An island lying to the south of Kiushiu, Japan, in 30 50' N. and 131° E., 364 m. long and 74 m. broad at its widest part. It is a long low stretch of land, carefully cultivated, and celebrated as the place where Mendez Pinto landed when he found his way to Japan in 1543. Until modern times firearms were colloquially known in Japan as "Tanega-shima," in allusion to the fact that they were introduced by Pinto.