Japan's spectators jumped at the chance of observing the first solar eclipse in 46 years thought clouds covered most of Japan's territory on Wednesday and prevented them from witnessing the spectacular astronomical event.

On southwestern islands, scientists and other spectators were mostly disappointed Wednesday as dense clouds blocked the total eclipse of the sun, according to reports from local media.

On Iwojima Island, however, people were lucky enough to observe the first total solar eclipse visible on Japanese soil in 46 years from the island about 1,200 km south of Tokyo.

On Akuseki Island in the southern Japanese island chain of Tokara, the sun was hidden by clouds at 9:35 a.m. when it was to start darkening for a total eclipse of 6 minutes and 25 seconds -- a span which would have been the longest visible from a residential area in Japan.

On Amami Island, spectators visiting the island squealed with delight when the sun was seen waning occasionally through the rifts in the clouds.

According to the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, the total solar eclipse was observed from Iwojima Island shortly past 11:25 AM.

The observatory had said the longest total solar eclipse of the century lasting 6 minutes, 44 seconds, would be able to be seen from a location near the island.

The total solar eclipse that was last observed from Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido occurred on July 21, 1963.

The next total eclipse will be visible in Japan is in September 2035 from locations in the Hokuriku and northern Kanto regions.

(Xinhua News Agency July 22, 2009)