{{Short description|Island group within Ryukyu Islands}} {{Infobox islands | name = Kerama Islands | native_name = {{Nihongo||慶良間諸島|Kerama-shotō}} | native_name_link = Japanese language | image_name = Okinawa_kerama_islands.jpg | image_caption = | image_size = | map_image = Kerama Islands Map Okinawa.png | map_caption = Map of the Kerama Islands | pushpin_map = Japan Okinawa Island#Japan Okinawa Prefecture#Japan Ryukyu Islands#Japan | pushpin_label = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_relief = yes | pushpin_map_caption = Location of the Kerama Islands | location = Pacific Ocean | coordinates = {{coord|26.2|N|127.333|E|format=dms|region:JP-47|display=inline,title}} | total_islands = 36 | major_islands = Tokashiki Island, Zamami Island | area_km2 = 35.97 | archipelago = Okinawa Islands | country = Japan | country_admin_divisions_title = Prefecture | country_admin_divisions = Okinawa Prefecture | population = 1,625 | population_as_of = October 2010 | density_km2 = 45.2 | module = {{Designation list | embed = yes | designation1 = Ramsar | designation1_offname = Keramashoto Coral Reef | designation1_date = 8 November 2005 | designation1_number = 1546<ref>{{Cite web|title=Keramashoto Coral Reef|website=Ramsar Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/1546|access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref>}} |ethnic_groups=Ryukyuan, Japanese}} The {{nihongo|'''Kerama Islands'''|慶良間諸島|Kerama-shotō|Okinawan: {{lang|ja|キラマ}} ''Kirama''}} are a subtropical island group {{convert|32|km}} southwest of Okinawa Island in Japan.

==Geography== Four islands are inhabited: Tokashiki Island, Zamami Island, Aka Island, and Geruma Island.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20050422084710/http://www.opencoastravel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=61 Kerama Islands]}}. Open Coast Travel.</ref> The islands are administered as Tokashiki Village and Zamami Village within Shimajiri District.<ref>[http://www.pref.okinawa.jp/summit/a_la/tokusyu_1/index2.htm Special Feature #1 : Seas of Okinawa -The Kerama Islands-] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517220130/http://www.pref.okinawa.jp/summit/a_la/tokusyu_1/index2.htm|date=2011-05-17}}, Okinawa Prefecture</ref> The Kerama-shotō coral reef is a Ramsar Site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/npr/ramsar_wetland/pamph/kerama_35.pdf |title=Ramsar Sites in Japan - Kerama-shoto Coral Reef |publisher=Ministry of the Environment |access-date=24 March 2011}}</ref>

