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The Ishigaki Island is the second largest island in the Yaeyama group of the Okinawa Prefecture. The island, together with the nearby Mount Omoto and the Kabira Bay, is part of the Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park and is protected by law. The island is heavily influenced by the Taiwanese culture because it is just 300 kilometers off the island country. Because of this proximity, not only to Taiwan, but also to the mainland China, the group of islands in this area has been hot to the eye of the non-Japanese people since 1972.

Photo by 663highland. Licensed under Creative Commons. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en)

Tags: ishigaki island, yaeyama group, okinawa prefecture, mount omoto, kabira bay, iriomote ishigaki national park, taiwanese culture, mainland china