The Role of the Bridge Connecting the Islands of Hamahiga and Okinawa

Dynamics of Populations and Changes in Residents

Abstract

This study has been conducted on the island of Hamahiga, Katsuren-cho, Okinawa Prefecture in Japan since the latter half of the 1950's to observe the dynamics of population and to determine various factors that have caused changes and differences among different settlements on the island in relation to the changes in the industrial structure. The construction of Hamahiga Bridge in 1997 connected the island and the main island of Okinawa, which resulted in an increased number of households and population of Hamahiga island. The residents of the island who have moved in after the completion of Hamahiga Bridge were interviewed to confirm their attributes, occupations, types or category of moving in, and types of houses. The results of our studies may be summarized as follows:
(1) The island of Hamahiga was designated as a source of supply of vegetables for the United States military installations in Okinawa in the 1950's. A horticulture cooperative society, which collectively shipped all vegetables including watermelon, green pepper, and onion for individual farmers to the military bases, was established in each settlement on the island. However, less expensive vegetables have been imported to Okinawa from Taiwan since the 1960's and replaced the most of Hamahiga-made vegetables for the U. S. military bases. The farmers on Hamahiga inevitably faced difficulties due to the reclined demand for their vegetables and being small sized farmers. Many farmers also did not have sugarcane fields to compensate decreased demand for other vegetables. Therefore, many farmers had to turn to other sources of income such as construction labor in the central district of the main island of Okinawa.
(2) As a result, the population of Hamahiga Island decreased approximately 20% every five (5) years in the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's. The downsizing of the population was especially obvious in the settlement of Higa-district where most of the residents depended on farming to make their livings. Besides, the residents of Higa-district were known for emigration to other countries and did not traditionally have strong attachment to the island or desire to keep their houses on the island. Thus, these economical and mental factors resulted in a relatively greater number of households to move out of the island of Hamahiga in those days. On the contrary, the populations of both Hama settlement and Kaneku settle ments were relatively well maintained since a number of residents were engaged in fishery.
(3) The outflow of population from the island of Hamahiga has slowed down since the 1980's, however it varied from one settlement to another. Young residents of Hama-district have been engaging with seaweed (called Mozuku) farming since the latter half of the 1970's. The business of seaweed farming has been successful and profitable especially since 1980. The fishery industry has grown to support the fishermen on the island financially, which promoted participation of young generations into this industry since economic stability was promised and sustained development was expected.
(4) Upon the completion of Hamahiga Bridge in 1997 connecting the island and the main island of Okinawa, former residents of the island began to return to Hamahiga. At least one resident was added to approximately 1/4 of all households on Hamahiga during the five years period following the construction of Hamahiga Bridge. The bridge evidently made it possible for the residents of Hamahiga to go to work on the main island of Okinawa on daily basis enhancing its population increase.
(5) The interview of the households in the settlements of Hama-district and Higa-district whose family members moved in showed opposite results. Many of the residents in Hama who returned to the settlement were relatively young and they came back with their wives and children, whereas residents who came back to Higa-district were mainly older people with or without their wives.
(6) The comparis