Uken

Uken (宇検村,Uken-son) is avillage located onAmami Ōshima, inŌshima District,Kagoshima Prefecture,Japan.^[1]^[2]

Uken 宇検村
Village
Flag Seal
Location of Uken inKagoshima Prefecture
Uken
Coordinates:28°16′31″N129°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 (October 1, 2020)
• Total	1,621
• Density	15.73/km² (40.7/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
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

As of 1 October 2020, the village had an estimatedpopulation of 1,621 and apopulation density of 15.73 persons per km². The total area was 103.07 km².

Geography

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Uken occupies the southern portion of the west coast of Amami Ōshima, facing theEast 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 ashumid subtropical (Köppen climate classificationCfa) 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 frequenttyphoons.

Surrounding municipalities

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History

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Yakiuchi Village was established on April 1, 1908. It became Uken Village on November 1, 1917. Many inhabitants of the village emigrated toBrazil beforeWorld 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 levelradioactive wastes to the Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan, much to the outrage of many inhabitants.