Iwaishima

Overview

Iwaishima is an island of Japan's Inland Sea, part of the town of Kaminoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture. It lies at the boundary of the Suō-nada and Iyo-nada seas, ringed by some of the Inland Sea's noted fishing grounds, and counted among the Kumage Islands. On its steep slopes a village of packed-stone walls clusters together, and the island preserves its own rituals and a distinctive fishing dance—a place where a singular way of life still breathes.

Highlights

• ●An island in noted Inland Sea fishing grounds at the Suō-nada / Iyo-nada boundary
• ●A name said to come from a rite blessing travelers, and a unique fishing dance
• ●A singular island life as one of the Kumage Islands
• ●A history known nationwide for the residents' long stand

History

The name Iwaishima is said to derive from an ancient ritual of blessing passing travelers, and the island is home to a ceremonial fishing dance unique to it. In 1982, when the Chugoku Electric Power Company proposed building a nuclear power plant nearby, many residents opposed the plan, and the island's fishing cooperative voted overwhelmingly against it. In January 1983 about 400 islanders staged a protest march—the first of more than 1,000 protests—and opposition grew still wider after the Fukushima disaster of March 2011.

Map

33.7811, 131.9725 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Cross to Iwaishima by regular ferry from the Kaminoseki mainland port
2. 2Walk the lanes of the packed-stone-wall village to feel island life
3. 3Encounter the island's handed-down rituals and fishing dance
4. 4Spend time gazing at the sea where Suō-nada meets Iyo-nada

Did you know?

💡 As its name is said to come from a rite that “blesses” travelers, Iwaishima has a history of welcoming those who arrive. The residents' long-sustained stand made the name of this small island known across the country.

Nearby spots