Ikitsuki, Nagasaki
Encyclopedia
is a former town
on the island of the same name located in Kitamatsuura District
, Nagasaki
, Japan
.
On October 1, 2005 Ikitsuki, along with the town of Tabira
, and the village of Ōshima
, both from Kitamatsuura District
, was merged into the expanded city of Hirado
.
As of 2003, the town had an estimated population
of 7,392 and a density
of 445.84 persons per km². The total area was 16.58 km².
Ikitsuki is known historically for two primary reasons: a legacy of whaling and hidden Christians
. Near the south end of the island is a museum with exhibits on both these aspects of Ikitsuki's history.
Nearly all the people of Ikitsuki live on the east side of the island. The west side faces out into the open ocean (sea) and is very windy. In addition, much of the west side of the island is cliff-face, with only a few spots which are flat enough even for terraced farming.
The scenery is stunning in Ikitsuki, and has attracted a great number of domestic tourists since road access was available through bridges connecting Hirado Island with the mainland and Ikitsuki Island to Hirado. The dialect of Ikitsuki can be difficult to understand, even for Japanese people who live in nearby towns. However, this is more true among the older people, and "standard" Japanese is spoken in educational and governmental settings.
is still mainly supported a niche fishing
industry. As fishing and agriculture, in general, are in decline in Japan and other industrialized nations in the world, Ikitsuki's fishing fleet, as well as its tax base, as been declining in recent years. However, as Ikitsuki has been traditionally been dependent on specialty catches, namely squid
(ika), and flying fish (ago), the island has weathered Japan's shrinking fishing industry better than most other rural communities.
There are two elementary schools on Ikitsuki - Ikutsuki Elementary School (生月小学校) and Yamada Elementary School (山田小学校). There is one junior high - Ikutsuki Middle School (生月中学校). There is no high school; kids are required to commute off of the island. Many go to high schools in the surrounding communities (Hirado, Tabira, Shikamachi), while a few venture all the way to more academically rigorous high schools Sasebo
and Nagasaki, the two largest cities in Nagasaki Prefecture.
Junior High Schools
Elementary Schools
in Ōmura City
. By car, it is three hours away. Approximately the same distance away is Fukuoka Airport
in Fukuoka City
(Fukuoka Prefecture
), which is a large regional air hub in Asia.
. Since the merger of Ikitsuki into Hirado City, tolls on the bridge have significantly decreased. Before October 1, 2005, tolls were 450 yen one way for a yellow plate car (small) and 600 yen for a white plate (large). This has since decreased threefold to 150 yen one way for yellow plate cars, and 200 yen for white plate cars. From April 1, 2010, no fee is required to pass the Ikitsuki Bridge.
Access to mainland Kyūshū is through a separate bridge
on Hirado Island. It takes about 30 minutes to drive from Ikitsuki to Hirado.
The bridge connecting Ikitsuki to the neighboring Hirado Island is the longest continuous truss bridge
in the world, measuring in at 1312 ft.
"In Japanese Buddhism
, Kannon is the Bodhisattva of compassion, and is therefore different from a Buddha as depicted by the famous bronze statues in Nara
and Kamakura
. The Ikitsuki Daigyoran Kannon prays for world peace and the safety of those that are out on the sea. It also mourns over all shipwrecked people and marine animals."
) in practice and existence. Located near Yamada Elementary School, this small church holds much history as one of the first and last outposts of Christian belief and persecution in Japan.
Feb 10th Ikitsuki Road Race (いきつきロード大会)
May 3-5th Ikitsuki Spring Fair (いきつき春まつり)
End of July Tachiura Seribune Festival (traditional whaling boat race) (舘浦競漕船大会)
Aug 16th Tachiura Suko-odori Dances (traditional dance from Ikitsuki) (須古踊り)
Sep 27th-28th Hirado Two Day Walk (ひらどツーデーウォーク)
Ikitsuki is sister cities with the town of Utanobori
in Hokkaidō, Japan. Both towns of are similar size and participate in student exchanges at the junior high school level.
