Sesoko Island

Sesoko Island
Native name:
瀬底島
Aerial view of Sesoko Island and Sesoko Bridge, Japan
Map
Geography
LocationOkinawa Prefecture, Japan
Coordinates26°38′42″N 127°51′52″E / 26.64500°N 127.86444°E / 26.64500; 127.86444
ArchipelagoRyukyu Islands
Area2.99 km2 (1.15 sq mi)
Demographics
Ethnic groupsRyukyuan, Japanese

Sesoko Island (瀬底島, Japanese: Sesoko-jima, Okinawan: Shisuku-jima[1]) is a small island in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.[2] Politically, the place is administered by the town of Motobu, which is a part of the Kunigami District in the northern Okinawa Islands.

It is a popular tourist destination due to its beaches. The island is accessible by car using the 762 meters long Sesoko Bridge.[3] Both Iejima and Minnajima can be seen from Sesoko, and coral reefs are located 500 meters offshore the coastline.[4]

History

By the 15th century, Sesoko was a part of the Ryukyu Kingdom, a former country that controlled much of the Ryukyu Islands.[5] After Japan's annexation of the kingdom in 1879, control of the island was transferred over to the modern prefecture of Okinawa. In 1950, it was put under the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands as a result of the Second World War. Sesoko, along with the rest of Okinawa, were returned to Japan in 1972.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Sesoko / Sesoko, Okinawa, Japan, Asia". travelingluck.com. Retrieved 2020-09-23.
  2. ^ "Sesoko Island". VISIT OKINAWA JAPAN. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
  3. ^ t-ninomiya. "Sesoko Island ~Fascinating Remote Island which is accessible from Naha!". Okinawa-labo. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
  4. ^ "Sesoko Beach/Okinawa Island Guide". www.oki-islandguide.com. Retrieved 2020-09-23.
  5. ^ "MOFA: Okinawa: History (The Ryukyu Dynasty/The Ryukyu Dynasty under Feudal Japan) (Kyushu-Okinawa Summit 2000)". www.mofa.go.jp. Retrieved 2020-09-23.
  6. ^ Daimon, Sayuri (2002-05-14). "Handover of Okinawa to Japan was prickly issue". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2020-09-23.

26°38′38″N 127°51′50″E / 26.644°N 127.864°E / 26.644; 127.864


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