Until quite recently, there were no libraries on Chiburijima Island. However, in November 2017, this building was erected as a school library, and was opened as a public library in April of 2018. We were able to ask the librarian Mrs. Nanke about immigration and how to run an island library.

──About how many elementary and junior high students are there in Chiburijima?

Elementary and junior high school combined, there are 43 students (as of 2018). The larger classes are about 10 students and the smallest class is just 2 students. The elementary school is run in a combined class style where, for example, the first and second year students are in the same class. In the span of two years, the students learn two years worth of material. So, the fifth year students would learn the sixth year students curriculum and vice-versa. The junior high school however, is seperated by class. By the way, the second floor houses the elementary school, while the third floor houses the junior high school.


──Mrs. Nanke, you are originally from outside the island correct?

That’s right. Before I moved to the countryside, I was living in Chiba Prefecture.

──What triggered you to move to Chiburijima?

Because my husband quit his job and suddenly proclaimed “I want to be a fisherman!” My husband was originally from Sakaiminato City in Tottori Prefecture, and even though he had lived and worked in Chiba without ever having been to Chiburijima, for some reason or another, he suddenly started saying, “I want to become a fisherman!”...

──And you didn’t try to stop him?

Yes, I did *laugh* I did, but he just wouldn’t give up. I had no choice, so I just ended up coming with him.

──So, your husband is a fisherman now?

Actually, no, he isn’t a fisherman *laughs*. He raises cows. But he works really hard.

──How many years has it been since you came to Chiburijima?

16 years.

── Have you gotten used to life on the island?

I have gotten used to it. Feeling-wise, it’sas I have become an native of the island myself. The fact that I hope migrants from the city choose to stay shows how far I’ve transformed into a local!. *laughs*

──Since Chiba Prefecture is pretty urban, did you feel a gap when you first moved here?

I hated the fact that I couldn’t go out to eat. Even though I was tired, I still had to make three meals a day, and I would throw fits. I would say something like, “Well, I’m going to a diner tonight!” But Chiburijima hasn’t any diners to begin with, so in the end, I would just have to making dinner anyway.

──I have been staying at an inn in Urumi for the meantime and I have been eating cup noodles every night *laughs*. I’m so tired of eating it, but it’s also pretty tough to make dinner for myself… it’s not like there are a lot of options at the market either…

I know, exactly. At first I had a difficult time because I couldn’t find the vegetables I wanted, but nowadays, I use what I can fine and make whatever I can make. People have started to give us some ingredients, but what they give us, is exactly the same as what we have. For example, when aji or horse mackerel is in season, everyone will give us aji *laughs*. I manage to put away a large amount of aji, but once I get out of the bath, there is more *laughs*. When daikon radish is in season, we will get a mountainful of daikon. *laughs*. Of course I’m happy, but it was really surprising at first. Stuff like that just doesn’t happen in the city.

──How many years did it take for you to get used to life on the island?

I wonder how many… I’m not sure, but maybe tby my third or fourth year? By the time I had gotten over the biggest hurdle of cooking for myself, I knew had gotten used to life here.

When we would get big piles of fish, I would automatically split them up. “These I will fry up, and I’ll make these into sashimi,” I told myself. Suddenly, I was able to make a system for myself, lining them all up neatly in sections on a tray. Once I did that, I knew I had gotten used to things. *laughs*

──Did you decide to work at the library as soon as you came to Chiburijima?

No, not at all. At first, I worked in the kitchen making meals in the school. There just happened to be an opening, so I started working there when I got here. While working there, I got my librarian certificate through correspondence education after living here for about 7 years.

──Why did you decide to get certified as a librarian? There was no library at the time right?

Yes, but I love books. At the time, I felt like the world was starting to recognize the importance of librarians and thought to myself, “One day, somewhere.” Then a year later, Shimane passed a law forcing all public high schools to have a library. Because of that, Dōzen High School put out a job ad for a librarian, and I got the job.

──Dōzen High School is located in Amachō in the neighboring island correct?

It’s the only high school in the whole area, andI worked there as the librarian while waiting for a library to open here on Chiburijima. I went as far as to say “If a library opens up on Chiburijima, let me know.” And after someone reached out to me, I spent the whole of last year working on preparations for the library to open in November of 2017 as the official school library. In April of 2018, we ended up making the transition to become a public library for the island.

──Does working as a library involve choosing books?

Though choosing books is a part of the job of course, I also worked with members of the Board of Education to work out the layout of the bookshelves as well as record the books in the system. Also, while working in a school library, one of the most important jobs is supporting the classes too. I would teach the students how to look up books for their classes, or how to write succinctly, and so on. When it comes to picking out books, there are many who aren’t really used to reading books, so I try to pick books that fit their culture, books about cows, vegetables, fishing, or about making the earth better. I try to pick books that I know will be easy for them to read.

──If you had to recommend one book to those coming to visit Chiburi what would it be?

Ah, that’s a difficult one! We have a lot of books in our local collection, but there are not many to read for pleasure, I guess. If I had to pick one,it would be “Oki-Chiburijima Riddle Book.” It would be nice to see a mix of children and island locals all in one space.


While Chibu Library is a school library, it is also a public library. Thanks to this, even adults can enter the school grounds to go to the school library. This contrasts with the mainland, where security in public schools gets stricter by the day—a prime example of a small island library.