Ikema Island (池間島, Ikema-jima, Miyako: Ikyaama (イキャーマ)), is located to the north of Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The island is connected to Miyako Island with a 1,425-metre-long (4,675 ft) bridge (池間大橋), which was completed in February 1992.[3][1] There is a pond in the centre of the island. To the north-east is the Ikema-jima Block Beach (池間島ブロックビーチ). The variety of Miyakoan language spoken here is also called Ikema (Ikima in the vernacular). It is set apart from closely related language variants by its lexical word-tone system.[4]

Ikema Island
Native name:
Ikema-jima (池間島)
Aerial view of Ikema-jima from southeast
Ikema Island is located to the north of Miyako Island
Geography
LocationOkinawa Prefecture
Coordinates24°55′N 125°15′E / 24.917°N 125.250°E / 24.917; 125.250
ArchipelagoMiyako Islands
Area2.83 km2 (1.09 sq mi)[1]
Highest elevation28 m (92 ft)
Highest pointUnknown
Administration
Japan
Demographics
Population774[2] (2018)
Ethnic groupsRyukyuan, Japanese

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Department of Land and Islands, Planning Department, Okinawa Prefecture (指定離島・指定離島一覧)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 August 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Ikema island tourism information site", 池間ねっと, 2018. Retrieved on 13 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Ikema Ohashi", 池間ねっと, 2018. Retrieved on 13 January 2018.
  4. ^ Shimoji, Michinori; Pellard, Thomas (2010). An Introduction to Ryukyuan Languages. Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa. pp. 167–188. ISBN 978-4-86337-072-2.