​TANEGA-SHIMA, an island lying to the south of Kiushiu, Japan, in 30º 50' N. and 131º E., 36½ m. long and 7¼ 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.