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The 'Yaeyama Islands' (八重山諸島 ''Yaeyama-shotō'' Yaeyama: ''Yaima'' Okinawan: ''Ēma'') are an archipelago in the Okinawa Prefecture, a part of the nation of Japan. The isles are the remotest part of Japan from the main islands and contains both the most southern (Hateruma) and most western (Yonaguni) inhabited islands of the island nation of Japan.The Yaeyamas are far closer to Taiwan () than to Okinawa Island, much less the Japanese mainland.
The islands form the southern part of the volcanic Ryukyu Islands. The administrative division of Yaeyama District covers all of the Yaeyama Islands except Ishigaki and the disputed Senkaku Islands.

Contents

Culture

Rites Particular to Yaeyama

Islands

External links

Culture

The Yonaguni language is the indigenous language of the island of Yonaguni, location of the mysterious undersea Yonaguni monument but the Yaeyama language is the indigenous language all of the rest of the islands in the chain. Japanese is widely spoken as a second language.

Rites Particular to Yaeyama

14 July: ''Mushaama'' Festival. On Hateruma Island, this harvest festival is celebrated during ''Obon''. Its notable features include a parade of the local fertility god ''Miruku'' and his children (the local children), ''shishi'' ("lion") dances, and staff dances.

Islands

★ Hatoma

★ Hateruma

★ Ishigaki

★ Iriomote

★ Kohama

★ Kuro

★ Terama

★ Taketomi

★ Yonaguni

★ Yubu

External links

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