TOSHIJIMA | TANTO

Toshijima is a remote island in the Ise bay located in the center of Honshu. There are 3 villages called Toshi (答 志), Wagu (和 具), Momotori (桃 取) in 6.98 square kilometers of area and there are approximately 2000 inhabitants. Many of them are fishermen. There is a system called "Neyako" in Toshi which is the largest village on the island. Young boys are placed under a set of Neya-Oya(foster parents) who can act as their guardians or substitute parents and stay their home at night for 10 years... This is an island custom where 15-year-old boys are placed under a set of Neya-Oya(foster parents) who can act as their guardians or substitute for their parents. The boys stay at their Neya-Oya's house every night and pass the time with their Neya-Oya and companies called Hobai until they get married or become 26 years old. Even though the Neyako groups break up over time, the strong relationships with their Neya-Oya and Hobai last forever. Many coastal villages in Japan used to have this kind..

Also known as: TOSHIJIMA