Named for Itsukushima Island near Hiroshima City. Known as “one of the Scenic Trio of Japan”, the island is also called “Miyajima”, which means “Shrine Island”. The origin of the shrine is not known, but it goes back at least to the sixth century; in the twelfth century its building complex was much enlarged. The shrine and its giant torii gate stand in the sea at high tide. In 1996 the shrine was assigned “World Heritage” recognition by UNESCO. Name proposed by Takeshi Sato.