【Reading】みなみだいとうじま

【English Name】Minami-Daito Island

An island that is part of the Daito Islands, floating on the Pacific Ocean about 360km east of the main island of Okinawa. Administratively it falls under the jurisdiction of Minamidaito Village, Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture, and boasts an area of about 30.53 km².

A topographical feature of this island is its "raised atoll" (ryuki kansho). It was formed as a result of coral reefs being uplifted over an eternity of time, and its geological value was recognized when it was selected for Japan's Top 100 Geological Sites in 2007. The surrounding seabed forms steep terrain, plunging to a depth of 1,000m just about 2km from shore. Such environmental conditions create an ideal gathering point for migratory fish, including tuna species, and the island has long been highly regarded as an excellent fishing ground.

The island's history of development began in 1900 with the settlement of migrants from Hachijojima. The structure in which sugarcane cultivation forms the backbone of industry remains unchanged today, and the development and expansion of the fishing port have also been steadily accumulated. Belonging to a subtropical oceanic climate, this island's annual precipitation amounts to about 1,639mm.

Because of its isolated location, with almost no land within a 360km radius in any direction, this island has nurtured a unique ecosystem found nowhere else. Furthermore, in a historical context, it is also widely recognized for having functioned as a frontline stronghold in Japan's typhoon observation.