| Akusekijima | |
|---|---|
View from the ferry "TOSHIMA". May, 2007 |
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| Elevation | 584 m (1,916 ft) [1] |
| Listing | List of volcanoes in Japan |
| Location | |
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Akusekijima
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| Location | Tokara Islands, Japan |
| Coordinates | [1] |
| Geology | |
| Type | Stratovolcanoes |
| Last eruption | Unknown |
Akusekijima (悪石島) is a volcanic island located in the Tokara Islands in part of the Nansei Islands, Japan. Most of the island is surrounded by steep cliffs. Access to the island is limited to the "Ferry Toshima", which only runs twice a week and takes 11 hours from Kagoshima.
This small island has only 77 residents all of whom rely on rainfall as their primary source of water. Residents who own cars must purchase drums of gasoline and have them shipped in from Kagoshima. As with the other Tokara Islands, many residents use the Co-Op grocery delivery service to order food and household items. Deliveries are made once a week, weather permitting, on the Saturday ferry.
On August 22, 1944, Tsushima Maru, a Japanese unmarked passenger/cargo ship, was sunk by torpedoes launched by the submarine USS Bowfin off this island, killing 1,484 civilians including 767 schoolchildren.
It was one of the best observation spots (one of the closest inhabited areas to the location of maximum eclipse duration) for the Solar eclipse of July 22, 2009, which was the longest total solar eclipse of the twenty-first century. Village officials and island residents were concerned about playing host to hundreds of people coming to view the solar eclipse. Akusekijima only has 5 small minshuku guesthouses, which can only accommodate up to 66 people, and water resources are limited.
Akusekijima is also famous for the masked god Boze (ボゼ), the island deity. Islanders donning Boze masks come out during the annual lunar O-Bon festival (For 2009, this translates to September 4). Protectors of the island and its natural assets, the Boze frighten small children to ensure their safety for the coming year.