TheSatsunan Islands (薩南諸島,Satsunan-shotō[1]) is ageopolitical name for a group of islands that forms the northern part of theRyukyu Islands. The whole island group belongs toKagoshima Prefecture,Japan.
Although Satsunan literally means the south ofSatsuma Province, the north-eastern group of theŌsumi Islands formedTane Province for a brief period in the 8th and 9th centuries and then was merged intoŌsumi Province. TheTokara Islands and the northwestern group of the Ōsumi Islands belonged toKawanabe District of Satsuma Province. The Amami Islands paid tribute to theRyukyu Kingdom to the South until they were put under direct control in the late 16th century, but wereconquered in 1609 by theSatsuma Domain.
In 1879, the Amami Islands becameŌshima District ofKagoshima Prefecture. The Tokara Islands and the north-western group of the Ōsumi Islands were transferred to Ōshima District in 1897, and then toKagoshima District in 1973. After World War II, the Tokara and Amami Islands were put under United States military occupation, which formed the Government of the Northern Ryukyus. The Japanese government fiercely contested the Amami Islands being affiliated with the word "Ryukyu", believing that it would lead to a later return of the islands to their control. The Tokara Islands were returned to Japan in 1952, and the Amami Islands in December 1953.
29°30′N129°30′E / 29.500°N 129.500°E /29.500; 129.500
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