Contents

Preface .................................................................................................................................................. v
Editors ................................................................................................................................................... vi
Contributors ....................................................................................................................................... vii
Various Island Views in Kagoshima Prefecture................................................................ xi
Map of the Islands in Kagoshima .............................................................................................. xii
Culture and Society
1. Culture and Society in the Islands of Kagoshima
Sueo Kuwahara ...................................................................................................................................... 2
2. Research Issues in the Culture and Society of the Amami Islands
Sueo Kuwahara ...................................................................................................................................... 5
3. Amami Island Religion - Historical Dynamics of the Islanders’ Spirit Megumi Takarabe and Akira Nishimura................................................................................................. 14
4. The Educational Environment on a Remote Island in Kagoshima
Akio Hatta ............................................................................................................................................. 21
5. Cycads, Sustenance and Cultural Landscapes in the Amami Islands
Philip Hayward and Sueo Kuwahara ......................................................................................................29
6. Chili Peppers in the Islands of Kagoshima
Sota Yamamoto .................................................................................................................................... 38
7. Health and Medical Issues and Longevity in the Amami Island Region
Toshiro Takezaki, Hideshi Niimura and Kazuyo Kuwabara ....................................................................43
8. Environmental Hygiene in the Islands of Kagoshima
Shinichi Noda ........................................................................................................................................ 48
9. A Guide for the Study of Kinship and Social Organization in the Amami Islands
Sumie Nakatani .................................................................................................................................... 54
Column 1: Bullfighting on Tokunoshima Island
Takahiro Ozaki ....................................................................................................................................... 59
Industry
10. Economy in the Islands of Kagoshima
Satoru Nishimura ................................................................................................................................... 62
11. The Amami Islands Promotion and Development Projects, and Socioeconomic Transformation
Takeichi Minamura................................................................................................................................ 67
12. Remote Islands Development Area in Kagoshima Prefecture
Shunsuke Nagashima ............................................................................................................................ 73
13. Tourism Around the Kagoshima Prefecture Islands
Makoto Hagino ..................................................................................................................................... 78
14. Agriculture in the Islands of Kagoshima- Special Reference to Fruit Production in the Yakushima and Amami Islands Shigeto Tominaga ................................................................................................................................. 84
15. Significance of the Preservation of Crop Genetic Resources in the Islands of Kagoshima
Michio Onjo .......................................................................................................................................... 92
16. Sugarcane Cultivation in the Islands of Kagoshima
Byoung-jae Park ................................................................................................................................... 95
17. The Effect and Problems of Attracting Aquaculture Capital- A Case Study of the Koshiki Islands Takashi Torii ......................................................................................................................................... 100
18. Renewable Energy and Lifestyle Change- An Example of Yakushima Island’s “Zero Emissions” Initiative Hidetaka Ichikawa ................................................................................................................................. 107
Column 2: Edible Seaweeds in the Island Life
Ryuta Terada ....................................................................................................................................... 113ix

Nature19. Nature in the Islands of Kagoshima
Kei Kawai .............................................................................................................................................116
20. The Kuroshio - Its Physical Aspect and Roles in Kagoshima’s Nature and Culture Hirohiko Nakamura .............................................................................................................................118
21. Volcanic Island Chain South of Kyushu, Japan
Kisei Kinoshita and Masaya Sakamoto ................................................................................................128
22. Biodiversity in the Islands of Kagoshima
Takahiro Okano ....................................................................................................................................136
23. A Review of Insect Fauna Reports for the Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture
Yositaka Sakamaki ................................................................................................................................146
Column 3: Vertebrate Fossils from the Islands
Hideo Nakaya .......................................................................................................................................150
Appendix ............................................................................................................................................ 151

Right Photos: Various Island Views in Kagoshima Prefecture.
A-D: Various landscapes in the islands. A: Yakushima Is., Second largest island in Kagoshima Prefecture. B: Kuchinoerabujima Is., active volcanic island in Osumi Islands. C: Takeshima Is., asmall and flat island with less than 100 inhabitants. D: Tokunoshima Is., an island surroundedby coral reefs and part of the Amami Islands.
E-G: Characteristic island-views at the mountain and coastal areas. E: One of the beautiful waterfalls“Senpiro-no-taki” and laurel forests in Yakushima Is. F: Mangrove forest in the estuary of Sumiyo river, Amami-Oshima Is. G: Beautiful coral lagoon in Yurigahama Beach, Yoronjima Is.
H-N: Daily island life and local communities. H: Sugarcane field in Kikaijima Is. I: A yellowtail
aquaculture farm in Nagashima Is. facing Yatsushiro Bay. J: Auction of the fresh fish at the fishermen’s harbour, Yoronjima Is. K: A rice cake scattering ceremony for local people to celebratea newly bought fishing boat in Takeshima Is. Almost all inhabitants in the islands, around 70
people, attended. L: Arrival of the municipal ferry boat “Ferry Toshima” in Nakanoshima Is.,
Toshima Village, the only public transportation to the island. M: Local people who say goodbye
to their friends on board in Kuchinoshima Is., Toshima Village. The arrival and departure ofthe ferry boat is one of the most important event in daily life. N: Kikaijima Airport. A domestic
airline company operates inter-island passenger services in the islands except for some small
islands including Toshima and Mishima villages.
Photos: Ryuta TERADAx