Exploring “Borderlity” on the Ogasawara Islands

Residents of the Ogasawara Islands, a remote UNESCO World Heritage Site, exhibit a notable unawareness of their geopolitical positioning due to historical disconnection from Japan and proximity to U.S. naval administration. This 'borderlity'—a sense of being neither Japanese nor American—stems from the islands' isolation and lack of strong ties to either nation. A questionnaire-based case study revealed that inhabitants perceive their locality as detached from both countries, reinforcing this unique geopolitical identity. The findings underscore how geographical and administrative factors shape local perceptions of belonging.

Sato, Y. (2011). Exploring “Borderlity” on the Ogasawara Islands. Journal of Borderlands Studies, 26(3), 327–344. https://doi.org/10.1080/08865655.2011.686971