Okinawa Island
Okinawa Island (沖縄島, Okinawa-jima, Okinawan: 沖縄/うちなー, Uchinaa[4] Kunigami: ふちなー, Fuchináa), officially Okinawa Main Island (沖縄本島, Okinawa-hontō)[5] is the largest of the Okinawa Islands and the Ryukyu (Nansei) Islands of Japan in the Kyushu region. It is the smallest and least populated of the five main islands of Japan.[6] The island is approximately 106 kilometres (66 mi) long, an average 11 kilometres (7 mi) wide,[7] and has an area of 1,206.98 square kilometers (466.02 sq mi). It is roughly 640 kilometres (400 mi) south of the main island of Kyushu and the rest of Japan. It is 500 km (300 mi) north of Taiwan. The total population of Okinawa Island is 1,384,762.[3] The Greater Naha area has roughly 800,000 residents, while the city itself has about 320,000 people. Naha is the seat of Okinawa Prefecture on the southwestern part of Okinawa Island. Okinawa has a humid subtropical climate.
Native name: 沖縄本島 | |
|---|---|
Okinawa Island in 2015 | |
Map of the island | |
Okinawa Island Okinawa Island | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 26°28′46″N 127°55′40″E / 26.47944°N 127.92778°ECoordinates: 26°28′46″N 127°55′40″E / 26.47944°N 127.92778°E |
| Archipelago | Ryukyu Islands |
| Area | 1,199[1] km2 (463 sq mi) as of 1 October 2018[2] |
| Area rank | 290th |
| Length | 106.6 km (66.24 mi) |
| Width | 11.3 km (7.02 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 503 m (1650 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Yonaha |
| Administration | |
| Prefecture | Okinawa Prefecture |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1,466,870 [3] (2022) |
| Pop. density | 1,014.93/km2 (2628.66/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Ryukyuan, Japanese |
Okinawa has been a critical strategic location for the United States Armed Forces since the Battle of Okinawa and the end of World War II. The island was under American administration until 1972, and today hosts around 26,000 US military personnel, about half of the total complement of the United States Forces Japan, spread among 32 bases and 48 training sites.
History
Shell mound eras
Early Okinawan history is defined by midden or shell heap culture and is divided into Early, Middle, and Late Shell Mound periods. The Early Shell Mound period was a hunter-gatherer society, with the wave-like opening Jōmon pottery. In the latter part of this period, archaeological sites moved near the seashore, suggesting the engagement of people in fishing. On Okinawa, rice was not cultivated until the Middle Shell Mound period. Shell rings for arms made of shells obtained in the Sakishima Islands, namely Miyakojima and Yaeyama islands, were imported by Japan. In these islands, the presence of shell axes from 2,500 years ago suggests the influence of a southeastern-Pacific culture.[8][9]
After the Late Shell Mound period, agriculture started about the 12th century, and the population center moved from the seashore to higher places. This period is called the Gusuku period. Gusuku is the term used for the distinctive Ryukyuan form of castles or fortresses. Many gusukus and related cultural remains in the Ryukyu Islands have been listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. There are three perspectives regarding the nature of gusukus: 1) a holy place, 2) dwellings encircled by stones, and 3) a castle of a leader of people. In this period, porcelain trade between Okinawa and other countries became commonplace, and Okinawa was an important relay point in eastern-Asian trade. Ryukyuan kings, such as Shunten and Eiso, were important rulers. An attempted Mongolian invasion in 1291 during the Eiso Dynasty failed. Hiragana was imported from Japan by Ganjin in 1265. Noro, village priestesses of the Ryukyuan religion, appeared.
Sanzan era and Ryūkyū Kingdom
The Sanzan period began in 1314 when the kingdoms of Hokuzan and Nanzan declared independence from Chūzan. The three kingdoms competed with one another for recognition and trade with Ming China. King Satto, leading Chūzan, was very successful, establishing relations with Korea and Southeast Asia as well as China. The Hongwu Emperor sent 36 families from Fujian in 1392 at the request of the Ryukyuan king. Their job was to manage maritime dealings in the kingdom. They assisted the Ryukyuans in developing their technology and diplomatic relations. In 1407, however, a man named Hashi overthrew Satto's descendant, King Bunei, and installed his father, Shishō, as king of Chūzan.
