Privacy Choices

As stated in our privacy policy, we collect personal information through cookies and similar technologies from interactions with us and our website. We may also share this personal information with third parties, including advertising partners. This is done to display ads on other websites that are highly relevant to your interests, as well as for other reasons outlined in the privacy policy.

Sharing personal information to deliver targeted advertising based on interactions across various websites may be considered 'sale', 'sharing', or 'targeted advertising' under the personal information protection laws of certain states in the United States. Depending on your area, you may have the right to opt out of these activities. If you wish to exercise this opt-out right, please follow the steps below.

If you enable the opt-out setting signal for global privacy control and access our website, we will treat this as an opt-out request for activities that may be considered the 'sale' or 'sharing' of personal information, or other uses that may be considered targeted advertising directed at the device and browser you used to access our website, depending on your location.

<Clothing>

Adapted to the subtropical natural environment, dyeing and weaving cultures such as bashōfu and Oshima tsumugi have developed. In particular, Oshima tsumugi is known both domestically and internationally as a core industry of Amami Oshima.
The origin of Oshima tsumugi is unclear, but it seems that silk textiles have been produced on Amami Oshima, which is suitable for sericulture, since ancient times.

In the early Edo period, it was worn by islanders for personal use, but around 1720 (the 5th year of the Kyōhō era), a 'ban on wearing tsumugi' was issued by the Satsuma domain, and Oshima tsumugi began to be produced as a tribute to the Satsuma domain.

Around this time, it seems that high-quality outerwear worn by stylish people became fashionable in the streets of Edo.

The characteristics of the fabric include a process called pre-dyeing, where the threads are dyed before weaving, and it is hand-woven. The dye used for dyeing the threads is made from the boiled juice of the sharinbai tree and mud containing iron.

From the mid-Meiji period onwards, free trade became active, gaining popularity in the market. After entering the Showa era, it was revitalized after the war and developed as a core industry until around the 1970s. There was a time when mothers could earn enough income from weaving tsumugi to send their children to university.

The cultivated techniques have been passed down in a fragmented manner, but currently, the production of fabric is declining due to the issue of a lack of successors.

<Food>

In ancient times, people lived on food such as Ryukyu wild boar, sea turtles, and seafood. The custom of eating pigs and goats was introduced from China and Okinawa around the 15th century.

The cuisine of Amami Oshima is characterized by a variety of pork dishes. Pigs slaughtered during the New Year were carefully consumed over the course of a year.

During the Satsuma domain rule, there was a strong influence from Kagoshima cuisine, and a representative local dish known as "torihān" is said to be a dish to entertain Satsuma officials, although there are various theories.

The island's lifestyle also includes unique foods such as nari (cycad) miso and miki (a beverage made from fermented sweet potatoes and rice).

In modern times, sweets made with brown sugar and brown sugar shochu, which is only permitted to be made in the Amami Islands, as well as tropical fruits like passion fruit, mango, and tankan are also one of the attractions.

<Shelter>

The forests covering Amami Oshima, Tokunoshima, and Kakeromajima have been used as materials for ships and houses since ancient times.

Today, it faces difficult situations from the perspective of nature conservation, but forestry has also been a traditional industry that thrived until after the war.

In contrast to Kikaijima, Okinoerabujima, and Yoronjima, which are uplifted coral islands without forests, Amami Oshima and Tokunoshima, covered by subtropical evergreen forests, have had shipbuilding as an important industry since the Ryukyu Kingdom era, and the construction industry has also developed uniquely.

In particular, since the late Edo period, a residential construction technique that uses wedges instead of nails, known as the Hikimon structure, has been established and spread throughout the Amami Islands.

In Amami City, there are the nationally designated important cultural property "Izumi Family Residence" and the nationally designated registered tangible cultural properties "Sono Family Residence" and "Former Yasuda Family Residence." There are also traditional houses and Takakura relocated within the grounds of the Amami City Museum.

<Traditional Cultural Arts>

The traditional dance known as "August Dance" is performed in various villages, and there is a unique song called "Shima Uta" that is popular among the younger generation. The traditional music culture of the Amami Islands uses the "Ryuukyu scale" in Yoron Island and Okinoerabu Island, while Tokunoshima, Yoron Island, Kikaijima, Amami Oshima, and Kikaijima use the same "ritsu scale" as mainland folk songs.
Additionally, the "Amami New Folk Songs," which were actively created from the early Showa period until around the time of reversion, were beloved as island songs within the archipelago, but after reversion, they also became popular throughout Japan. In the 38th NHK Red and White Song Battle, four songs themed around Amami were performed: "Tabata Yoshio / Raised on the Island," "Asaka Yuki / Lily of Nagara," "Misawa Akemi / Island Blues," and "Nakasone Miki / Amami Love."

August Dance

A traditional dance performed at local festivals, accompanied by a drum called Chijin. Different dances and songs are passed down in each village.

Amami Oshima Tsumugi

It is characterized by unique techniques and designs such as mud dyeing and kasuri patterns. It is also known as the most intricate textile in the world.

Island song (folk song)

There are various island songs, including those with lyrics derived from labor songs and folklore. Songs passed down in each village and the playful improvisation of lyrics are also characteristic.

Connection with Nature

On Amami Oshima, the mountains (Kami-yama) and the sea (Ino) are considered sacred places, and people have cherished the blessings of nature. Nature is perceived as the realm of the gods, and a culture deeply connected to nature has been nurtured.

Norovirus system

A system that began during the Ryukyu Kingdom era, inviting deities and overseeing festivals. Events and performing arts that continue in various regions are still being passed down today.

Local cuisine

It is characterized by a variety of pork dishes, with chicken rice, oil somen, and wanbone being well-known.

Amami dialect

There exists a unique way of speaking that is different from Japanese. For example, in addition to calling "I" as "wan" and "we" as "wa-kya," there is also the expression "wattee," which refers specifically to "only the two of us, the speaker and the listener."