Satsunan Islands

Map of Kagoshima Prefecture, including the Satsunan Islands

The Satsunan Islands (薩南諸島, Satsunan-shotō) is a group of islands that forms the northern part of the Nansei Islands. The whole island group belongs to Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

Major islands

• Satsunan Islands
  • Ōsumi Islands with:
    • Tanegashima, Yakushima, Kuchinoerabujima, Mageshima in the North-Eastern Group,
    • Takeshima, Iojima, Kuroshima in the North-Western Group.
  • Tokara Islands (The Shichi-tō): Kuchi-no-shima, Naka-no-shima, Gaja-jima, Suwanose-jima, Akuseki-jima, Taira-jima, Kodakara-jima, Takara-jima
  • Amami Islands: Amami Ōshima, Kikaigashima, Kakeromajima, Yoroshima, Ukeshima, Tokunoshima, Okinoerabujima, Yoronjima

History

Main article: Ryukyu Islands § History

Although Satsunan literally means the south of Satsuma Province, the north-eastern group of the Ōsumi Islands formed Tane Province for a brief period in the 8th and 9th centuries and then were merged into Ōsumi Province. The Tokara Islands and the north-western group of the Ōsumi Islands belonged to Kawanabe District of Satsuma Province. The Amami Islands fell outside the Ritsuryō administrative system of Japan although they were effectively ruled by the Satsuma Domain during the Edo period.

In 1879, the Amami Islands became Ōshima District of Kagoshima Prefecture. The Tokara Islands and the north-western group of the Ōsumi Islands were transferred to Ōshima District in 1897, and then to Kagoshima District in 1973. After World War II, the Tokara and Amami Islands were put under United States military occupation. The Tokara Islands were returned to Japan in 1952, which was followed by the Amami Islands in 1953.