If you wanted to complete your trip to Chiburijima Island in 90 minutes, your trip may have just ended with sections 1-7.
However, the appeal of Chiburi does not lie only in the geography and landscapes we have seen so far. We believe that the unique story of this island lies in the culture and lifestyles that have been preserved in its history as a remote island.

Let us take a moment to take a look back in history.

According to Kojiki or the “Record of Ancient Matters” (the oldest historical records of Japan), The Oki Archipelago was the third region to come into existence after Awaji Island and Shikoku; Kyushu was fourth, and Honshu, the main island, was created eighth. Thus, the Oki Archipelago has been an important region with a long history.

No one knows when exactly Chiburijima Island came to be inhabited by people, but there are tombs on the island that date back to the Kofun Period (300-538 AD) and the name “Chibu” can be seen in literature dating back to the Nara Period (710-794 AD). In 1332, Emperor Go-Daigo was exiled to the Oki Archipelago, where Emperor Go-Toba was exiled in 1221, establishing it as a penal colony with frequent comings and goings between it and the mainland. This was especially true in the Edo period, with the establishment of “kitamaebune” or cargo ships which sailed the Sea of Japan during the Edo Period (1603-1868). In some years, as many as 4000 ships were docked in Oki. During this time, Chiburi acted as a cultural hub for the nation of Japan.

At some point, the crewmen docked in the Oki Archipelago started to pass out rice balls to the locals as a sign of their gratitude. The children who had only ever seen wheat and potatoes, would run full speed for the ships as they found the shore. This is a story from the Meiji Period, and what you will read from this point on will illustrate that life on the island has barely changed despite the passage of time. Since long ago, the island was covered in mountains, making it difficult to raise crops. With barely any level land to grow crops, the locals were forced to make do with fishing and what little produce they could come across. In general, they worked under the principle of self-sufficiency.

Then came the end of the Meiji Period (1868-1912). Trains became the norm, and the role of the ports changed with time. The boats grew larger, and the mechanics more complicated. They began to bring more and more goods from the mainland. The dramatic transformation of island life is a rather recent story.

So, what kind of culture came about through this unique history? First, we must remember that Chiburi is made of seven districts, Koori, Ōe, Nibu, Tataku, Usuge, Kurī, and Urumi. From section 8 onwards, you can listen to the guide in whatever order you wish and skip those you aren’t interested in. The sections marked with a ★ mark are interviews with island natives. We definitely recommend reading these. Chiburijima is a small island, so there is a high chance you will meet these people while walking around!