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is Japan's southernmost prefecture, and consists of hundreds of the Ryūkyū Islands in a chain over 1,000 km long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū (the southwesternmost of Japan's main four islands) to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of the largest and most populous island, Okinawa Island, which is approximately half-way between Kyūshū and Taiwan. The disputed Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Islands) are also administered as part of Okinawa Prefecture.

History

The islands that now make up Okinawa Prefecture were formerly not part of Japan, but part of an independent nation called the Ryūkyū Kingdom. Currently they include the main island of Okinawa and the Yaeyama and Miyako island groups. Okinawa's location in the East China Sea, and relatively close proximity to Japan, Korea, China and South East Asia allowed the Ryūkyū Kingdom to become a prosperous trading nation. The many castle ruins that dot the island date from this period. However, in 1609 the Japanese Satsuma clan, who controlled the region that is now Kagoshima Prefecture, invaded the Ryūkyū Kingdom. Following this invasion, the Ryūkyū Kingdom was forced to enter into a tribute-trade relationship with Japan in addition to their previous tribute-trade relationship with China. Satsuma maintained the pretense of Ryūkyūan sovereignty in order to access the China trade that had been severely restricted by this time. Though Satsuma maintained strong influence over the Ryūkyū Kingdom, the Ryūkyū Kingdom maintained a large degree of political independence. In 1879, following the Meiji Restoration, the Ryūkyū Kingdom was forcefully incorporated into Japan as a colony known as Okinawa Prefecture.

Following the end of World War II and the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, for 27 years Okinawa was under United States administration. During this time the US military established numerous bases on Okinawa Honto and elsewhere.

On May 15, 1972, Okinawa once again became part of Japan, although to this day the United States maintains a large military presence there. While they provide a minor source of employment for the island's 1.3 million residents, the bases have generated considerable tension due to air, noise and ground pollution and risks of accidents. Consequent problems of military crimes (including extraterritoriality), a distorted base-dependent local economy, and other issues continue to arise in Okinawa, and have their roots arising from the early post-war period. On September 4, 1995, three U.S. servicemen raped a 12-year old girl, sparking off some of the largest anti-military protests in recent history.*

See also Ryukyuan history.

Geography

Major islands

Cities

Okinawa Prefecture includes 11 cities.

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district.

Mergers

Demography

Okinawa prefecture age pyramid as of 1 October 2003
(per 1000's of people) g30.pngg05.pngg03.pngg01.png 84 g30.pngg10.png 85 g30.pngg10.pngg01.pngg01.png 87 g30.pngg10.pngg05.pngg03.pngg01.png 94 g30.pngg10.pngg05.pngg01.png 91 g01.pngg01.png 97 g03.pngg01.png 99 g30.pngg10.pngg01.pngg01.png 87 g30.pngg10.pngg05.pngg01.png 91 g01.png 96 g05.pngg01.png 100 g10.pngg05.pngg01.pngg01.png 64 g10.pngg05.pngg03.png 65 g10.pngg05.pngg03.pngg01.png 66 g05.pngg01.png 53 g05.pngg03.pngg01.png 37 g05.pngg03.png 55
Age People
0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80 +
Okinawa Prefecture age pyramid, divided by sex, as of 1 October 2003
(per 1000's of people) g10.pngg05.pngr10.pngr03.png 41 g10.pngg05.pngg01.pngr10.pngr03.png 41 g10.pngg05.pngg01.pngg01.pngr10.pngr03.pngr01.png 42 r10.pngr05.pngr03.png 46 g10.pngg05.pngg03.pngr10.pngr05.pngr01.pngr01.png 45 g01.png 48 g01.pngr03.png 50 g10.pngg05.pngr10.pngr05.pngr01.png 44 g10.pngg05.pngg03.pngr10.pngr05.pngr01.pngr01.png 45 g01.pngr10.pngr05.pngr03.pngr01.png 47 g05.png 48 g03.pngr03.png 32 g03.pngr03.pngr01.png 33 g03.pngr05.pngr01.png 34 g10.pngg05.png 29 g03.pngg01.pngr10.pngr03.pngr01.png 23 g05.pngg03.pngr10.png 38
Men Age Women
0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80 +

Climate and nature

The island is largely composed of coral rock, and rainwater filtering through that coral has given the island many caves, which played an important role in the Battle of Okinawa. Gyokusendo, an extensive limestone cave in the southern part of Okinawa Honto, is a popular tourist attraction.

