until 1624, the island was part of the ryukyu kingdom. during the edo period, takarajima was part of satsuma domain and was administered as part of kawabe district. in 1896, the island was transferred to the administrative control of ōshima district, kagoshima, and from 1911 was part of the village of toshima, kagoshima. from 1946-1952, the island was administered by the united states as part of the provisional government of northern ryukyu islands.