http://www.47news.jp/CN/201204/CN2012040901001538.html
On an island in an inland sea, elementary school opens with a lone student
On April 9th, on the island of Heigun in the inland sea about 20 kilometers south of the city of Yanagi in Yamaguchi Prefecture, the opening ceremonies for the start of school took place on the only elementary school on the island, reopening for the first time in 9 years...of course, with the only child on the island, six-year old Nobuko Matsukawa.
After seeing off it's final graduate, the school closed in 2003. On this island with a population of 423 with over 80% of the population over age 65, Nobuko is the only child under 20 on the island. A resident expressed the hope that "if the school reopens, maybe more young people will come"
Nobuko's father, 62-year old 潤 (can't tell how to read it...can be read many ways...Atsushi, Hiroshi, Junji, etc.) moved to the island from Yokohama five years prior. Concerned about sending his young daughter on the 100 minute one way trip to the mainland for schooling, the city built a small building on the grounds where the old school stood. Preparations for the opening were done by the principal and one additional teaching staff.
Morning of April 9th, Yanagii City, Yamaguchi Prefecture: Nobuko Matsukawa with her mother Michie, starting school with a smile at Heigun East City Elementary School (yes, apparently there used to also be a Heigun West City Elementary School...)
EDIT: A
different article says that there are two other smaller children on the island, and that there were 399 children attending this school in 1958.