Okinawa is said to have the most beautiful beaches in all of Japan and normally enjoys above 20 degree Celsius weather for most of the year. Many coral reefs are found in this region of Japan and wildlife is abundant. Sea turtles return yearly to the southern islands of Okinawa to lay their eggs. The summer months carry warnings to swimmers regarding poisonous jellyfish and other dangerous sea creatures. Okinawa is a major producer of sugar cane, pineapples, papayas and other tropical fruits.

Okinawa has a very large proportion of population living to one hundred years of age. It is attributed to their healthy diet rich in pork, sea vegetables, and fish.

Language and culture

Having historically been a separate nation, Okinawan language and culture differ considerably from that of mainland Japan. There remain numerous Ryukyuan languages which are more-or-less incomprehensible to Japanese speakers. These languages are in decline as the Japanese government has encouraged the use of Standard Japanese. Okinawa also has its own religious beliefs .

Due to its location and history, Okinawa is also more ethnically diverse than other parts of Japan. Okinawans are a unique blend of Malay from Formosa and Philippines, Chinese from China, and Japanese (Yamato) from Japan. Culturally, they are closer to Filipino and Chinese than mainland Japanese. Perhaps Okinawa's most famous cultural export is karate, probably a product of the close ties with, and influence of China on Okinawan culture. Karate is thought to be a synthesis of Chinese kung fu with traditional Okinawan martial arts. A ban on weapons in Okinawa for two long periods in its history also very likely contributed to its development.

Another traditional Okinawan product that owes its existence to Okinawa's trading history is awamori—an Okinawan distilled spirit made from indica rice imported from Thailand.

The people of Okinawa maintain a strong tradition of pottery.

Other prominent examples of Okinawan culture include the sanshin, a three-stringed Okinawan instrument, closely related to the Chinese sanxian, and ancestor of the Japanese shamisen, somewhat similar to a banjo. Its body is often bound with snakeskin (from pythons, imported from elsewhere in Asia, rather than from Okinawa's poisonous habu, which are too small for this purpose, but are sometimes used to make habu awamori). Okinawan culture also features the eisa dance, a traditional drumming dance. A traditional craft, the fabric named bingata, is made in workshops on the main island and elsewhere.

Karate

Karate originated on Okinawa. There are several styles, among them being Shotokan, Shorin-Ryu, Uechi Ryu, Goju Ryu, and Shorinjiryu.

In popular culture

Architecture

Okinawa has many remains of a unique type of castle or fortress called Gusuku. These are believed to be the predecessors of Japan's castles. Whereas most homes in Japan are made with wood and allow free-flow of air to combat humidity, typical modern homes in Okinawa are made from concrete with barred windows (protection from flying plant matter) to deal with regular typhoons. Roofs are also designed with strong winds in mind, with each tile cemented on and not merely layered as seen with many homes elsewhere in Japan.

Many roofs also display a roundish statue of a lion or dragon, called a shisa, which is said to protect the home from danger. Roofs are typically red in color and are inspired by Chinese design.

Transportation

Air transportation

Highways

Rail

Ports

The major ports of Okinawa include
  • Naha Port *
  • Port of Unten *
  • Port of Kinwan *
  • Nakagusukuwan Port *
  • Hirara Port *
  • Port of Ishigaki *

United States military installations

See also

External links

  • History
    • Kumejima Okinawa - MSN group site dedicated to the US battle for Okinawa in World War 2.

Okinawa Prefecture | Kyushu region | Ryukyu Islands | Historical regions and territories of the United States | Prefectures of Japan

محافظة أوكيناوا | Okinawa | Okinawa prefektuur | Okinawa | Okinava prefektujo | Préfecture d'Okinawa | Okinawa - 沖縄県 | 오키나와 현 | Prefektur Okinawa | Okinawa | אוקינאווה | Ocinava (praefectura) | Okinawa | 沖縄県 | Prefektura Okinawa | Okinawa | Okinawa | Okinawa prefektur | 沖繩縣

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Okinawa Prefecture".

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