Ōgimi

Ōgimi (大宜味村, Ōgimi-son, Okinawan: Ufujimi, Kunigami: Uujimii) is a village located in Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.

Ōgimi
大宜味村
Ufujimi (Okinawan), Uujimii (Kunigami)
Village
Ogimi Village Office
Ogimi Village Office
Flag of Ōgimi
Flag
Location of Ōgimi in Okinawa Prefecture
Location of Ōgimi in Okinawa Prefecture
Ōgimi is located in Japan
Ōgimi
Ōgimi
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 26°42′6″N 128°7′13″E
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu (Okinawa)
PrefectureOkinawa Prefecture
DistrictKunigami
Area
 • Total63.12 km2 (24.37 sq mi)
Population
 (1 October 2016)
 • Total3,024
 • Density48/km2 (120/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
Websitewww.vill.ogimi.okinawa.jp

As of October 2016, the village has an estimated population of 3,024 and a population density of 51 persons per km². The total area is 63.12 square kilometres (24.37 sq mi).[1]

Several censuses have established that this village has the highest longevity index in the world with a large percentage of the population being over 100 years old.

Geography

Ōgimi is located at the north of Okinawa Island and faces the East China Sea on the western coast of the island. The village consists of forested flatland, which covers 78% of the area of the Ōgimi, and sharp, craggy cliffs which face the coast. The central coastal area of Ōgimi is bisected by Shioya Bay. Miyagi Island (.24 square kilometres (0.093 sq mi)) spans much of the entrance of the bay, and the island is connected to the mainland by the Shioya Ōhashi Bridge.[1][2]

Culture

The village is a centre of production of Ryukyuan pottery.

The Shioya Ungami Sea Festival is held at Shioya Bay and other areas of Ōgimi in July. Observance of the festival dates back 400 to 500 years to the period of the Ryukyuan Kingdom, and begins with prayers at an asagi, or house of worship, by kaminchu, or priestesses of the Okinawan religion. The religious ceremonies are followed by dragon boat races. The Unjami Festival was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties of Japan in 1997.[1]

Education

The village operates its public primary and junior high schools.

  • Ogimi Junior High (大宜味中学校)[3]
  • Ogimi Elementary (大宜味小学校)[4]
    • It formed in 2016 as a merger of four elementary schools.[5]

The Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education operates Hentona High School.

See also

References
  1. "大宜味（村）" [Ōgimi]. Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2013. OCLC 153301537. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  2. "宮城島" [Miyagi Island]. Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2013. OCLC 173191044. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  3. "Home". Ogimi Junior High School. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  4. "Home". Ogimi Elementary School. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  5. "4つの村立小学校が統合した新大宜味小で入学式". Okinawa Times. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2022.


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