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The locals frequently sighted Shiro paddling across the (3 km) strait. His feat was so amazing that it gained national recognition and inspired the film: Marilyn ni Aitai (I want to see
Marilyn). Marilyn died in 1987, bringing an end to Shiro's seafaring days, and he himself died at the advanced
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Kizaki K (1992) Geological history of the Kerama
Islands. Midoriishi, 3: 1-2 (in Japanese) Nadaoka K, Nihei Y, Wakaki K, Kumano R, Kakuma S, Moromizato S, Omija T, Iwao K, Shimoike K, Taniguchi H, Nakano Y, Ikema T (2001) Regional variations of water temperature around Okinawan coasts and its
364:. For some 600 years, the islanders were employed as navigators for the Kingdom’s trading vessels between Okinawa and China. The islands also provided good moorings on the sea route. A house of the Takara family, one of the captains of these vessels, is preserved as an
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Aka-jima is also famous for the story of two dogs: Shiro on Aka-jima and
Marilyn on Zamami-jima. They met when Shiro travelled on his owners boat to Zamami but the passion was such that he started swimming over every day to rendezvous with Marilyn on Zamami's Ama beach.
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In 1988 Akajima Marine
Science Laboratory (AMSL) was established under the auspices of the Japanese Science and Technology Agency. A number of scientists visit AMSL every year to research the coral reef ecosystems.
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Summers have extreme oceanographic conditions and about five typhoons approach
Akajima every year, especially in early summer. The northern monsoon brings strong north winds and large swells from October to April.
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Around 360 fish species and 1,640 invertebrate species (including hermatypic corals) and 220 seaweed species have been recorded in the Kerama
Islands, but many groups of organisms have not yet been surveyed.
496:
Hayashibara T (1995) Ecological studies on reef-building corals and their sexual reproduction around
Akajima Island, Kerama Islands group. PhD thesis, Tokyo University Fisheries, 123 pp. (in Japanese)
281:(a subspecies of the Japanese deer) are unique to the Kerama islands group and are able to swim between the islands. These deer have been designated a national protected species of Japan.
503:. In: Research and Development Bureau, Science and Technology Agency (ed.): Report on the Urgent Research on the Mechanism Elucidation of Coral Bleaching, pp. 15–39 (in Japanese)
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Omori M and
Fujiwara S (eds.) (2003) Manual for the Restoration and Remediation of Coral Reefs. Bureau of Natural Environment, Ministry of the Environment, Tokyo, 84pp.
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Iwao K (2004) Kerama
Islands. In: Tsuchiya M et al. (eds.): Coral Reefs of Japan. Ministry of the Environment and Japanese Coral Reef Society, Tokyo, pp. 185–189
83:
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Ohba H (1995) A list of seaweeds of
Akajima Island and its vicinity in Kerama Islands, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Midoriishi, 6: 23-28 (in Japanese)
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Iwao K (2003) Surveys of marine fauna around Kerama Islands by visiting scientists and staff members of AMSL. Midoriishi, 14: 38-41 (in Japanese)
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age of 17. There is a statue of Shiro on Nishihama beach (his point of departure) and a similar monument to Marilyn also exists on Zamamijima.
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current. Healthy coral reefs, with a rich diversity of sea life, make the area a treasure trove for marine scientists, divers and snorkelers.
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Zamami Village History Compilation Committee (1989) History of Zamami Village. Vol. 1, Zamami Village Office, Okinawa, 710pp. (in Japanese)
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352:). The Island is also served by a small airstrip on Fukajijima. Fukajijima, Gerumajima and Akajima are connected by road bridges.
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Veron JEN (1992) Conservation of biodiversity: a critical time for the hermatypic corals of Japan, Coral Reefs, 11: 13-21
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270:) are regular visitors in January to April and use the Kerama Islands as their breeding ground.
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relationship to offshore thermal environments and coral bleaching. Coral Reefs, 20: 373-384
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Akajima is also noted for its terrestrial wildlife, especially its birds, butterflies and
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Akajima port has a regular ferry service that links the island with neighbouring
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Iwao K (2000) Study on the effect of geographical features on the cause of
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Day trippers and locals boarding the return ferry from Aka-jima to Okinawa
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413:"Akajima Marine Science Laboratory (AMSL) information leaflet"
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Aka was one of the first landing places for US Forces in the
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Historically, the Kerama Island group was a part of the
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Golden silk orb-weaver spiders are plentiful on Akajima
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lay eggs on the beaches in summer. Humpback whales (
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The water surrounding Aka-jima is supplied from the
444:"Akajima Marine Science Laboratory Website (AMSL)"
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348:and the capital of Okinawa (
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16:Island within Ryukyu Islands
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366:Important Cultural Property
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469:"Dogs In The News Article"
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301:Coral reef near Aka island
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99:26.199002°N 127.280556°E
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477:. Retrieved
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279:Kerama deer
260:loggerheads
225:Aka village
115:Archipelago
102: /
90:127°16′50″E
78:Coordinates
27:Native name
533:Categories
479:2008-11-08
454:2008-11-08
429:2008-11-08
399:References
368:of Japan.
170:Aka Island
139:Prefecture
87:26°11′56″N
20:Aka Island
385:Tokashiki
340:Transport
277:spiders.
212:Aka-shima
195:group in
63:Geography
236:Kuroshio
182:Aka-jima
162:Japanese
158:Ryukyuan
68:Location
33:Aka-jima
356:History
331:Climate
381:Geruma
377:Zamami
346:Zamami
262:, and
423:(PDF)
416:(PDF)
201:Japan
132:Japan
31:阿嘉島 (
383:and
350:Naha
210:or
208:Aka
176:阿嘉島
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