The entire island of Kozushima is recognized as an International Dark Sky Place (a Dark Sky Island)

On August 24, 2020, Kozushima Village applied to become an International Dark Sky Place. Following the screening process, on December 1, 2020, the entire area of Kozushima Village became the first municipality in Tokyo to be recognized as such. Of the six International Dark Sky Place designations, Kozushima has been designated as an International Dark Sky Park. For Kozushima, however, the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) has approved the use of “Dark Sky Island,” a special designation.

Kozushima applies to become the first International Dark Sky Place in Tokyo with the governor’s endorsement

In January 2020, Kozushima Village enforced the Kozushima Village Starry Sky Park Ordinance and the Ordinance on Prevention of Light Pollution for Protecting the Beautiful Starry Sky of Kozushima Village as a part of its commitment to protecting wildlife and reducing CO2 emissions, among other environmental measures, in order to preserve the island’s beautiful starry sky. With the endorsement of the governor, who recognized Kozushima’s efforts thus far, the village applied for designation as an International Dark Sky Place on August 24, 2020.

The island has been working to substantiate the brand concept of “An island with an abundance of water that’ll make you realize ordinary miracles” that was discussed in the FY 2018.