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
on the island of the same name located in Kitamatsuura District
Kitamatsuura District, Nagasaki
is a district located in Nagasaki, Japan.As of August 1, 2011, the district has an estimated population of 16,270 and a density of 282 persons per km²...
, Nagasaki
Nagasaki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. The capital is the city of Nagasaki.- History :Nagasaki Prefecture was created by merging of the western half of the former province of Hizen with the island provinces of Tsushima and Iki...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
On October 1, 2005 Ikitsuki, along with the town of Tabira
Tabira, Nagasaki
was a town located in Kitamatsuura District, Nagasaki, Japan.On October 1, 2005 Tabira, along with the town of Ikitsuki, and the village of Ōshima, both from Kitamatsuura District, was merged into the expanded city of Hirado. Its top attraction is Tabira Insect Park.As of 2003, the town had an...
, and the village of Ōshima
Oshima, Nagasaki (Kitamatsuura)
was a village located on an island in Kitamatsuura District, Nagasaki, Japan.On October 1, 2005 Ōshima, along with the towns of Ikitsuki and Tabira, both from Kitamatsuura District, was merged into the expanded city of Hirado....
, both from Kitamatsuura District
Kitamatsuura District, Nagasaki
is a district located in Nagasaki, Japan.As of August 1, 2011, the district has an estimated population of 16,270 and a density of 282 persons per km²...
, was merged into the expanded city of Hirado
Hirado, Nagasaki
is a city in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. The part historically named Hirado is located on the island of the same name. With recent mergers, the city's boundaries have expanded, and Hirado now occupies parts of the main island of Kyūshū...
.
As of 2003, the town had an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 7,392 and a density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 445.84 persons per km². The total area was 16.58 km².
Kakure Kirishitan
is a modern term for a member of the Japanese Catholic Church that went underground after the Shimabara Rebellion in the 1630s.-History:Kakure Kirishitans are called the "hidden" Christians because they continued to practice Christianity in secret. They worshipped in secret rooms in private homes...
. Near the south end of the island is a museum with exhibits on both these aspects of Ikitsuki's history.
Nearly all the people of Ikitsuki live on the east side of the island. The west side faces out into the open ocean (sea) and is very windy. In addition, much of the west side of the island is cliff-face, with only a few spots which are flat enough even for terraced farming.
The scenery is stunning in Ikitsuki, and has attracted a great number of domestic tourists since road access was available through bridges connecting Hirado Island with the mainland and Ikitsuki Island to Hirado. The dialect of Ikitsuki can be difficult to understand, even for Japanese people who live in nearby towns. However, this is more true among the older people, and "standard" Japanese is spoken in educational and governmental settings.
Economy
Ikitsuki's economyEconomic system
An economic system is the combination of the various agencies, entities that provide the economic structure that defines the social community. These agencies are joined by lines of trade and exchange along which goods, money etc. are continuously flowing. An example of such a system for a closed...
is still mainly supported a niche fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
industry. As fishing and agriculture, in general, are in decline in Japan and other industrialized nations in the world, Ikitsuki's fishing fleet, as well as its tax base, as been declining in recent years. However, as Ikitsuki has been traditionally been dependent on specialty catches, namely squid
Squid
Squid are cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species. Like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a mantle, and arms. Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms arranged in pairs and two, usually longer, tentacles...
(ika), and flying fish (ago), the island has weathered Japan's shrinking fishing industry better than most other rural communities.
Education
Sasebo, Nagasaki
is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. As of 2011, the city has an estimated population of 259,800 and the density of 609 persons per km². The total area is 426.47 km². The locality is famed for its scenic beauty. The city includes a part of Saikai National Park...
and Nagasaki, the two largest cities in Nagasaki Prefecture.
