Torishima Prefecture

Torishima Prefecture 鳥島県
Prefecture of Yoko
Motto: 調和で団結 Unity in Harmony
Capital	Torishima
Founded	2014 (as a independent state) 21 July 2015 (joined Yoko)
Area	4.79 km2 (1.85 sq mi)
Government	Prefecture
Head of Prefecture	Hiro Takashima
Vice Head

Torishima Prefecture (Japanese :鳥島県; Romaji:Torishima ken) is the one of the prefecture of Yoko.

History

History of Torishima

Torishima was known to Japanese fishermen and mariners since at least the early Edo period, but was uninhabited aside from occasional shipwreck survivors. In 1841, 14-year-old Nakahama Manjirō and four friends were shipwrecked on Torishima until rescued by the American whaler ship John Howland (Captain William H. Whitfield commanding). Award-winning Japanese writer Akira Yoshimura researched and wrote about 15 similar instances. The island was settled in Meiji period, with the primary economic activity being the gathering of guano from the abundant Short-tailed Albatross, who use the island as their nesting grounds. A major volcanic eruption was recorded in 1871. The island was administratively grouped with the Ogasawara islands in August 1898, but was transferred to the administration of Hachijojima in April 1901. The population of 150 inhabitants was killed by the major volcanic eruption of 1902. Torishima was never repopulated.

Since the 1930s, the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology has taken a very active role in researching and attempting to preserve the local seabird species, especially the short-tailed albatross, which had been reduced to an estimated 50 birds by 1933. The Japan Meteorological Agency established a weather station and volcanic research station on the island in 1947, but this was abandoned in 1965 due to volcanic activity and earthquakes. On November 1, 1954 Torishima was proclaimed a protected bird sanctuary. This designation was increased to that of a protected national Natural monument on May 10, 1965. It can only be visited by research scientists with special permission, and landing on the island is very difficult due to heavy seas and lack of suitable landing beaches or facilities. Tour boats which take people around the island to view the birds are popular, but these tours are not permitted to land on the island. Researchers normally travel to the island by chartered government helicopter.

Torishima, along with the other Izu Islands, is officially part of Tokyo, and also falls within the borders of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

Torishima as an independent state

On 21 December 2021, John Gregory declared the establishment of Torishima, which claimed (but not controlled) the territory of Torishima. Shortly after its establishment, Torishima later took inactivity until 7 April 2015. On 12 April 2015, Gregory proclaimed the establishment of the Kingdom of Torishima, changing the old republican system with royal system.

Joined Yoko

On 21 July 2015, Torishima joined the Empire of Yoko and became a Prefecture there, causing the disestablishment of the monarchy.

Geography

Torishima is located in the Philippine Sea approximately 600 km (373 mi) south of Tokyo and 76 km (47 mi) north of Lot's Wife. The roughly circular-shaped island is listed as a Class A active volcano by the Japan Meteorological Agency. The island is the above-water portion of a submarine volcano, whose submerged caldera portion to the north of the island continues to erupt underwater. Volcanic activity on the island itself was last recorded in 2002, accompanied by earthquake swarms. The main peak on the island, Io-zan (硫黄山) has a height of 394 m (1,293 ft), and the island has a circumference of 6.5 km (4.0 mi). The total area of the island is 4.79 km2 (1.85 sq mi).