In 1429, King Shō Hashi completed the unification of the three kingdoms and founded the Ryūkyū Kingdom with its capital at Shuri Castle. His descendants conquered the Amami Islands. In 1469, King Shō Taikyū died, so the royal government chose a man named Kanemaru as the new king, who chose the name Shō En and established the Second Shō Dynasty. His son Shō Shin conquered the Sakishima Islands and centralized the royal government, the military, and the noro priestesses.
Satsuma domain
In 1609, the Japanese domain of Satsuma launched an invasion of the Ryukyu Kingdom, ultimately capturing the king and his capital after a long struggle. Ryukyu was forced to cede the Amami Islands and become a vassal of Satsuma. The kingdom became both a tributary of China and a tributary of Japan. Because China would not make a formal trade agreement unless a country was a tributary state, the kingdom was a convenient loophole for Japanese trade with China. When Japan officially closed off trade with European nations except for the Dutch, Nagasaki, Tsushima, and Kagoshima became the only Japanese trading ports offering connections with the outside world. At some time, karate came into its existence as a type of systemised martial arts.
18-19th century
Several Europeans visited Ryukyu starting in the late 18th century. The most important visits to Okinawa were from Captain Basil Hall in 1816 and Commodore Matthew C. Perry in 1852. A Christian missionary, Bernard Jean Bettelheim, lived in the Gokoku-ji temple in Naha from 1846 to 1854.
In 1879, Japan annexed the entire Ryukyu archipelago.[10] The Meiji government then established Okinawa Prefecture. The monarchy in Shuri was abolished, and the deposed King Shō Tai was forced to relocate to Tokyo.
Hostility against Japan increased in the islands immediately after the annexation, in part because of the systematic attempt on the part of Japan to eliminate Ryukyuan culture, including the language, religion, and cultural practices.
Pacific war
Okinawa Island had the bloodiest ground battle of the Pacific War from 1 April to 22 June 1945. During this 82-day-long battle, about 95,000 Imperial Japanese Army troops and 20,195 Americans were killed. The Cornerstone of Peace at the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman lists 149,193 persons from Okinawa – approximately one quarter of the civilian population – were either killed or committed suicide during the Battle of Okinawa and the Pacific War.[11] Very few Japanese ended up in POW camps. This may have been because of Japanese soldiers' reluctance to surrender. The total number of casualties shocked American military strategists. This made them apprehensive to invade the other main islands of Japan, because it would result in very high casualties.[12][13][14]
American occupation
Japan became a pacifist country with the 1947 constitution, so America was obligated to protect Japan against foreign threats. During the American military occupation of Japan (1945–1952), which followed the Imperial Japanese surrender on 2 September 1945, in Tokyo Bay, the United States controlled Okinawa Island and the rest of the Ryukyu Islands. The Amami Islands were returned to Japanese control in 1953. The remaining Ryukyu Islands were returned to Japan on 17 June 1971. America kept numerous U.S. military bases on the islands. There are 32 United States military bases on Okinawa Island [15] by the U.S.-Japan alliance since 1951. U.S. bases on Okinawa played critical roles in the Korean War, Vietnam War, Laotian Civil War, Cambodian campaign, War in Afghanistan, and Iraq War.[16] Okinawa served as a prime staging post for the aforementioned wars.[16] Its ports and airports were used to transport supplies. The base at Camp Chinen, Nanjo City was used by the CIA for covert operations. In 1965, Admiral Ulysses S. Grant Sharp stated that “Without Okinawa, we couldn't continue fighting the Vietnam war.”[16]
