Key Facts
• Hoboro Island, once round like a bamboo basket, is now shrinking rapidly.
• Located 500 meters off the coast of Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture.
• Photos from 1950 show two mountain peaks; now, the island is barely visible at high tide.
• The cause of erosion was identified in 2006 by Professor Yuji Okimura of Hiroshima University.
• A species called “Nanatsuba Kotsubumushi,” resembling pill bugs, is responsible for the erosion.
• These creatures, about 1 cm long, bore 5 cm deep holes into the island’s rocks.
• Approximately 1 million of these creatures inhabit the island, feeding on plankton.
• Local resident Hirofumi Ueno, 83, has observed the island’s changes for decades.
• Ueno has conducted educational sessions for local children about the island’s history.
• On June 9, Ueno led his final class, taking children to observe the island firsthand.
• The island’s rocks are fragile, with cracks spreading across its 6-meter-high formations.
• Experts predict the island may eventually disappear entirely.
• Despite its decline, the island remains a symbol of natural wonder and local heritage.
Summary
Hoboro Island, a once-prominent uninhabited island near Hiroshima, is facing rapid erosion due to the activity of a unique species, Nanatsuba Kotsubumushi. These pill bug-like creatures, discovered in 2006, bore holes into the island’s rocks, causing its gradual disappearance. Local resident Hirofumi Ueno, who has cherished the island since childhood, has dedicated years to educating local children about its history and significance. On June 9, Ueno conducted his final class, taking students to observe the island’s fragile state. The island, now barely visible at high tide, serves as a poignant reminder of nature’s power and the importance of preserving its memory for future generations.
