Uken, Kagoshima

Uken
宇検村
Village

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Location of Uken in Kagoshima Prefecture
Uken

 

Coordinates: 28°16′31″N 129°15′48″E / 28.27528°N 129.26333°E / 28.27528; 129.26333Coordinates: 28°16′31″N 129°15′48″E / 28.27528°N 129.26333°E / 28.27528; 129.26333
Country Japan
Region Kyushu (Amami Islands)
Prefecture Kagoshima Prefecture
District Ōshima
Area
 • Total 103.07 km2 (39.80 sq mi)
Population (June 1, 2013)
 • Total 1,843
 • Density 17.9/km2 (46/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Symbols  
• Tree Schima liukiuensis Nakai
• Flower Hibiscus
• Bird Ryukyu robin
Phone number 0997-67-2211
Address 915, Uwan, Uken-son, Ōshima-gun, Kagoshima-ken 894-3392
Website www.uken.net

Uken (宇検村 Uken-son) is a village located on Amami Ōshima, in Ōshima District, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

As of June 2013, the village had an estimated population of 1,843 and a population density of 17.9 persons per km2. The total area was 103.07 km2.

Geography

Uken occupies the southern portion of the east coast of Amami Ōshima, facing the East China Sea. About 90% of the village is mountainous, and includes Uwandake, with a height of 694 metres (2,277 ft). The climate is classified as humid subtropical (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and mild winters. Precipitation is high throughout the year, but is highest in the months of May, June and September. The area is subject to frequent typhoons.

Surrounding municipalities

History

Yakiuchi Village was established on April 1, 1908. It became Uken Village on November 1, 1917. Many inhabitants of the village emigrated to Brazil before World War II. As with all of the Amami Islands, the village came under the administration of the United States from July 1, 1946 to December 25, 1953. Efforts to merge the village with neighboring municipalities collapsed in 2005. In 2006, the village government expressed an interest to be considered as a potential location for the disposal of high level radioactive wastes to the Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan, much to the outrage of many inhabitants.

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