Intense use of the island by the US military caused damage to the environment and residents.[16] There were oil and fuel spills.[16] Exposure to toxic substances caused illness of service members such as a nerve agent leak in 1969.[16] Aircraft crashes, hit-and runs and murders killed residents.[16] The perpetrators were often unpunished, since they could not be prosecuted in Okinawa Courts.[16] The 1970s and 80s also had severe pollution of waterways and wells with PFAS toxic chemicals in foam used by fire fighting training at US facilities such as Kadena Air Base.[17]
1970s narcotics trade
In the early 1970s, according to a US government report, Okinawa was a key conduit for smuggling drugs such as heroin from Thailand via Okinawa to the United States.[16] It was called "The Okinawa System” in the global drug trade.[16] A testimony by a head of the Department of Defense said that drug abuse was "quite extensive."[16] It began in the second half of 1968; marijuana was smuggled from Thailand to Okinawa and grown near an unidentified US Marine Corps training area in northern Okinawa.[16] A 100 kg (220 lb) package of marijuana fell from an aircraft, and another 90 kg (200 lb) was discovered at a military post office.[16] From the mid-1970s onwards, LSD and heroin became more prevalent.[16] Deserters worked as "passport civilians" and smuggled the drugs into Okinawa.[16] A lack of customs inspections made smuggling easy.[16] There were well organized Ryukyuan smuggling rings who brought heroin, LSD, and marijuana to Okinawa, and produced LSD on the island.[16]
21st century
In 2013, following escalating tensions following competing claims to the uninhabited Senkaku Islands, the People's Republic of China began questioning Japan's sovereignty to the island of Okinawa, citing its past as the independent tributary state of Ryukyu.[18][19] On 31 October 2019, the main courtyard structures of Shurijo were destroyed in a fire.[20] It marked the fifth time that Shurijo was destroyed following previous incidents in 1453, 1660, 1709 and 1945.[21]
On 31 October 2019, a large fire burned down sections of Shuri Castle; "Six castle buildings occupying some 4,200 square metres (45,000 sq ft) in total were gutted."[22][23][20] Rebuilding efforts were underway as of 10 February 2020.[24]
Demographics
As of September 2009, the Japanese government estimates the population at 1,384,762,[3] which includes American military personnel and their families. The Okinawan language, called Uchināguchi, is spoken by adults only,[25] but several local groups promote the use of the Okinawan language by younger people.[26]
Whereas the northern half of Okinawa Island is sparsely populated, the south-central and southern parts of the island are markedly urbanized—particularly the city of Naha and the urban corridor stretching north from there to Okinawa City. The population distribution is approximately 120,000 in northern Okinawa, 590,000 in central Okinawa and 540,000 in southern Okinawa. It has a high population density of 1,014.93 people per km2.[27]
During the Meiji Period, Okinawan ethnic identity, tradition, culture and language were suppressed by the Meiji government, which sought to assimilate the Okinawans as Japanese (Yamato).[28][29][30][31][32][33] Many ethnic Japanese have since migrated to Okinawa. The modern inhabitants of Okinawa are mainly ethnic Okinawan, Japanese, half Japanese and mixed.
Five times as many Okinawans reach 100 years old compared to the rest of Japan. The Okinawan diet consists of low-fat, low-salt foods, such as whole fruits and vegetables, legumes, tofu, and seaweed. Okinawans are known for their longevity. This particular island is a so-called Blue Zone, an area where the people live longer than most others elsewhere in the world.[34] As of 2002[update] there were 34.7 centenarians for every 100,000 inhabitants, which is the highest ratio worldwide.[35]: 131–132 Possible explanations are diet, low-stress lifestyle, caring community, activity, and spirituality of the inhabitants of the island.[35][page needed]
Geography
Okinawa is the fifth largest island of Japan. The island has an area of 1,206.99 square kilometers (466.02 sq mi). The coastline is 476 kilometers (296 mi) long.[36] The straight-line distance is about 106.6 kilometers (66.2 mi) from north to south.[37] Okinawa is in the northeastern end of Okinawa Prefecture. Since 1972 over 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of land reclamation has been conducted.
