is a town located in Sōya Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. The district and town both cover the island of the same name: Rebun Island. Rebun Island is famous for its alpine flowers.

History

Pre-Dynastical and Prehistorical Period

Various prehistoric ruins from the Okhotsk culture have been discovered in the areas of Kafukai and Funadomari. Later down the line it seems that there was also the presence of various Ainu, leading to the various remains of castles from the Ainu period, scattered across the area.

Kosho Period

In 1456 ( Kōshō 2): A battle between the Kafukai Ainu and the Isogai Ainu took place near present-day Momoiwa, right next to today's town.

Jokyo Period

In 1685 ( Jokyo 2): The area became a soya place directly controlled by the Matsumae Domain, and both the settlements in Rishiri and Rebun became their subsidiary places.

Meiwa Period

In 1765 ( Meiwa 2), Rebun, Rishiri, and Soya were declared independent provinces.

This was part of a larger campaign in the Meiji Era to modernize local administrations, thus part of the famous Meiji Restoration.

Showa Period

Whilst politically, through the establishment of a modern local administration in the area, the Meiji restoration had already reached the town, only by the Showa Period would the construction of a power distribution line be completed in Uchiji village, and only then would the electricity is now distributed to all villages in the Kafuka district, including Rebun. Such flowers include: .

Climate

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Rebun has declined in recent decades.

Arts and culture

Rebun hosts a flower festival every year.

Mascot

thumb|left|120px|Atsumon, the town's mascot

Rebun's mascot is , who is a Rebun lady's slipper orchid (a type of the large-flowered cypripedium orchid species). As a flower, its gender is unknown, but its feelings are gentle and calm. It is known to like nature. Its heart (its charm point) is actually the seed of happiness from fourteen different native flowers. However, it will not tolerate anyone harming nature (especially seedlings). If damage is done to nature, its heart will stop beating. It was unveiled in September 2012.

Airspace violations

With its location in the far north of Japan, Rebun has been the site of the most violations of Japanese airspace. From 1967 to 2017 14 of the 39 violations of Japanese airspace have been near Rebun. This is the most of any location in Japan. They were all by either Soviet aircraft during the Cold War or by Russian aircraft after 1991.

Sister cities

  • Ohasama, Iwate (Currently Hanamaki)
  • Yutaka, Hiroshima (Currently Kure)

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Image:Rebun Town Office.jpg|Rebun town hall

Image:Reiban elementary school Misaki branch.jpg|Elementary school in Rebun

Image:Rebun 20140725 110632.jpg|Cape Sukai

Image:130726 Kafuka Port in Rebun Island Hokkaido Japan02s3.jpg|Kafuka Port

</gallery>

References

  • Official Website