The archipelago consists of the following islands (-jima/-shima) – inhabited ones are highlighted in blue – and rocks (other suffixes, unnamed entries) with an area of at least 0.01&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pref.okinawa.jp/site/kikaku/tochitai/tousho.html |title=沖縄県島しょ別面積一覧 |publisher=Präfektur Okinawa |date=2013-11-13 |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417095133/https://www.pref.okinawa.jp/site/kikaku/tochitai/tousho.html |archive-date=2020-04-17 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pref.okinawa.jp/site/kikaku/chiikirito/ritoshinko/documents/chapter1h28.pdf#page=2 |title=指定離島・指定離島一覧 |website=pref.okinawa.jp 離島関係資料(平成28年1月) |publisher={{lang|ja|沖縄県企画部地域・離島課}} [Land and Islands Section, Planning Department, Okinawa Prefecture] |date=2016-01-01 |access-date=2016-08-03 |format=PDF |language=ja |archive-date=2019-08-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827162603/http://www.pref.okinawa.jp/site/kikaku/chiikirito/ritoshinko/documents/chapter1h28.pdf#page=2 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" ! rowspan="2" |Photo ! colspan="2" |Name ! rowspan="2" |Size (km<sup>2</sup>) ! rowspan="2" |Height (m) ! rowspan="2" |Group ! rowspan="2" |Coordinates |- ! English || class="unsortable" | Japanese |- class="hintergrundfarbe6" |100px | Tokashiki Island|| {{lang|ja|渡嘉敷島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 15.31 | style="text-align:right;" | 227.3 | Tokashiki | {{coord|26.186667|127.355556|region:JP-47_dim:9000_type:isle|name=Tokashiki-jima}} |- class="hintergrundfarbe6" |100px | Zamami Island|| {{lang|ja|座間味島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 6.66 | style="text-align:right;" | 160.7 | Zamami | {{coord|26.234444|127.3075|region:JP-47_dim:5200_type:isle|name=Zamami-jima}} |- class="hintergrundfarbe6" |100px | Aka Island|| {{lang|ja|阿嘉島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 3.82 | style="text-align:right;" | 165.0 | Zamami | {{coord|26.198889|127.278056|region:JP-47_dim:3000_type:isle|name=Aka-jima}} |- |100px|Maeshima (unterste Insel) | Mae Island|| {{lang|ja|前島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 1.60 | style="text-align:right;" | 132.8 | Tokashiki | {{coord|26.212222|127.447222|region:JP-47_dim:3000_type:isle|name=Maeshima}} |- |100px | Kuba-shima|| {{lang|ja|久場島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 1.55 | style="text-align:right;" | 270.1 | Zamami | {{coord|26.171389|127.237778|region:JP-47_dim:2000_type:isle|name=Kuba-shima}} |- |100px | Yakabi-jima|| {{lang|ja|屋嘉比島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 1.26 | style="text-align:right;" | 214.4 | Zamami | {{coord|26.216389|127.244444|region:JP-47_dim:2000_type:isle|name=Yakabi-jima}} |- class="hintergrundfarbe6" |100px | Geruma Island|| {{lang|ja|慶留間島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 1.15 | style="text-align:right;" | 157.3 | Zamami | {{coord|26.181667|127.289167|region:JP-47_dim:1500_type:isle|name=Geruma-jima}} |- |100px | Fukaji Island|| {{lang|ja|外地島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.83 | style="text-align:right;" | 76{{0|,0}} | Zamami | {{coord|26.168333|127.292778|region:JP-47_dim:1600_type:isle|name=Fukaji-shima}} |- |123x123px | Amuro-jima|| {{lang|ja|安室島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.73 | style="text-align:right;" | 98.8 | Zamami | {{coord|26.207222|127.311111|region:JP-47_dim:2100_type:isle|name=Amuro-jima}} |- |100px | Gishippu-jima|| {{lang|ja|儀志布島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.49 | style="text-align:right;" | 113.6 | Tokashiki | {{coord|26.230278|127.369444|region:JP-47_dim:1500_type:isle|name=Gishippu-jima}} |- |100px | Kuroshima|| {{lang|ja|黒島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.27 | style="text-align:right;" | 126.1 | Tokashiki | {{coord|26.251667|127.404167|region:JP-47_dim:1000_type:isle|name=Kuroshima}} |- | | Un-jima || {{lang|ja|ウン島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.26 | style="text-align:right;" | 87{{0|,0}} | Tokashiki | {{coord|26.142778|127.343056|region:JP-47_dim:900_type:isle|name=Un-jima}} |- | | Gahi-jima || {{lang|ja|嘉比島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.13 | style="text-align:right;" | 