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In the medieval period, Tanegashima served as an entrepot (waypoint) for trade traveling between the [[Ryukyu Islands|Ryûkyû Islands]] and area in Japan's [[Inland Sea]]. The [[Tanegashima clan]], retainers of the [[Shimazu clan|Shimazu]] who claimed descent from [[Taira no Kiyomori]], ruled as lords of Tanegashima and neighboring islands throughout the medieval and early modern periods.

In the medieval period, Tanegashima served as an entrepot (waypoint) for trade traveling between the [[Ryukyu Islands|Ryûkyû Islands]] and area in Japan's [[Inland Sea]]. The [[Tanegashima clan]], retainers of the [[Shimazu clan|Shimazu]] who claimed descent from [[Taira no Kiyomori]], ruled as lords of Tanegashima and neighboring islands throughout the medieval and early modern periods.

According to most accounts, two or three Portuguese arrived at Tanegashima in 1543 aboard a Chinese junk, and before long [[Taneshima Tokitaka]], lord of the island, had his retainers reproducing European-style arquebuses.<ref>Gary Leupp, ''Interracial Intimacy in Japan: Western Men and Japanese Women, 1543-1900'', A&C Black (2003), 2.</ref>

According to most accounts, two or three Portuguese arrived at Tanegashima in 1543 aboard a Chinese junk, and before long [[Tanegashima Tokitaka]], lord of the island, had his retainers reproducing European-style arquebuses.<ref>Gary Leupp, ''Interracial Intimacy in Japan: Western Men and Japanese Women, 1543-1900'', A&C Black (2003), 2.</ref>

[[Ogura Tomochika]] served as mayor of Tanegashima for a brief time, from [[1873]] until sometime before [[1877]].<ref>Plaques on-site at Ogura's grave at [[Nanshu Cemetery|Nanshû Cemetery]], Kagoshima.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15066782829/sizes/l/]</ref>

[[Ogura Tomochika]] served as mayor of Tanegashima for a brief time, from [[1873]] until sometime before [[1877]].<ref>Plaques on-site at Ogura's grave at [[Nanshu Cemetery|Nanshû Cemetery]], Kagoshima.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15066782829/sizes/l/]</ref>