Yonaguni

Yonaguni is the westernmost inhabited island of Japan, part of Okinawa Prefecture's Yaeyama Islands in the East China Sea. It is administered as Yonaguni Town, in Yaeyama District. The island lies close to Taiwan and forms part of the Ryukyu archipelago.

Geography and population: Yonaguni covers a small land area and has one of the region's smaller populations; its residents rely on agriculture, fishing, and increasingly tourism. The island features a subtropical climate with warm winters and hot summers, and it is exposed to typhoons during the season.

Yonaguni Monument: One notable feature off Yonaguni's coast is the Yonaguni Monument, a submerged rock formation first documented by divers in the late 1980s. The site exhibits stair-step terraces and platform-like rocks. Its origin remains debated: some researchers argue it is a natural formation shaped by geological processes, while others contend it shows signs of ancient human construction. There is no consensus, and no definitive archaeological record confirms an ancient civilization at the site.

Culture and language: Yonaguni is home to the Yonaguni language, considered part of the Ryukyuan language family; it is endangered and increasingly supplanted by Japanese. The island also has a long fishing tradition and unique local crafts. A small native horse breed, associated with Yonaguni, has been kept on the island for centuries.

Transport and environment: Access to Yonaguni is by ferry from Ishigaki or by Yonaguni Airport, which provides domestic flights to Ishigaki and other Okinawan destinations. The island's economy and environment are closely tied to the sea, coral reefs, and subtropical ecosystems, which support tourism, fishing, and agriculture.