Junior High Schools
- Ikitsuki Junior High School (平戸市立生月中学校)
Elementary Schools
- Ikitsuki Elementary School (平戸市立生月小学校)
- Yamada Elementary School (平戸市立山田小学校)
Air
The nearest airport is Nagasaki AirportNagasaki Airport
is an international airport located west of the railway station in the city of Ōmura and north northeast of the Nagasaki railway station in the city of Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan...
in Ōmura City
Omura, Nagasaki
is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. As of January 1, 2009, the city has an estimated population of 89,891. The total area is 126.33 km², and includes Nagasaki Airport.-History:...
. By car, it is three hours away. Approximately the same distance away is Fukuoka Airport
Fukuoka Airport
, formerly known as Itazuke Air Base, is an international and domestic airport located east of Hakata Station in Fukuoka, Japan. It is officially designated a second class airport. It is operating at full capacity, and cannot be further expanded. Flights stop at 10 p.m...
in Fukuoka City
Fukuoka, Fukuoka
is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan.Voted number 14 in a 2010 poll of the World's Most Livable Cities, Fukuoka is praised for its green spaces in a metropolitan setting. It is the most populous city in Kyushu, followed by...
(Fukuoka Prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
), which is a large regional air hub in Asia.
Rail
There are no rail links to Ikitsuki. The nearest rail station is in Tabira (now a part of Hirado), which is approximately 40 minutes away by car.Automobile
The Ikitsuki bridge allows automobile access from Ikitsuki to Hirado and the rest of Japan. Previously, the only option to travel off the island was by ferry to various ports in KyūshūKyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
. Since the merger of Ikitsuki into Hirado City, tolls on the bridge have significantly decreased. Before October 1, 2005, tolls were 450 yen one way for a yellow plate car (small) and 600 yen for a white plate (large). This has since decreased threefold to 150 yen one way for yellow plate cars, and 200 yen for white plate cars. From April 1, 2010, no fee is required to pass the Ikitsuki Bridge.
Access to mainland Kyūshū is through a separate bridge
Hirado Bridge
The is a suspension bridge in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. It connects the islands of Hirado and Kyūshū. Completed in 1977, it has a main span of 465.5 meters and total length of 665 m. From April 1, 2010, no fee is required to pass the bridge.-External links:...
on Hirado Island. It takes about 30 minutes to drive from Ikitsuki to Hirado.
The bridge connecting Ikitsuki to the neighboring Hirado Island is the longest continuous truss bridge
Continuous truss bridge
A continuous truss bridge is a truss bridge which extends without hinges or joints across three or more supports. A continuous truss bridge may use less material than a series of simple trusses because a continuous truss distributes live loads across all the spans; in a series of simple trusses,...
in the world, measuring in at 1312 ft.
Principal roads
- Nagasaki Prefectural Highway 42: Hirado-Ikitsuki Line
- Ikitsuki Bridge Toll Road (大橋生月)
Places of interest
Ikitsuki Island Museum
This museum, near the bridge connecting Hirado and Ikitsuki, prominently displays the history of Ikitsuki Island. Featured are legacies of the old whaling industry, as well as the presence of hidden Christians. A full whale skeleton is on display in the main atrium, as well as other numerous artifacts from Ikitsuki's history. Other odds and ends include a famous sumo wrestler from the island. The gift shop features canned whale and whale hotdogs among its items. Admission is 500 yen, and the museum is open daily.Ikitsuki Daigyoran Kannon Statue
The Ikitsuki Daigyoran Kannon Statue is the largest bronze statue in Japan. The massive statue, completed on April 29, 1980, is 18 meters tall and weights 150 metric tons. It rests on a 3 meter stone foundation, inside of which one can find a Buddhist altar."In Japanese Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, Kannon is the Bodhisattva of compassion, and is therefore different from a Buddha as depicted by the famous bronze statues in Nara
Nara, Nara
is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
and Kamakura
Kamakura, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, about south-south-west of Tokyo. It used to be also called .Although Kamakura proper is today rather small, it is often described in history books as a former de facto capital of Japan as the seat of the Shogunate and of the Regency during the...
. The Ikitsuki Daigyoran Kannon prays for world peace and the safety of those that are out on the sea. It also mourns over all shipwrecked people and marine animals."
