| abstract
| - Goto (五島市 Goto-shi?). Lying just west of Kyushu, near the cusp of the East China Sea, is the Goto Archipelago. With the exception of Okinawa in the south, the Goto island chain is the westernmost point in Japan. Because of its position, the Gotos was the last strategic port for incursions and invasions into Korea. The ocean around the chain was the site of many maritime battles in offensive and defensive maneuvers against Korea and China. Unlike the rest of Japan, Christianity flourished here throughout the Tokugawa Shogunate because of its distance from the mainland. However, Christians living here applied a “Buddhist face” to their religious worship to discourage being reported to authorities for persecution. These Christians became known as the “Hidden Christians” and are responsible for building Japan’s oldest churches. Goto City, the largest within the island chain, is located on the southernmost island called Fukue. In elder days it served as the seat of power for Lord Goto, whose castle existed on this island. The impressive remains of his castle are incorporated today in the structure of Goto City High School. Visitors are able to walk freely inside. The islands are now known for having different world-famous triathlons and marathons. People from all over the world come to Fukue and Shinkamigoto to participate in the Iron Man and Monster Man Triathlons, respectively. Every island in the chain is nationally known as a nature preserve with an abundance of fish for fishermen and wild game. Most local restaurants resort to the local methods of fishing for their stocks in the morning to sell exotic dishes at night, something that rarely happens with the commercialization on the mainland. The islands are also heavily populated with wild deer. Shinkamigoto is the only island in the entire chain to be populated with dangerous wild boar. Until about fifty years ago, the Gotos was a major player in the national (and international) whaling industry. Since then however, international restrictions have brought an end to the whaling boom, and the collapse of local fisheries has drained the wealth from small fishing communities. The current economy relies heavily on the production of specialty goods, such as Goto udon, tofu, kankoro mochi, and camellia oil, as well as on summer tourism, small businesses, and subsidies from the prefectural and national governments. In the northern tip of the island chain lies the Ojika, Uku, and Nozaki islands; the Forgotten Islands of the North. Ojika is an island of about 3,000 incredibly friendly and welcoming residents. It is located just south of Uku, the northernmost Goto island. Ojika is famous in Nagasaki prefecture for its tomatoes and eggs and has some of the best seafood you will ever eat. Ojika is also famous for the international music festival it hosts each year. In the spring artists from all over the world gather in Ojika to teach workshops and give concerts for about 2 weeks.
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)