Divergent trajectories: Environment, heritage and tourism in Tanegashima, Mageshima and Yakushima

•The communities of Tanegashima and Yakushima islands have been united in their opposition to major development on Mageshima.•Despite their regional proximity, Tanegashima and Yakushima have developed very differently in terms of protection of natural heritage.•The impact of rocket launches on Tanegashima has been under-researched.

This article addresses aspects of contemporary heritage orientation of Tanegashima and Yakushima islands in southern Japan in the context of their historical association; the status of adjacent Mageshima island; and the divergent nature of the tourism attractions and related industries that have developed on the islands from the late 20th Century on. The discussion involves two aspects of heritage and heritage protection and exploitation; in the case of Yakushima, one focused on the natural environment and, in the case of Tanegashima, one substantially premised on historical and present-day technological refinements and innovations. As might be expected, these different orientations result in different engagements with issues of environmental protection. The islands’ divergent trajectories illustrate the range of potential developments for small islands and the problem with over-generalistic characterisations of island ‘essences’ and/or predetermined socio-economic destinies.