Okushiri Island

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Okushiri Island (ja:奥尻島 Okushiri-to)is an island in Hokkaidō, Japan. It has an area of 145 km². Its main port Okushiri, Hokkaidō has a population of 3,708 (2004).


[edit] Meaning

Incidentally, Okushiri in Japanese means literally, wife's arse, or "inner arse". However, shir in Ainu means island, from which it probably derived. In that case, Okushiri-to would be the word repeating "island" twice. Other strange Japanese names, including last names of people and place names include anajiri (穴尻), meaning "hole arse".

[edit] History

It was the site of a powerful earthquake and tsunami in 1993. The town of Okushiri-cho aka Okushiri, Hokkaidō in Okushiri District, Hokkaido is on the island.

[edit] Transportation

Okushiri Airport serves the island.