Tsushima (island)
The island of Tsushima (対馬, Tsushima?), is an island in the Japanese archipelago located in the Tsushima Strait, the eastern channel of the Korea Strait, between Japan and the Asian mainland. They currently belong to the Nagasaki Prefecture, although historically they were part of the Japanese province of Tsushima.
Tsushima Island was once a single island, but in 1671 the island was divided into two by the Ōfunakosiseto Channel, and in 1900 into three by the Manzekiseto Channel. The so-called Tsushima Island is made up of the North Tsushima Island (Kami Jima), the South Tsushima Islands (Shimo Jima), and more than 100 smaller islands. In general, the name of Tsushima refers to the set of all the islands. The three main islands form the largest island in Nagasaki Prefecture and the sixth largest in Japan (excluding Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Hokkaido). The city of Tsushima encompasses the entire island.
Demographics and culture
The population is mostly Japanese; although there is also a Filipino and Korean minority.
The most practiced religion is Buddhism, although Shintoism is also practiced. There is a small Christian community, made up of Koreans.
Geography
They are made up of two main islands, which are divided by a deep inlet, Aso Bay (浅茅湾), and linked by a causeway. The North Island is called Kami-no-shima and the South Islands, Shimo-no-shima; They are also surrounded by thirteen small islands. These islands, along with Iki Province, make up the Iki-Tsushima Quasi-National Park.
The main islands have some notable hills: Mount Yatachi (矢立山, 649 m) and Shira-dake (512 m), in Shimo-no-shima; the Ibeshi-yama (344 m) and the Mi-take (487 m), in Kami-no-shima.
The main city is located in Tsushima City (formerly Izuhara). The islands are the closest Japanese territory to Korea; only fifty kilometers from Busan.
Climate
 Average climate parameters of Izuhara, Tsushima Island (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Ene. | Feb. | Mar. | Open up. | May. | Jun. | Jul. | Ago. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Annual |
| Temp. max. abs. (°C) | 19.8 | 21.3 | 24.4 | 27.8 | 32.0 | 32.9 | 36.9 | 36.8 | 34.6 | 30.2 | 26.9 | 22.3 | 36.9 |
| Average temperature (°C) | 9.2 | 10.5 | 13.6 | 18.1 | 22.2 | 24.7 | 28.3 | 30.0 | 26.5 | 22.3 | 17.1 | 11.6 | 19.5 |
| Average temperature (°C) | 6.0 | 6.9 | 10.0 | 14.2 | 18.2 | 21.3 | 25.4 | 26.8 | 23.4 | 18.7 | 13.3 | 8.0 | 16 |
| Temp. medium (°C) | 2.5 | 3.2 | 6.3 | 10.3 | 14.4 | 18.5 | 23.1 | 24.2 | 20.6 | 15.3 | 9.6 | 4.9 | 12.7 |
| Temp. min. abs. (°C) | -7.7 | -8.6 | -5.2 | -1.3 | 4.8 | 6.2 | 12.2 | 13.6 | 8.8 | 0.7 | -2.7 | -6.4 | -8.6 |
| Total precipitation (mm) | 80.1 | 94.7 | 172.3 | 218.4 | 241.2 | 294.4 | 370.5 | 326.4 | 235.5 | 120.8 | 100.6 | 68.0 | 2322.9 |
| Nevadas (cm) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Days of rain (≥ 1 mm) | 6.4 | 6.8 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 8.2 | 10.8 | 11.6 | 10.5 | 9.0 | 5.6 | 6.6 | 6.3 | 99.8 |
| Days of snowfall (≥ 1 mm) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| Hours of sun | 147.6 | 143.5 | 161.5 | 183.1 | 199.2 | 136.3 | 136.1 | 160.4 | 131.1 | 161.1 | 149.0 | 153.9 | 1862.8 |
| Relative humidity (%) | 61 | 62 | 65 | 68 | 72 | 82 | 83 | 81 | 78 | 70 | 68 | 63 | 71.1 |
| Source No. 1: Japan Meteorological Agency | |||||||||||||
| Source No. 2: Japan Meteorological Agency | |||||||||||||
History
Archaeological evidence suggests that Tsushima was inhabited by settlers from the Korean Peninsula and Japan from the Jomon Period to the Kofun Period. According to the Sanguo Zhi, there were a thousand families in Tsushima when the Tsuikai Kingdom (対海国) was founded. They exercised control over Iki-shima and maintained trade routes with Yayoi Period Japan. According to Japanese mythology, Tsushima was one of the eight original islands created by the Shinto deities Izanagi and Izanami.
At the beginning of the VI century, Tsushima became a province of Japan, called Tsushima Province (対馬国) or Tsushu (対州).
Under the Ritsuryo system, Tsushima becomes a province of Japan. Tsushima province was politically and economically dependent on Dazaifu (Kyushu's main city) and the central government, and had a greater role in national defense against invasions from the mainland and in trade with the Korean peninsula due to its strategic position.. After Japan was defeated by Tang Dynasty China at the Battle of Hakusukinoe in 663, border guards were sent to Tsushima and Kaneda Castle was built on the island.
Tsushima province was controlled by the Tsushima-no-kuni-no-miyatsuko (対馬国造), a clan that ruled until the Heian Period and then by the Ahiru clan until the middle of the century XIII. The title of "Governor of Tsushima" it was inherited by the Shoni clan for generations. Since the Shoni left for Kyushu, the So clan had control over the islands and ruled until the end of the 15th century.
Tsushima was an important commercial center. After the Toi Invasion, private trade began between Goryeo, Tsushima, Iki, and Kyushu, but was interrupted by the Mongol invasions of Japan between 1274 and 1281.