景の一つ。塩竈市と，松島町，東松島市，七ヶ浜町にまたがる。1902年松島県立自然公園に，1952年国の特別名勝に指定された。新第三紀の凝灰岩や頁岩からなる 260余の島と海岸は，海食を受けて種々の奇観を呈す。周辺の丘陵とともにクロマツに覆われているので「松島」の名が生まれた。湾口の七ヶ浜半島の多聞山（たもんざん。56m）からの眺望を「偉観」と呼び，宮戸島大高森（106m）からの眺めの「壮観」，湾北部の富山（117m）からの「麗観」，西岸の扇谷双観山（56m）からの「幽観」を合わせて，古来より松島四大観というように，松島の景観は場所により季節により変化に富む。湾内の内松島と湾外の外松島は対照的な景観を呈す。西岸の姉取山（138m）に有料道路パノラマラインもある。松島湾北西部の松島海岸は，交通の便がよいことから松島観光の中心で，雄島（おしま），福浦島などの松島八島と，国宝の瑞巌寺本堂（1953指定），国の重要文化財の五大堂（1901指定），観瀾亭などがあり，水族館，遊覧船の船着場，ヨットハーバー，ホテルや旅館，みやげ物店も多い。松島湾東部の宮戸島，寒風沢島（さぶさわじま），野々島，小烏帽子列島のあたりを奥松島と呼び，静けさが賞され，宮戸島の東側に海食崖の嵯峨渓がある。

松島
まつしま

熊本県南西部，天草諸島の上島北東部にある地区。旧町名。 1955年今津 (いまつ) ，阿 (あ) ，教良木河内 (きょうらぎかわち) の3村が合体して松島村となり，1956年町制。 2004年3月大矢野，姫戸，龍ヶ岳の3町と合併，上天草市となる。旧町名は付近一帯の景観が日本三景の一つ松島に似ていることに由来する。エビ，真珠の養殖が行なわれる。阿村港は木造・機帆船の本拠地。天草五橋を結ぶ天草パールライン (国道 266号線) が通り，合津 (あいつ) 港では三角 (みすみ) ，八代，島原の各港へのフェリー，天草松島の遊覧船が発着する。千巌 (せんがん) 山および高舞登 (たかぶと) 山 (ともに国指定名勝) からの天草松島の眺望は特にすばらしく，一部は雲仙天草国立公園に属する。合津付近で国道 266号線と 324号線 (ロザリオライン) が分岐。

松島
まつしま

長崎県中部，西彼杵半島西岸から約 1km西方にある島。旧村域。 1955年近隣町村と合体して大瀬戸町となり，2005年西海市に属する。大正期に炭鉱が開発され，人口も 1920年には1万 4000に達したが，1934年の水没事故で閉山。釜ノ浦は江戸時代に風待ち港，潮待ち港として栄え，後期には捕鯨の基地でもあった。農業と漁業の島。 1981年北部に主として石炭を燃料とする出力 100万 kWの火力発電所が建設された。佐世保港，および対岸の瀬戸港から船の便がある。面積 6.24km²。人口 789 (2000) 。