Sado Island
Sado Island (Sadogashima) lies off the coast of Niigata
Prefecture, and is one of Japan's largest islands.
Due to its remote location, the island served as a destination for political
exiles. The three most prominent figures sent into exile to Sado were
the former Emperor Juntoku, the Buddhist monk Nichiren and the founder
of Noh, Zeami Motokiyo. While the island is no longer a place of exile,
traces of the culture and religion that these forced residents brought
with them remain today.
The sea and the countryside color and shape Sado. Here we describe Sado's
natural environment which cannot be separated from the people who live
here.