Mishima, Village district in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
Mishima is an administrative village made up of three inhabited volcanic islands - Iōjima, Kuroshima, and Takeshima - scattered across the northern section of the Ryukyu archipelago. The territory is home to roughly 405 residents dispersed among these separate islands.
The administrative structure was established in 1908, bringing together islands that had previously been managed under different regional authorities within Kagoshima Prefecture. This consolidation created the present-day village arrangement.
The islands appear in classical Japanese historical chronicles and hold significance in local heritage. Daily life here centers on maritime traditions and the distinct rhythms of island communities.
The three islands require boat travel to explore and are reachable from the Kagoshima mainland coast. Keep in mind that administrative services operate from the main island, and weather and sea conditions can affect accessibility to these locations.
The island village is entirely administered from a mainland office located more than 40 kilometers away. This unusual setup shows how modern administrative boundaries often do not follow geographic proximity.
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