Kuba Island

Overview

Kuba Island, also known by its Chinese name Huangwei Yu, is one of the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku Islands group, administratively part of Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture. Japan currently administers the island, while the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan) both assert territorial claims over it.

Highlights

• ●One of the uninhabited islands making up the Senkaku Islands group
• ●Rises to an elevation of about 117 meters
• ●Its name "Kuba" derives from the Okinawan word for the fan palm tree
• ●Also historically known as "Chiirujima" (Yellow Island) in the Yaeyama Islands

History

Local residents of the Sakishima Islands have traditionally called it "Kubashima." The name "Kuba" comes from the Okinawan word for the fan palm tree, reflecting local naming custom. In the Yaeyama Islands it was also known as "Chiirujima" (Yellow Island), a reference to the color of its soil. Its alternate name, Kobisho (Huangwei Yu), appears in documents from the era of the Ryukyu Kingdom, and the Japanese government notes that this name too has long been used domestically. The Chinese name Huangwei Yu remains in use today.

Map

25.9226, 123.6820 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Look up the island's location relative to the Senkaku group using maps or reference materials
2. 2Learn about its geographic relationship to nearby islands such as Ishigaki and Yonaguni
3. 3Trace the history behind its several names, from Kubashima to Kobisho
4. 4Deepen your understanding of the island through documents and exhibits rather than an in-person visit

Did you know?

💡 The island's elevation is recorded at 117 meters, making it one of the taller islands within the Senkaku group. Its several names, Kubashima, Chiirujima, and Kobisho/Huangwei Yu, reflect layers of Okinawan, Yaeyama, Ryukyuan, and Chinese naming history that persist to this day.

Nearby spots