Ishigaki

A city covering the whole of Ishigaki Island, 222 square kilometres of it, and the political, cultural and economic centre of the Yaeyama Islands, with an estimated 48,816 residents. It was founded in 1908 as Yaeyama Village, an amalgamation of the Ishigaki, Ōhama and Miyara magiri; it was renamed Ishigaki Village in 1914, became Ishigaki Town in 1926, and was raised to city status on 10 July 1947. Guillaume Courtet, one of the first Frenchmen ever to visit Japan, came ashore here in 1636. New Ishigaki Airport serves the city.