Ōshima, The Tōkyō Region, Kantō Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Ōshima (大島町, Ōshima-machi) is a town located in Ōshima Subprefecture, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 1 October 2020, the town had an estimated population density of 78.3 persons per km². Its total area is 90.76 square km (35.04 sq mi).

Geography Ōshima Town covers the island of Izu Ōshima, in the Izu archipelago in the Philippine Sea, 120 km (75 mi) south of central Tokyo.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Ōshima has declined in recent decades.

History It is uncertain when human settlement first began on Ōshima, but archaeological finds from the Jōmon period have been discovered, and the island is mention from early Nara period documents. It is mentioned in historical records for its many volcanic eruptions. After the start of the Meiji period, in 1878, the island came under the control of Tokyo-fu and was organized into six villages (Okada, Motomura, Senzu, Nomashi, Sashikiji and Habuminato) under Oshima subprefecture on April 1, 1908. The six villages were merged to form Ōshima Town on April 1, 1955.

In the mid-1930s, Izu Ōshima became a popular suicide destination after three schoolgirls jumped into the active volcano in the centre of the island. In 1935 alone, more than 800 suicides were recorded.

The central volcano on the island, Mount Mihara erupted in 1965 and again in 1986, forcing the temporary evacuation of the inhabitants.

On 16 October 2013, Typhoon Wipha passed over the island, dropping 80 cm (31 in) of rain in 24 hours and causing a landslide that killed 35 people.

Economy Fishing and seasonal tourism are the mainstays of the economy of Ōshima.

Transport: Air • Ōshima Airport.

Harbor • Port of Okada • Port of Motomachi.

Education Ōshima town operates three public elementary schools and three public junior high schools.

Junior high schools: • Dai-ichi (No. 1 or First) (大島町立第一中学校) • Daini (No. 2 or Second) (大島町立第二中学校) • Daisan (No. 3 or Third) (大島町立第三中学校); Elementary schools: • Sakura Elementary School (大島町立さくら小学校) • Tsubaki Elementary School (大島町立つばき小学校) • Tsutsuji Elementary School (大島町立つつじ小学校).

The Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education operates two high schools in the municipality. Ōshima High School is an agriculture school known for producing baseball players, and Ōshima International Maritime Academy  is a marine biology school. Ōshima High School is attended primarily by children native to the island. Ōshima International Maritime Academy draws students from mainland Tokyo and neighboring Izu in order to participate in its marine biology program.

Local attractions The island is known for its Camellia Festival, Hanabi Festival, five black sand beaches, and several onsen.