Hegurajima

Hegurajima (舳倉島[1]) (anglicised as Hegura or Hekura) is a small island located in the Sea of Japan at the far north of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. It lies approximately 47 km from the northern tip of Noto Peninsula[2]., and is administratively part of Amamachi township within the city of Wajima. Hegurajima (literally helm-storehouse island) is approximately 2 km by 1 km in size and can easily be walked around in less than an hour.

Hegurajima
Native name:
Japanese: 舳倉島
View of Hegurajima in 1975
Hegurajima
Geography
LocationSea of Japan
Coordinates
Area0.55 km2 (0.21 sq mi)
Coastline5 km (3.1 mi)
Highest elevation12.4 m (40.7 ft)
Administration
Japan
PrefectureIshikawa
CityWajima
Demographics
Population20-30
Ethnic groupsJapanese

The island is made of andesite, with steep cliffs on its northern side, and a sandy beach on it southern side, which is used as a shelter by fishermen. The island had a population of 164 in the year 2000 census, which dropped to 110 people in the 2010 census; however, the actual number of full-time residents is considerably less.

It is thought that Hegurajima corresponds to the island called Neko-no-Shima (Isle of the Cat) in a tale found in Konjaku Monogatari, an early 13th-century folktale collection.

Notable facts

There is a lighthouse in the center of the island and a small minshuku. During the summer months female ama divers dive for abalone, Turbo cornutus and Gelidiaceae for about 4–5 hours per day, following a long tradition that predates the use of wetsuits.[3] There is a small fishing port, and a ferry runs to Wajima on the mainland. The island is a haven for migratory birds, and attracts tourists for birdwatching.

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References
  1. Teikoku's Complete Atlas of Japan, ISBN 4-8071-0004-1
  2. Campbell, Allen; Nobel, David S (1993). Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. Kodansha. p. 514. ISBN 406205938X.
  3. Mohri M, Torii R, Nagaya K, Shiraki K, Elsner R, Takeuchi H, Park YS, Hong SK (June 1995). "Diving patterns of ama divers of Hegura Island, Japan". Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine. 22 (2): 137–43. PMID 7633275. Retrieved 2013-04-06.

Further reading
  • Maraini, Fosco (1962). Hekura: The Diving Girls' Island (English edition translated from Italian). London: Hamish Hamilton.


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