Hachijō, Tokyo

Hachijō (八丈町, Hachijō-machi) is a town located in Hachijō Subprefecture, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 1 June 2016, the town had an estimated population of 7,516, and a population density of 104 persons per km². Its total area is 72.23 square kilometres (27.89 sq mi). Electric power for the town is provided by a geothermal power station and by a wind farm.

Hachijō

八丈町
Town
Hachijōjima as viewed from Noboryu peak
Flag
Seal
Location of Hachijō in Tokyo Metropolis
Hachijō
 
Coordinates: 33°06′34.2″N 139°47′27.2″E
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureTokyo Metropolis
Area
 • Total72.23 km2 (27.89 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2016)
 • Total7,516
 • Density104/km2 (270/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols 
• TreePygmy date palm
• FlowerStrelitzia
• BirdIzu thrush
• FishFlying fish
Phone number04996-2-1121
Address2345-1, Ōkagō, Hachijō-machi, Tōkyō-to 100-1498
Websitewww.town.hachijo.tokyo.jp

Geography

Hachijō covers the islands of Hachijō-jima and Hachijō-kojima, two of the islands in the Izu archipelago in the Philippine Sea, 228 kilometres (142 mi) south of central Tokyo. Warmed by the Kuroshio Current, the town has a warmer and wetter climate than central Tokyo. All of the town's residents live on the island of Hachijō-jima.

Neighboring municipalities

Population

The population of Hachijō as of 2015 was 7613.[1]

Comparison of Population Distribution between Hachijō-jima and Japanese National Average Population Distribution by Age and Sex in Hachijō-jima
■Hachijō-jima
■Japan (average)
■Male
■Female
1970 10,316
1975 10,318
1980 10,244
1985 10,024
1990 9,420
1995 9,476
2000 9,488
2005 8,837
2010 8,231
2015 7,613
2015 Census, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications - Statistics Department

History

During the Edo period, Hachijōjima was known as a place of exile for convicts. This practice ended in the Meiji period, and the island residents developed an economy based on fishing, sericulture, and agriculture. Hachijō Subprefecture was organized on April 1, 1908, and included the villages of Mitsune, Nakanogo, Kashitate, Sueyoshi and Ōkago. The villages of Toruchi and Utsuki on Hachijōkojima were organized on May 3, 1947. The five villages of Hachijōjima merged on October 1, 1954 to form the village of Hachijō. On April 1, 1955, the two villages of Hachijōkojima also merged with the village of Hachijō, which was promoted to town status. However, in March 1966, the residents of Hachijōkojima voted to abandon their island, citing the inaccessibility of basic public services and economic difficulties, and Hachijōkojima became a deserted island from June 1969.

Economy

Fishing and tourism are the mainstays of the economy of Hachijō.

Education

The town government operates three public elementary and three public middle schools. The Tōkyō Metropolitan Government Board of Education operates Hachijō High School.[2]

Transportation

Hachijōjima is accessible both by aircraft and by ferry. A pedestrian ferry leaves Tōkyō once every day at 10 p.m., and arrives at Hachijōjima at 9:00 a.m. the following day. Air travel to Hachijojima Airport takes 45 minutes from Tōkyō International Airport (Haneda).

Sister city relations

Noted people from Hachijō
  • Chiaki Ōsawa - voice actress

See also
  • Runin: Banished, a 2004 film about convicts exiled to Hachijōjima, and their attempts to escape.
  • Battle Royale, a controversial 2000 film filmed on the neighbouring, uninhabited island, Hachijō-kojima, although not set there.

References
  1. 人口 八丈町 (PDF) (in Japanese). Hachijō. March 1, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 14, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  2. 東京都立八丈高等学校 [Tokyo Tōritsu Hachijō High School] (in Japanese). 東京都教育委員会 (Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education). Archived from the original on March 9, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
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