51{{0|,0}} | Zamami | {{coord|26.218333|127.286111|region:JP-47_dim:600_type:isle|name=Gahi-jima}} |- | | Gusukushima || {{lang|ja|城島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.11 | style="text-align:right;" | 105.9 | Tokashiki | {{coord|26.198611|127.377778|region:JP-47_dim:350_type:isle|name=Gusukushima}} |- | | Hanari-jima || {{lang|ja|離島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.10 | style="text-align:right;" | 59.2 | Tokashiki | {{coord|26.161667|127.338333|region:JP-47_dim:700_type:isle|name=Hanari-jima}} |- | | Agenashiku-jima || {{lang|ja|安慶名敷島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.10 | style="text-align:right;" | 41.6 | Zamami | {{coord|26.215278|127.295|region:JP-47_dim:650_type:isle|name=Agenashiku-jima}} |- | | Sunashiru-jima || {{lang|ja|砂白島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.05 | style="text-align:right;" | 28{{0|,0}} | Zamami | {{coord|26.184167|127.274722|region:JP-47_dim:600_type:isle|name=Sunashiru-jima}} |- | rowspan="4" |100px|Kuba-iwa, Ou-jima, Naka-iwa und Yubu-iwa (von oben nach unten) | Ou-jima (Ubu-iwa) || {{lang|ja|奥武島(うぶ岩)}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.05 | style="text-align:right;" | 45.6 | Zamami | {{coord|26.156667|127.273333|region:JP-47_dim:300_type:isle|name=Ou-jima (Ubu-iwa)}} |- | Kuba-iwa || {{lang|ja|くば岩}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.01 | style="text-align:right;" | 14{{0|,0}} | Zamami | {{coord|26.159167|127.273056|region:JP-47_dim:200_type:isle|name=Kuba-iwa}} |- | Yubu-iwa || {{lang|ja|ゆぶ岩}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.01 | style="text-align:right;" | 34{{0|,0}} | Zamami | {{coord|26.147222|127.269722|region:JP-47_dim:150_type:isle|name=Yubu-iwa}} |- | Naka-iwa || {{lang|ja|なか岩}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.01 | style="text-align:right;" | 17{{0|,0}} | Zamami | {{coord|26.150278|127.268333|region:JP-47_dim:100_type:isle|name=Naka-iwa}} |- | | data-sort-value="Achiraneiwa" | Achirāne-iwa || {{lang|ja|アチラーネ岩}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.05 | style="text-align:right;" | – | Zamami |<!-- {{coord|||region:JP-47_type:isle|name=Achirāne-iwa}} --> |- | | Mokaraku-jima || {{lang|ja|モカラク島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.04 | style="text-align:right;" | 25{{0|,0}} | Zamami | {{coord|26.156111|127.289722|region:JP-47_dim:400_type:isle|name=Mokaraku-jima}} |- | | Tsumishiro-shima || {{lang|ja|積城島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.02 | style="text-align:right;" | – | Zamami | {{coord|26.181111|127.273611|region:JP-47_dim:250_type:isle|name=Tsumishiro-shima}} |- | | Ijakaja-jima || {{lang|ja|伊釈迦釈島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.02 | style="text-align:right;" | 56{{0|,0}} | Zamami | {{coord|26.215556|127.268333|region:JP-47_dim:550_type:isle|name=Ijakaja-jima}} |- | | Jinojitsuru-jima || {{lang|ja|地自津留島}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.01 | style="text-align:right;" | 54{{0|,0}} | Tokashiki | {{coord|26.237778|127.368611|region:JP-47_dim:150_type:isle|name=Jinojitsuru-jima}} |- | | Sakuhara no Hana || {{lang|ja|佐久原の鼻}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.01 | style="text-align:right;" | – | Zamami | {{coord|26.178333|127.274167|region:JP-47_dim:150_type:isle|name=Sakuhara no Hana}} |- | | Fukakane-se || {{lang|ja|ふかかね瀬}} | style="text-align:right;" | 0.01 | style="text-align:right;" | 47{{0|,0}} | Zamami | {{coord|26.175833|127.229028|region:JP-47_dim:100_type:isle|name=Fukakane-se}} |- | | ''unnamed''<ref>Presumed classification: Listed in the source as シマ(砂白島北) ‘island (north of Sunashiru-jima)’. Official maps show an unnamed island with the specified area at these coordinates.</ref>|| | style="text-align:right;" | 0.01 | style="text-align:right;" | – | Zamami | {{coord|26.183333|127.2725|region:JP-47_dim:150_type:isle|name=Felseninsel}} |- | | ''unnamed''<ref>Presumed classification: Listed in the source as シマ(モカラク島北) ‘island (north of Mokaraku-jima)’. Official maps show an unnamed island with the specified area at these coordinates.</ref>|| | style="text-align:right;" | 0.01 | style="text-align:right;" | – | Zamami | {{coord|26.159444|127.291944|region:JP-47_dim:200_type:isle|name=Felseninsel}} |}

