Ogasawara, Tokyo



Ogasawara (小笠原村) is a village in Ogasawara Subprefecture, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan, that governs the Bonin Islands, Volcano Islands, and three remote islands (Nishinoshima, Minamitorishima and Okinotorishima).

History
In 1940, five municipalities were created in the islands, which had been unincorporated before, two on Chichijima, two on Hahajima, and one on Iwojima.
 * Ōmura (大村) on Chichijima
 * Ōgimura-Fukurosawa (扇村袋沢村) on Chichijima
 * Kitamura (北村) on Hahajima
 * Okimura (沖村) on Hahajima
 * Iōtō (硫黄島村) on Iwojima (Iōtō), which includes all of the Volcano Islands

Both villages of Kita Iwo Jima became part of the newly created Iwojima municipality in 1940:
 * Ishinomura (east)
 * Nishimura (west)

Following World War II, the islands were administered by the United States. The islands were returned to Japanese control in 1968 and organized as Ogasawara Village.

Airport plan
In August 2020, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government held a council about a potential airport. It would be operational in 10 years at the earliest. The mayor of Ogasawara Village, Kazuo Morishita said "The airport is the village's long-cherished wish." Governor Koike also said at a regular press conference that day, "(The new model plan) is an effective measure to secure the air routes necessary to protect the lives of the islanders."

Geography
The municipality consists of the following groups and single isolated islands:
 * Bonin Islands (小笠原群島), 73.00 km2
 * Mukōjima rettō (聟島列島), 6.57 km2
 * Chichijima rettō (父島列島), 38.89 km2
 * Hahajima rettō (母島列島), 27.54 km2
 * Volcano Islands (火山列島) 29.71 km2
 * Kita Iwojima (北硫黄島) 5.57 km2
 * Iwojima (硫黄島) 20.60 km2
 * Minami Iwojima (南硫黄島) 3.54 km2
 * Nishinoshima (西之島), a single isolated island west of Hahajima rettō and part of the Volcano Islands, 0.29 km2
 * Okinotorishima (沖ノ鳥島 or 沖鳥島) 0.01 km2
 * Minamitorishima (南鳥島) 1.40 km2

The southernmost (uninhabited) group is known as the Volcano Islands. 700 km further south is Okino Torishima, and 1,900 km further east is Minamitorishima.

The population of the municipality resides on Chichi-jima (pop. about 2300) and Haha-jima (pop. about 500). The administration and village hall is located in the village of Omura on Chichi-jima. In addition, there is an air base with 400 soldiers on Iwojima of the Volcano Islands.

Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Ogasawara has remained relatively steady in recent decades.

Education
Ogasawara Village operates the islands' public elementary and junior high schools.
 * Ogasawara Village Municipal Ogasawara Elementary School (小笠原村立小笠原小学校) in Chichi-jima
 * Ogasawara Village Municipal Ogasawara Junior High School (小笠原村立小笠原中学校) in Chichi-jima
 * Ogasawara Village Municipal Haha-jima Elementary School and Junior High School (小笠原村立母島小中学校) on Haha-jima

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education operates Ogasawara High School on Chichi-jima.