Some Physical Traits of To-shima Islanders

Abstract

To-shima island is a small island (417km²) situated in the Pacific Ocean about 140km south-west of Tokyo. The population is composed of about 80 families and 360 peoples. This anthropological survey was carried out on the island in Summer 1957. The authors examined the anthropometrical measurements, the physical capacity (grip strength, tapping, match board test and reaction time), the finger and palmar prints, etc. of 83 adults and 156 school children. In this islanders, no peculier featuers are found in all of the traits examined, except in finger and palmar print patterns.