Ōshima, Tokyo

Ōshima
大島町

Town

Ōshima Town Hall

Flag

Seal

Location of Ōshima in Tokyo Metropolis

Ōshima

Coordinates: 34°45′0.5″N 139°21′19.8″E / 34.750139°N 139.355500°ECoordinates: 34°45′0.5″N 139°21′19.8″E / 34.750139°N 139.355500°E

Area

• Total

90.76 km² (35.04 sq mi)

Population (June 1, 2016)

• Total

7,762

• Density

85.5/km² (221/sq mi)

Time zone

Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

- Tree

Camellia japonica

- Flower

Camellia japonica

Phone number

04992-2-1443

Address

1-1-14 Motomachi, Ōshima-machi, Tokyo 100-0101

Website

Official website

Ōshima (大島町, Ōshima-machi^?) is a town located in Ōshima Subprefecture, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 1 February 2016^[update], the town had an estimated population of 7,762 and a population density of 85.5 persons per km². Its total area was 90.76 square kilometres (35.04 sq mi)

Ōshima Town covers the island of Izu Ōshima, in the Izu archipelago in the Philippine Sea, 120 kilometres (75 mi) south of central Tokyo

It is uncertain when human settlement first began on Ōshima, but archaeological finds from the Jomon period have been discovered, and the island is mention from early Nara period documents. It is mentioned in historical records for its many volcanic eruptions. After the start of the Meiji period, in 1878, the island came under the control of Tokyo-fu and was organized into six villages (Okada, Motomura, Senzu, Nomashi, Sashikiji and Habuminato) under Oshima subprefecture on April 1, 1908. The six villages were merged to form Ōshima Town on April 1,1955.

In the mid-1930s, Izu Ōshima became a popular suicide destination after three schoolgirls jumped into the active volcano in the center of the island. In 1935 alone, more than 800 suicides were recorded.

The central volcano on the island, Mount Mihara erupted in 1965 and again in 1986, forcing the temporary evacuation of the inhabitants.

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Wikipedia