Kerama Islands
| Native name: 慶良間諸島 | |
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Sea view of Kerama Islands with surrounding coral reefs
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| Geography | |
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Archipelago | Okinawa Islands |
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Japan
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| Prefecture | Okinawa Prefecture |
The Kerama Islands (慶良間諸島 Kerama-shotō?, Okinawan: キラマ Kirama) are a group of 22 islands located 32 kilometres (20 mi) southwest of Okinawa Island in Japan. Historically, the Kerama Island group was a part of the Ryukyu Kingdom. For some 600 years, the islanders were employed as skillful navigators for the Kingdom’s trading vessels between Okinawa and China.
Four of the islands are inhabited: Tokashiki Island, Zamami Island, Aka Island, and Geruma Island. The islands are within Shimajiri District. The Kerama-shotō coral reef is a Ramsar Site.
During World War II and preliminary to the Battle of Okinawa, soldiers of the 77th Infantry Division landed in the Kerama Islands on March 26, 1945. Further landings followed, and the Kerama group was secured over the next five days. Kerama was used as a staging area for the assault on Okinawa. During the battle the first civilian mass suicides that later marked the Battle of Okinawa took place.
The first US Navy ship to anchor in the harbor was the USS Makin Island, a small "jeep" carrier.
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Wikipedia