The Chishima-retto prefecture was created in 1960, when the
island chain known as Chishima (Kuriles) was separated from the Kushiro
prefecture, in order to reflect its economic and strategic importance. Since
1875 the entire arc constitutes an integral part of the Japanese homeland.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Area: 15,600 sq. km. Chishima Islands
stretch from north to south for 1,200 km. Among the islands of the Chishima
archipelago, 30 large islands, and more than 20 small islands, are of volcanic
origin.
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
of 200 NM
Climate: The
climate of the Chishima Islands is typically marine-like, without strong frosts
or extensive summer heat. Rain and fog are quite frequent in the summer. The
total annual level of precipitation is 1000-1400 mm. Winds often reach
hurricane strength, at more than 40 m/sec. Natural hazards: volcanic activity
and earthquakes.
Terrain: Dominating
heights are 500-1000 m. There are nearly 160 volcanoes on the Chishima Islands,
forty of which are active volcanoes. Chishima mean “thousand of islands” but in
reality it’s constituted by a chain of volcanic islands. Form south to north:
Habomai, Shikotan, Kunashiri, Etorofu, Uruppu, Shimushiru, Ketoi, Rashowa,
Matsuwa, Shashukotan, Harimukotan, Onnekotan, Paramushiro, Araito, and
Shimushu. Other smaller islands are:
Shirinki, Akiyuri, Abosu, Minami-jima, Buroton, Chirihoi, Chirinkotan,
Kita-jima, Ekaruma, Yuri, Ketoi, Mushiru, Makanru, Taraku, Raikoke, Shimushiru,
Suisho-to, Ushishiru and Shibotsu.
Highest point: Mount Araizu, on Abosu Island at
2,339m above sea level.
Natural resources:
forests, marine and agricultural products. The main
industry changed from hunting to fishing around 1885 and expanded to include
salmon, crab and other north-sea fisheries. Until this day, the population is
employed mostly in catching and processing of fish, which abounds in the waters
around the islands, but the Imperial Japanese Navy and Air Army bases also
contribute to the local economy.
Administrative division: six districts; Hanasaki, Shikotan, Kunashiri, Etorofu,
Shana and Shibetoro.
Population: 32.000 habitants (18.300 people live on Kunashiri Island and 9,300 on
Etorofu Island, July
2002 est.)
Ethnic groups: Japanese, Ainu.
Religions: Shintoism, Buddhism, other.
Languages: Japanese (official and common
language), Ainu.
Capital: The city of Kunashiri, in the namesake island, is the prefectural
capital, and where most of the population and industries are concentrated.
Other characteristics: Rivers and streams number nearly
4,000, and there are numerous lakes including those of crater origin.
Vegetation on the northern and middle islands includes alder thickets, and dwarf
Siberian pine. Spruce, fir, and broad leaf forests of yew, mulberry, and oak,
as well as bamboo thickets, are very common in the southern islands. Bear, fox
and mink are representative of the typical Chishima fauna. The low-mountain
relief of Kunashiri (the prefectural capital) environs covered with forests,
picturesque valleys of rivers and streams, and the Sishima Lake form beautiful
landscapes. The fairly warm and the least cloudy summer is characteristic for
the capital town and other populated areas of the Kunashiri Island. At the same
time this town is subject to disastrous effects of typhoons.
Since Japan gained the Chishima islands, Russia's posture
in the Far East has suffered serious disabilities. The chain not only isolated
Kamchatka and Chukutskii from the Maritime Provinces but denied
Vladivostok-based ships unrestricted access to the Pacific. In acquiring the
Chishima (Kurils) and Karafuto (Sakhalin) the Japanese Empire gained an advantageous
geographical base from which to play a major role in the Pacific basin. This
islands completed Japan's enclosure of the Sea of Okhotsk and cut Russia's
Siberian coastline into two segments at Cape Lopaka (southern Kamchatka). Ships
from Vladivostock were obliged to negotiate Japanese-controlled straits to
reach the Pacific and even local routes around Kamchatka led through one of the
narrow apertures of the Chishima chain.
History
In spite of its small size, the island enjoys a very rich
history, due to its localization in the crossroad of Russian, Japanese and US
strategic and commercial interest.
1821
Tsar Alexander I's ukase (decree) determined/identified
Russia's territorial claims , being from the South cape of Urup Northwards
1822
St Petersburg dispatched the first permanent naval squadron
to the Pacific to enforce the Tsar's decree . Its flagship, the frigate
Apollon, is commonly seen as the ancestor to the Pacific Fleet.
1844 Captain Gennadi Nevelskoi 'discovered' (as far as Russia
was concerned; Japan already knew it) 'Sakhalin's insularity' (i.e. it was not
attached to the mainland) and revealed that the Amur River , hitherto regarded
as having no navigable outlet to the sea, was a potentially valuable artery
connecting Siberia to the Pacific.
1854
With the nod of Tsar Nikolai I, the dynamic
governor-general of Eastern Siberia , Count Nikolai Muraviev, blithely
disregarded the Treaty of Nerchinsk and sent troops and settlers into the Amur
basin . He also occupied Sakhalin (Karafuto). Crimean War: powerful
Anglo-French squadrons prowled the Seas of Okhotsk and Japan in a stubborn
search for Russian warships and merchantmen.
1855 Treaty of Shimoda
Japan and Russia agreed to divide the arc between Iturup
and Urup , the Japanese taking the Southern and the Russians the Northern
portion . Anglo-French forces seized Urup, called it l'Isle de Alliance and
named the Chishima the Fog Archipelago, then left.
1873
Hokaido Colonial Office acted against poaching by
establishing observation posts on Iturup.
1875 Treaty of St. Petersburg
Russia abandoned all claims to the Kuril Islands in return
for assuming Japan's rights to Sakhalin
1869
The new Meiji government established the Colonization
Commission in Sapporo to aid in the development of the northern area.
1880
Village offices were established on the islands of
Shikotan, Kunashiri and Etorofu under the new administrative system. Road
networks and post offices were established on Kunashiri and Etorofu. Life on
the islands became more stable when a regular sea route connecting the islands
with Hokkaido was opened and a telegraphic service began.
1900
Uruppu, Shimushiru and Shumushu districts on the Chishima
Islands were under direct control of the Nemuro subprefectural office of the
Hokkaido government.
1938
The Hokkaido government established the Chishima Research
Center in the village of Shana on Etorofu. All the northern islands were
surveyed by 74 staff members of this station who collected basic data for
development. Because the northern islands were also of strategic importance for
national defense, military bases were gradually established, and the
development of the islands were promoted under the tense military situation.
The Soviet Pacific Fleet units that survived the attack to Vladivostok, were
hunted and destroyed in the waters around the Chishima-retto.
1940
The Chishima-retto is placed under control of the Kushiro
prefecture.
1945-1960
Development of fishering, mining and canning industry
attracts immigrants from Honshu, Taiwan, and even Nan-yô Gunto.
1960
Chishima-retto was severed from the Kushiro prefecture.
Chishima-retto Prefecture is created.
