Manabeshima

Manabeshima (真鍋島, Manabe-shima) is an island in the Seto Inland Sea, part of the municipality of Kasaoka, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The island has an area of 1.49 kilometres (0.93 mi) and is one of the seven inhabited islands of the Kasaoka Islands group. The island's main commercial activity is fishing.

Manabeshima
Native name:
真鍋島 Manabe-shima
Coastline of Manabeshima
Manabeshima is located in Japan
Manabeshima
Manabeshima
Geography
LocationSeto Inland Sea
Coordinates34°21′18.5″N 133°34′42.9″E
Area1.49 km2 (0.58 sq mi)
Length7.6 km (4.72 mi)
Highest point127
Administration
Japan
PrefectureOkayama
CityKasaoka
Demographics
Population312 (2005)
Ethnic groupsJapanese

The island has come to international prominence due to its location as a film set and as the subject of a graphic narrative "Manabe Shima, Island Japan" by illustrator Florent Chavouet first published in France in 2010.[1]

Geography

The island is 31 kilometres (19 mi) by boat from the main Japanese island of Honshū. The island has few roads, but in the face of rural depopulation and downward demographic trends, has managed to retain both its elementary and junior high school. The island features sandy beaches and a mild year round climate. Kasaoka is the closest ferry port.

In 2016, key locations on the island were documented on Google Street View with a backpack mounted camera.

Culture

Manabeshima was the setting for the 1984 film MacArthur's Children, describing the impact of the United States' occupation of Japan from the perspective of the inhabitants of a small island community. The film featured the feature film debut of actor Ken Watanabe starring alongside Masako Natsume and Shima Iwashita.[2]

In 2010, French cartoonist Florent Chavouet, published a travel book entitled « Manabe Shima » dedicated to the island and its inhabitants.

See also

References
  1. Chavez, Amy. "Why French tourists are flocking to a tiny island of 230 people in Japan's Inland Sea". Rocket News 24. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  2. Wilson, Raymond (2014). Nuclear War. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse. p. 194. ISBN 978-1-4969-1754-6.
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