Ogasawara, Tokyo


Ogasawara Village is a village in Ogasawara Subprefecture, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan, that governs the Bonin Islands, Volcano Islands, and three remote islands.
WWW vill.ogasawara.tokyo.jp

History

In 1940, five municipalities were created in the islands, which had been unincorporated before, two on Chichijima, two on Hahajima, and one on Iwojima:
Both villages of Kita Iwo Jima became part of the newly created Iwojima municipality in 1940:
  • Ishinomura
  • Nishimura
Following World War II, the islands were administered by the United States. The islands were returned to Japanese control in 1968 and organized as Ogasawara Village.

Airport plan

In August 2020, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government held a council about a potential airport. It would be operational in 10 years at the earliest. The mayor of Ogasawara Village, Kazuo Morishita said the airport was a long-standing wish of the village, and Governor Koike said at a regular press conference that day, that the new plan would be an effective measure to secure necessary air routes for the islanders.

Village crest

The village crest or emblem, used as the seal and on the flag, depicts three Bonin white-eye birds – one parent and two young – in a circle "representing the sun, harmony and development". They are grouped such that together they represent the kanji o, the first character of the native spelling of Ogasawara. These birds are regarded as a special natural monument, as the island is their only natural habitat.

Geography

The municipality consists of the following groups and single isolated islands:
The southernmost group is known as the Volcano Islands. further south is Okinotorishima, and further east is Minamitorishima.
The administration and village hall is located in the village of Omura on Chichijima. In addition, there is an air base with 400 soldiers on Iwojima of the Volcano Islands.

Demographics

The following table of historical population displays data from Japanese censuses. Overall population change 2015–2020 was -0.62%.
, according to data published on the official website of Ogasawara, there were 1,479 total households, with a total population of 2,459 – 2,040 in Chichijima and 419 in Hahajima.

Education

Ogasawara Village operates the islands' public elementary and junior high schools; there are three such schools:
  • Ogasawara Village Municipal Ogasawara Elementary School in Chichijima
  • Ogasawara Village Municipal Ogasawara Junior High School in Chichijima
  • Ogasawara Village Municipal Hahajima Elementary School and Junior High School on Hahajima
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education operates Tokyo Metropolitan Ogasawara High School on Chichijima. Prior to the school's opening on April 24, 1964, high school students went to the American territory of Guam for their education.