Kujukushima Day

What Is Kujukushima Day

September 19 is "Kujukushima Day," established in 1999 by the city of Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture to spread awareness of Kujukushima, the archipelago that is the city's signature scenic landscape.

Born from a Pun on "9" and "19"

Kujukushima ("Ninety-Nine Islands") is a scattering of 208 large and small islands along the west coast of the Kitamatsuura Peninsula, stretching from Sasebo to Hirado in Nagasaki Prefecture. Although the actual count isn't 99, the name reflects an old Japanese convention of using "ninety-nine" to mean "too many to count." According to tradition, Matsura Seizan, lord of the Hirado domain in the Edo period, named it after Kujukushima at Kisakata in Akita Prefecture.

• Origin: Established by Sasebo City in 1999, based on a pun reading "9" and "19" as "ku-juku-shima" (Kujukushima)
• About Kujukushima: An archipelago within Saikai National Park (designated in 1955) made up of 208 islands large and small, of which only four are inhabited
• Highlights: Sightseeing cruises among the islands and sweeping multi-island views from observation decks, enjoyable in every season

What the Number "Ninety-Nine" Represents

Japan has long used the number ninety-nine as a figure of speech for "countlessly many." The name Kujukushima carries that same sense of abundance, evoking a coastline scattered with more islands than one could ever count.

Ways to Mark the Day

• Look at photos or videos of Kujukushima's island-studded scenery
• Learn about tourism in Sasebo City and Nagasaki Prefecture
• Find out about sightseeing boats and cruises that explore the islands
• Explore other multi-island scenic spots around Japan

A Breathtaking Seascape of Countless Islands

Kujukushima Day uses a playful pun as a doorway to one of Japan's most beautiful island seascapes. Let September 19 be a moment to dream about a view you'd love to see someday.