Miyako-jima (宮古島) is an island in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It lies a few hundred miles east of Taipei, Taiwan. With an area of approximately 50 square miles, Miyako is the fourth-largest island in Okinawa Prefecture. Okinawa Prefecture (Japanese 沖縄県; Okinawan Uchinā) is Japans southernmost prefecture, and consists of hundreds of islands known as The Ryūkyū Islands or Ryūkyūs, in an island chain over 1000 km long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū (the southwesternmost of Japans main four islands) to Taiwan, although the northern... Alternative meaning: Taipei County City nickname: the City of Azaleas Capital District Xinyi Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 16 of 25 271. ... This article is about the prefecture. ...

Miyako-jima is well-known for its beauty, particularly Higashi Hennazaki (Eastern Cape), which is considered by many one of the most beautiful spots in Japan. Miyako also has its own version of soba. For the ancient kingdom in Nubia see Alodia Soba served on a zaru Soba (蕎麦) are thin brown buckwheat noodles, usually cooked and served with various toppings and condiments. ...

There is a unique festival called Pantu (パーントゥ), which occurs in the ninth month of the old (lunar) calendar. Three men dressed in grasses and mud go about smearing it everywhere. They carry sticks in one hand and a simple but scary masks in the other. Those people who have been dirtied by the Pantu will have a year of protection. Owners of new homes will also invite Pantu to give a 'blessing' to their homes.

The Miyako language, one of several Ryukyuan languages, originated here, though only a few words are in common use today. Miyako is a language spoken by around 55783 people in the Miyako archipelagic area (including Miyako Island), south of Okinawa Island. ... The Ryukyuan languages are spoken in the Ryukyu islands and make up a subfamily of the Japonic family. ...

External links

• Pantu in Japanese (http://www.churashima.net/shima/miyako/pantoo/)