Does Amami Oshima need more tunnels?

Every time I return to Amami Ōshima, my friend and trusted Amamian colleague Professor Kuwahara greets me with the same joke: “They’re building another tunnel!” And like clockwork, I respond: “What?! Another one?! Why?!”

Amami already has over 50 tunnels of various lengths. Some serve a clear purpose, but many seem like little more than exercises in spending the hefty budgets allocated by Amashin—the post-war law designed to fund infrastructure development on remote islands. Over the past 70 years, more than 80% of this budget has gone into civil engineering projects. While this was once a necessary investment, times have changed. The islands now face depopulation and aging communities. Infrastructure alone won’t solve these challenges—what’s needed is investment in services, innovation, and sustainable development.

UNESCO Heritage Status: A Chance to Rethink Priorities

With its UNESCO World Natural Heritage designation, Amami Ōshima has a golden opportunity to shift focus. Instead of pouring yet more concrete, the island could nurture entrepreneurship, eco-tourism, and creative industries that attract young talent back home. The goal should be a sustainable future where locals shape their own destiny—not just more roads and tunnels.

As my Māori elder friend Whaea Linda Toki has said, such construction can be seen as “earth raping.” How much more cement does Amami need? The recent protests against hotel development in Kassari and cement embankment building at Katoku beach highlight growing concerns. Even UNESCO has warned against the heavy use of heavy cement infostructure—how much is too much?

Tourism: Quality Over Quantity

Amami’s tourism strategy should prioritize thoughtful, engaged visitors over mass tourism. Some environmentalists on the island argue that access should be made slightly difficult—ensuring visitors come out of genuine interest, not just for a quick beach getaway. At the Amami Wildlife Center, we see the kind of tourists the island potentially needs to target: older, educated travellers who appreciate its unique blend of culture, nature, and history.

Naze, the island’s main hub, could thrive as a connecting point between the north’s traditional beach and sun tourism and the south’s UNESCO natural heritage trail. A well-designed visitor center could enhance the experience—unlike the aging, outdated signage currently found in town.

Respecting Nature in Development

Urban planning must prioritize harmony with the environment. The proposed Kassari Hotel development, for example, should follow the lead of places like ….. , where architecture complements rather than dominates the landscape or existing successful examples like Den Paku that embraces the community it operates in. Zoning laws should protect Amami’s natural beauty, not sacrifice it for short-term gains.

Change won’t happen overnight, but the time to start is now. With deep gratitude to Kagoshima University’s Amami Station for supporting my research since 2017, and to Professor Kuwahara for sharing his love of these islands, I hope Amami Ōshima can embrace a future built on sustainability—not just concrete.