Miyako Islands

Island group within Ryukyu Islands

Miyako Islands

Location of Miyako Islands within Okinawa Predecture

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Miyako Islands

Location of Miyako Islands within the East China Sea

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GeographyLocationPacific OceanArchipelagoSakishima IslandsAdjacent toEast China SeaTotal islands12Major islandsMiyako Island, Irabu Island, Tarama IslandArea226.20 km² (87.34 sq mi)Administration

Japan

PrefectureOkinawa PrefectureDemographicsPopulation55,522 (January 2018)Pop. density246.2/km² (637.7/sq mi)Ethnic groupsRyukyuan, Japanese

The Miyako Islands (宮古列島, Miyako-rettō, Miyako: Myaaku, Tarama dialect: Meeku, Okinawan: Naaku, Northern Ryukyuan: みやこ Miyako) (also Miyako Jima group^[1]) are a group of islands in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, belonging to the Ryukyu Islands. They are situated between Okinawa Island and the Yaeyama Islands.

In the early 1870s, the population of the islands was estimated to number approximately 10,000.^[1] Miyako Island has 55,914 people.^{[citation needed]} A bridge connects Miyako Island to Ikema Island, which has 801 people. Tarama village has 1,214 people, between the two islands of Minna and Tarama.

Important Bird Area

The islands have been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because they support populations of the resident Ryukyu green pigeons, as well as migrating whimbrels.^[2]

Inhabited islands

Miyakojima City
- Ikema Island (池間島, Ikema-jima, Miyako: Ikyaama)
- Irabu Island (伊良部島, Irabu-jima, Miyako: Irav)
- Kurima Island (来間島, Kurima-jima, Miyako: Ffyama)
- Miyako Island (宮古島, Miyako-jima, Miyako: Myaaku, Okinawan: Naaku)
- Ōgami Island (大神島, Ōgami-jima) (ja)
- Shimoji Island (下地島, Shimoji-shima, Miyako: Sïmuzï)
Tarama Village (Miyako District)
- Minna Island (水納島, Minna-jima, Miyako: Minna)
- Tarama Island (多良間島, Tarama-jima, Miyako and Okinawan: Tarama) (ja)

References

^ ^a ^b William Campbell (1915). "Sketches from Formosa". p. 47. I was in some hope that, on one of our long tacks, we might have come within view of Kumi, the westernmost island of the Miyako Sima group. It lies about sixty miles east from Dome Point, and has four villages. Two or three of the islands lying further east have a much larger area than Botel Tobago, and the population of the entire group is estimated to number about ten thousand. They are said to be a poor but contented and unarmed race, in appearance similar to the Luchuans (to whom they are subject), but resembling the Japanese more in manners, customs, and language.
^ "Miyako islands". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.