Yamada Church
This church is the last remaining one in Nagasaki Prefecture to have an organized group of Hidden Christians (Kakure KirishitanKakure Kirishitan
is a modern term for a member of the Japanese Catholic Church that went underground after the Shimabara Rebellion in the 1630s.-History:Kakure Kirishitans are called the "hidden" Christians because they continued to practice Christianity in secret. They worshipped in secret rooms in private homes...
) in practice and existence. Located near Yamada Elementary School, this small church holds much history as one of the first and last outposts of Christian belief and persecution in Japan.
People from Ikitsuki
- TakanowakaTakanowaka YukiTakanowaka Yūki is a former sumo wrestler from Ikitsuki, Nagasaki, Japan. His highest rank was sekiwake.-Career:...
, one of the top hundred sumoSumois a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
wrestlers in Japan, was born and raised in Ikitsuki. He visits the island annually after competing in the Grand Sumo tournamentHonbashoA is an official professional sumo tournament. There are six held each year, a system established in 1958. Only honbasho results matter in determining promotion and relegation for rikishi ....
in Fukuoka City each November.
In popular culture
- Ikitsuki was featured in the fictional anime series Samurai ChamplooSamurai Champloois a Japanese anime series created and directed by Shinichirō Watanabe. It was broadcast in Japan from May 20, 2004 through March 19, 2005 on Fuji TV. Samurai Champloo has earned Watanabe a renowned title in the anime and Japanese television communities...
created by Shinichiro WatanabeShinichiro Watanabeis a Japanese anime filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer. He is known for directing the popular anime series Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo.Watanabe is known for blending together multiple genres in his anime creations...
of Cowboy BebopCowboy Bebopis a critically acclaimed and award-winning 1998 Japanese anime series directed by Shinichirō Watanabe, written by Keiko Nobumoto, and produced by Sunrise. Its 26 episodes comprise a complete storyline: set in 2071, the series follows the adventures, misadventures and tragedies of five bounty...
fame. One of the three main characters, Fuu, searches for her father, Kasumi Seizou, a samurai who turns out to be a Hidden Christian living on Ikitsuki.
External links
Points of Interest in Ikitsuki Featured on Hirado City's Official Website (English)
- Ikitsuki Basalt Columns (Shiodawara)
- Ikitsuki Daigyoran Kannon Statue
- Ikitsuki Island Museum (Shima no Yakata)
- Misaki Camping Site
- Obae Hana Lighthouse
- Yamada Church
Annual Events and Festivals in Ikitsuki
Jan 1st Ikitsuki Relay Race (生月島縦断駅伝)Feb 10th Ikitsuki Road Race (いきつきロード大会)
May 3-5th Ikitsuki Spring Fair (いきつき春まつり)
End of July Tachiura Seribune Festival (traditional whaling boat race) (舘浦競漕船大会)
Aug 16th Tachiura Suko-odori Dances (traditional dance from Ikitsuki) (須古踊り)
Sep 27th-28th Hirado Two Day Walk (ひらどツーデーウォーク)
Ikitsuki is sister cities with the town of Utanobori
Utanobori, Hokkaido
was a town located in Esashi District, Sōya, Hokkaidō, Japan.On March 20, 2006 Utanobori was merged into the town of Esashi.As of 2004, the town had an estimated population of 2,332 and a density of 3.84 persons per km². The total area was 606.51 km²....
in Hokkaidō, Japan. Both towns of are similar size and participate in student exchanges at the junior high school level.
English Articles featuring Ikitsuki's Hidden Christians
- Ikitsuki Journal; Once Banned, Christianity Withers in an Old Stronghold New York Times Article Dec. 25, 2003
- Lack of Oppression Hurts Christianity in Japan New York Times Article Apr. 3, 1997
- Japan's Crypto-Christians Time Magazine Article
- Photo-Documentary of Christian history in Japan with Concentration on Hidden Christians St. Olaf College