===Beaches=== These are notable beaches of the Kerama Islands: {| class="wikitable" |+ Notable beaches |- ! Name !! Island !! Japanese name |- | Aharen Beach || Tokashiki Island || 阿波連ビーチ（渡嘉敷島） |- | Tokashiku Beach || Tokashiki Island || 渡嘉志久ビーチ（渡嘉敷島） |- | Ama Beach || Zamami Island || 阿真ビーチ（座間味島） |- |Furuzamami Beach |Zamami Island |古座間味ビーチ（座間味島） |- |Kitahama Beach |Aka Island |北浜ビーチ（阿嘉島） |}

<gallery mode="packed"> File:Ama_beach_in_Zamami_Island.jpg|Ama beach in Zamami island File:Aharen Beach On Tokashiki Island 2009 (7373).JPG|Aharen Beach on Tokashiki Island File:Tokashiku_Beach_On_Tokashiki_Island_2009_(7372).JPG|Tokashiku beach on Tokashiki Island File:Tokashiku Beach on Tokashiki Island Okinawa 2018.png|Tokashiku beach </gallery>

==Flora== The archipelago has several extensive coral reefs. Two of them were designated as Ramsar sites in November 2005: a 120-hectare area along the west coast of Tokashiki-jima and around Hanari-jima, and a 233-hectare area around Ijakaja-jima, Gahi-jima and Agenashiku-jima, i.e., between Aka Island and Zamami Island. These reefs are home to 248 different coral species, most notably of the ''Acropora'' genus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/npr/ramsar_wetland/pamph/kerama_35.pdf |title=Kerama-shoto Coral Reef |work=Conservation and Wise Use of Rich and Diverse Wetlands: Ramsar Sites in Japan |publisher=Ministry of the Environment |date=2008 |page=41 |access-date=2012-11-29 |format=PDF; 523&nbsp;kB |language=en}}</ref> On March 5, 2014, the waters and the islands were placed under protection as Kerama Shotō National Park.

<gallery mode="packed"> File:Coral reef life near Akajima 07.jpg|Coral reef, Aka island File:Coral reef life near Akajima 16.jpg|Coral reef, Aka island File:Coral reef life near Akajima 13.jpg|Clownfish, Aka island </gallery>

==Fauna== The islands of Aka, Fukaji, Geruma and Yakabi provide the sole natural habitat of the endangered Kerama deer (''Cervus nippon keramae''), thought to be an introduced population of the Japanese sika deer in the early 17th century that has since adapted to their island environment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nies.go.jp/biodiversity/invasive/DB/detail/10350e.html |title=Cervus nippon keramae |publisher=National Institute for Environmental Studies |access-date=2014-06-11 |language=en}}</ref>

==History== The Kerama islands were historically part of the Ryukyu Kingdom (1429–1879), when islanders were employed as navigators on the kingdom’s trading vessels to China.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.keramaislands.asia/|title=Kerama islands |website=Kerama islands |access-date=2016-06-10}}</ref>

During World War II and preliminary to the Battle of Okinawa, soldiers of the 77th Infantry Division landed in the Kerama Islands on March 26, 1945. Further landings followed, and the Kerama group was secured over the next five days. Kerama was used as a staging area for the assault on Okinawa. During the battle the first civilian mass suicides that later marked the Battle of Okinawa took place.{{Citation needed|date=November 2016}} The first US Navy ship to anchor in the harbor was {{USS|Makin Island|CVE-93|6}}, a small "jeep" carrier.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}

Thereafter, the archipelago, like the rest of the Ryukyu Islands, was under US military administration before being returned to Japan in 1972.

The Kerama islands was the site of a true story about romance between two dogs who lived on neighboring islands that was made into the 1988 Japanese film ''I Want to See Marilyn'' (Marilyn ni Aitai).<ref>{{IMDb title|qid=Q11341093|title=Marilyn Ni Aitai}}</ref> It is now a popular beach and diving destination for visitors to Okinawa.

<gallery mode="packed"> File:Landings in the Keramas.jpg|The 77th Infantry Division on Zamami Island during World War II </gallery>

==Transportation== The Kerama Islands are served by the Kerama Airport, located on Fukaji Island.<ref>[http://www.vill.zamami.okinawa.jp/new/4/img/welcome/english%20map.pdf Map showing islands of Zamami Village] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526102845/http://www.vill.zamami.okinawa.jp/new/4/img/welcome/english%20map.pdf |date=2011-05-26 }}</ref> Regular ferries are also available from Naha to the three largest islands, Aka, Zamami, and Tokashiki. Ferries between the islands are also available, as are boat tours.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Kerama Islands}} *[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286962/ IMDB entry for ''I Want to See Marilyn'']

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kerama Islands}} Category:Kerama Islands Category:Archipelagoes of Japan Category:Ramsar sites in Japan Category:Okinawa Islands Category:Islands of Okinawa Prefecture Category:Archipelagoes of the Pacific Ocean