The island can only be reached by boat, as it has no airport; there is a ferry service twice per week to the city of Kagoshima on the mainland.

The island is an andesite – dacite stratovolcano formed by two summit craters, Biroyama (ビロ山) 355.5 metres (1,166 ft) and Nakadake (中岳).

During World War II, on 22 August 1944, Tsushima Maru, a Japanese passenger/cargo ship, was sunk just outside Akusekijima’s northwest coast by torpedoes launched by the submarine USS Bowfin (SS-287) off this island, killing 1,484 civilians including 767 schoolchildren.

Touted as was one of the best observation spots for the event, village officials and island residents were concerned about paying host to hundreds of people coming to view the solar eclipse.

Protectors of the island and its natural assets, the Boze frighten small children to ensure their safety for the coming year.