Ishigaki City and Taketomi Town become first area in Japan designated under Dark Sky Places Program
This Dark Sky Place captured from the northern part of Ishigaki Island (photograph taken in August 2016 and provided by Hoshizora Tourism Ltd.)
April 3, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo
On April 2, Ishigaki City and Taketomi Town were together designated as a Dark Sky Place by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) based in Arizona.
It is the first time a location in Japan has received accreditation through the Dark Sky Places Program.
Since their starry skies have been recognized as a standing out against the world standard, the city and town governments are considering using their skies as a new way to attract tourism, as well as taking the opportunity to promote efforts to preserve their starry skies.
The accreditation was awarded on March 30 (local time), and the Ishigaki City and Taketomi Town governments received notification on April 2.
The IDA established the Dark Sky Place Program to promote efforts toward preserving beautiful night skies, and designation requires compliance with strict standards on outdoor lighting.
In July 2017 the city and town governments applied for Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park to be designated as a Dark Sky Park.
It was the first time any place in Japan applied for IDA recognition.
The night sky over Kuroshima, Taketomi Town (photograph taken in September 2015 and provided by Hoshizora Tourism Ltd.)
This national park encompasses 40,653 square hectares of the northern part of Ishigaki Island including all of Taketomi Town.
There are 96 places in the world designated by the IDA, which are separated into five distinct categories.
Dark Sky Parks are one category, and account for 59 of these sites.
However, because some of the streetlights in Taketomi Town do not yet adhere to designation standards, the IDA has awarded the area ‘Provisional’ International Dark Sky Park status on the condition that the town takes steps to comply with these standards.
Ishigaki City welcomes the designation as it hopes its starry skies will draw more tourism.
Taketomi Town also welcomes the accreditation as an opportunity to promote overnight and long-term visitation.
This Dark Sky Place captured from Hateruma Island, Taketomi Town (photograph taken in October 2015 and provided by Hoshizora Tourism Ltd.)
The city and town governments plan to raise public awareness among residents concerning the importance of Dark Sky designation.
Ishigaki City aims to establish regulations for preservation of its dark skies, which are meant to impose light pollution restrictions in the city this year.
(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)
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