Recently, a small island with only 7 residents in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, called Kasasa-Jima, has caught the attention of the society. This island, which holds significant importance in national security, had some of its land bought by Chinese individuals a few years ago. To reclaim this land, the residents have started a crowdfunding campaign this month to raise funds online.
Kasasa-Jima is a remote island in Yamaguchi Prefecture, with an area of approximately 940,000 square meters and a circumference of only 41 kilometers. Located in the Seto Inland Sea, it is about 2 kilometers away from the nearest Komatsu Port, with three ferries making the round trip daily in about a 7-minute journey. Due to the aging population, the island currently has only 5 households and a registered population of 7 people, but actually, only 3 people live there.
Situated on a vital sea route in the Seto Inland Sea, Kasasa-Jima is surrounded by the Iwakuni Air Base for the U.S. military (about 20 kilometers away) and the Oe Base for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (about 50 kilometers away).
The Seto Inland Sea serves as a crucial internal sea route connecting the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, playing a significant strategic role in maritime defense and rear support. Being an inland sea, it is less affected by typhoons or large waves, suitable for the construction and testing of large vessels. Historically, due to the concentration of major shipyards and naval bases (like the Oe Base) in the vicinity, it has become a core of naval strategy. After World War II, some naval facilities were converted for civilian use, but some facilities are still used for repairing Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and allied naval vessels, retaining certain military functions.
Residents on the island stated that with a ship, one could freely sail in the Seto Inland Sea, with only a little over an hour away from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Oe Base. At the Oe Base, one can closely observe submarines or escort vessels. The U.S. military aircraft from the Iwakuni Base frequently fly over the small island.
According to government land registration data, around 2017, a Chinese man residing in Shanghai, along with his wife and friends, a total of 3 Chinese individuals, purchased about 3,651 square meters of land on the island, with the intention to “build a villa.”
As per a real estate agency involved in this transaction, there is considerable interest among Chinese individuals in the Seto Inland Sea area, with an increasing number of Chinese people buying land on the main island of Suo Oshima and surrounding remote islands. The agency mentioned, “Chinese residents in mainland China find sales information through the internet and then rely on real estate agents operated by Chinese individuals in Tokyo or Osaka for intermediation. Our company has also received inquiries from real estate agencies operated by Chinese individuals in Tokyo and Osaka for about a year.”
Reported by Nikkei Shimbun in July, trees on the island have been cut down, and the Chinese buyers have started excavating land to build houses and installing utility poles.
Iwakuni City Councilor Takashi Ishimoto, a vocal opponent of China’s economic infiltration, in a street speech last month, urged, “If this continues, Kasasa-Jima will become the Chinese’s island. Protecting Kasasa-Jima means protecting Japan!”
In 2022, the Japanese government implemented the Important Land Survey Law, allowing the government to investigate the land use within a 1-kilometer radius of defense facilities and intervene if necessary.
However, as Kasasa-Jima is located more than 1 kilometer away from military bases, it falls outside the coverage of this law. The government plans to significantly strengthen the reporting obligations for foreign corporations and individuals when acquiring land and real estate in Japan (see the report “Japan Strengthens Reporting Requirements for Foreigners Buying Land and Houses, Effective Next Year”), but currently, Japan does not have direct legislation regulating land purchases by foreigners.
Residents on the island also feel uneasy about the current situation.
One of the island residents, Mr. Hideyoshi Yagi, told Japanese media, “We are also getting older, and what worries us the most is what will happen when we are no longer here. If there is no one left on the island, others can do whatever they want.”
In October this year, Yagi and other island residents, along with volunteers, formed the association “Guardians of Kasasa-Jima” to prevent foreign individuals from developing the island without the consent of local residents. The association stated on their crowdfunding page, “Islanders are concerned whether the future residents on the island will become a minority. This issue is not just about a small island; it is related to Japan’s national security.”
To reclaim the land that was bought, the group initiated a crowdfunding campaign online on the 9th of this month to raise funds. They hope to gather 20 million yen (approximately $128,000), with 1,870 people supporting the campaign and raising 11.9 million yen (approximately $76,000) so far. The campaign will conclude on May 31 next year.