It is roughly 640 kilometres (400 mi) south of the main island of Kyushu. Okinawa is connected to nearby islands near a land bridge: Katsuren Peninsula is connected via the Mid-Sea Road to Henza Island, Miyagi Island, Ikei Island, and Hamahiga Island. Similarly, from the Motobu Peninsula on the northwestern side, all of Sesoko-jima plus Yagaji Island and Kōri-jima are connected by bridges. Okinawa Island has several beaches such as Manza Beach, Emerald Beach, Okuma Beach, Zanpa Beach, Moon Beach and Sunset Beach (Chatan-cho). Mount Omoto, at 525.5 m (1,724 ft), is the highest mountain in Okinawa, with Mount Yonaha being the second highest.[38]
The Motobu Peninsula in the north has limestone layers and karst development.[39] In the center and south is mainly a Ryukyu limestone layer and mudstone.[39] The topography is flat, there are few hills over 100 m (328 ft) with very few rivers. The subtropical rains accelerate erosion so there are many drainages and uvala. The southern end of the island consists of uplifted coral reef, whereas the northern half has proportionally more igneous rock. The easily eroded limestone of the south has many caves, the most famous of which is Gyokusendō in Nanjō. The northernmost Cape Hedo is only 22 km (14 mi) away from Yoronjima. Cape Arasaki is the southernmost location of Okinawa island. It is sometimes confused with Cape Kiyanmisaki.
Cliffs at Manzamo
Subtropical forest of Yanbaru National Park
Village of Onna
A pond in Okinawa
Cape Busena, in Nago, Okinawa
Sunset Beach (Chatan-cho)
Map of Okinawa Prefecture with the location of Okinawa Island
Flora and fauna
The northern half of Okinawa has one of the largest tracts of subtropical rainforest in Asia called the Yanbaru. There are many endemic species of flora and fauna.[40][41] There are a small number of endemic Yanbaru kuina (also known as the Okinawa rail), a small flightless bird that is close to extinction. The critically endangered Okinawa woodpecker is also endemic on this island. The Indian mongoose was introduced to the island to prevent the native habu pit viper from attacking the birds. It did not succeed in eliminating the habu but instead preyed on birds, increasing the threat to the Okinawa rail.
The Coconut crab is the largest terrestrial hermit crab of Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands.[42] They're an endangered species due to over-hunting which made them scarce on Okinawa island.[42] In 2021, Coconut crabs were found to live in a small cave system on the islet Nagashima off the Henoko district.[43]
A small population of endangered dugongs lives around Okinawa. The estimates are between 3 and 50 survivors.[44][45]
The Okinawa rail
Coconut crab
Climate
The island has a humid subtropical climate bordering on a tropical rainforest climate. The climate supports a dense Subtropical forest in the northern Yanbaru National Park. A rainy season occurs in the late spring.[46]
| Climate data for Naha (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1890−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 27.0 (80.6) | 27.1 (80.8) | 28.2 (82.8) | 30.6 (87.1) | 32.0 (89.6) | 34.3 (93.7) | 35.5 (95.9) | 35.6 (96.1) | 34.6 (94.3) | 33.0 (91.4) | 31.6 (88.9) | 29.4 (84.9) | 35.6 (96.1) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 19.8 (67.6) | 20.2 (68.4) | 21.9 (71.4) | 24.3 (75.7) | 27.0 (80.6) | 29.8 (85.6) | 31.9 (89.4) | 31.8 (89.2) | 30.6 (87.1) | 28.1 (82.6) | 25.0 (77.0) | 21.5 (70.7) | 26.0 (78.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 17.3 (63.1) | 17.5 (63.5) | 19.1 (66.4) | 21.5 (70.7) | 24.2 (75.6) | 27.2 (81.0) | 29.1 (84.4) | 29.0 (84.2) | 27.9 (82.2) | 25.5 (77.9) | 22.5 (72.5) | 19.0 (66.2) | 23.3 (73.9) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 14.9 (58.8) | 15.1 (59.2) | 16.7 (62.1) | 19.1 (66.4) | 22.1 (71.8) | 25.2 (77.4) | 27.0 (80.6) | 26.8 (80.2) | 25.8 (78.4) | 23.5 (74.3) | 20.4 (68.7) | 16.8 (62.2) | 21.1 (70.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 6.1 (43.0) | 4.9 (40.8) | 6.3 (43.3) | 8.7 (47.7) | 11.0 (51.8) | 14.8 (58.6) | 20.8 (69.4) | 20.7 (69.3) | 17.0 (62.6) | 14.8 (58.6) | 8.6 (47.5) | 6.8 (44.2) | 4.9 (40.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 101.6 (4.00) | 114.5 (4.51) | 142.8 (5.62) | 161.0 (6.34) | 245.3 (9.66) | 284.4 (11.20) | 188.1 (7.41) | 240.0 (9.45) | 275.2 (10.83) | 179.2 (7.06) | 119.1 (4.69) | 110.0 (4.33) | 2,161 (85.08) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.5 mm) | 12.2 | 11.3 | 12.6 | 11.6 | 13.1 | 12.4 | 11.0 | 13.9 | 13.3 | 10.6 | 9.6 | 10.7 | 142.0 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 66 | 69 | 71 | 75 | 78 | 83 | 78 | 78 | 75 | 72 | 69 | 67 | 73 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 93.1 | 93.1 | 115.3 | 120.9 | 138.2 | 159.5 | 227.0 | 206.3 | 181.3 | 163.3 | 121.7 | 107.4 | 1,727.1 |
| Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[47] | |||||||||||||
Cuisine
There are many local pubs (izakaya) and cafes that serve Okinawan cuisine and dishes, such as gōyā chanpurū (bitter melon stir fry), fu chanpurū (wheat gluten chanpurū), and tonkatsu (tenderized, breaded, fried pork cutlet). Okinawan soba is the signature dish and consists of wheat noodles served hot in a soup, usually with pork (rib or pork belly). This contrasts with the mainland soba, which is buckwheat noodles. Rafute, which is braised pork belly, is another popular Okinawan dish. American presence on the island has also led to some creative dishes such as taco rice, which is now a common meal served in bentos, and the common use of spam.
Economy
Among the prefectures of Japan, Okinawa has the youngest and fastest-growing population but has the lowest employment rate and average income. The island economy is primarily driven by tourism and the U.S. military presence, with efforts in recent years to diversify into other sectors.[48]
The Motobu Peninsula has a large-scale quarry and cement factory, taking advantage of the limestone in the area.[49] There is also agriculture with tropical fruit such as Malpighia emarginata.[50]
Tourism
Tourist attractions include Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (at one time the world's largest aquarium), Century Beach, Pineapple Park, the Orion Beer Factory and Hiji Falls. In recent years, Okinawa has become an increasingly popular destination for tourists from China and Southeast Asia.[51] In 2018, Okinawa attracted 9,842,400 tourists, a positive growth of 4.7% from 9,396,200 in the previous year.[52][53]
Military bases
The U.S. military bases account for 4 to 5% of the island economy. There is also a smaller contingent of Japanese military bases on the island. Several former U.S. military facilities on Okinawa have been re-developed as commercial areas, most notably the American Village in Chatan, which opened in 1998, and the Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycom in Kitanakagusuku, which opened in 2015.[51]
U.S. military in Okinawa
The United States maintains American military bases in Japan as part of the U.S.-Japan alliance since 1951. Most U.S. military is in Okinawa Prefecture. In 2013, there were approximately 50,000 U.S. military personnel stationed in Japan with 40,000 dependents and 5,500 American civilians employed by the United States Department of Defense.[54] About 26,000 U.S. military personnel are on Okinawa Island.
There are 13 United States military bases on Okinawa Island.[15] Approximately 62% of all United States bases in Japan are on Okinawa.[55][56] They cover 25% of Okinawa island. The major bases are Futenma, Kadena, Hansen, Torii, Schwab, Foster, and Kinser.[57] There are 28 U.S. military facilities on Okinawa. They are mainly concentrated in the central area. At one point, Okinawa hosted approximately 1,200 nuclear warheads.[58] There were several nuclear weapons incidents on Okinawa and in the sea near the islands.[59][60][61]
In 2020, tests around Kadena Air Base showed severe contamination of the wells and waterways of Dakujaku River and Hija river with toxic chemicals PFAS.[17] This affects the drinking water of 450,000 residents.[17] PFAS was used in foam at fire fighting training sites on US facilities during the 1970s and 80s.[17]
Moving the bases
The 1971 Okinawa Reversion Agreement officially ended the U.S. military occupation on Okinawa.[62] The bases primarily exist to serve Japanese and American strategic interests but are unpopular with most local residents,[63] despite recent efforts to move the bases out of core areas following incidents involving military personnel and resultant protests (including the 1995 Okinawa rape incident).[64][65]
In 2012, an agreement was struck between the United States and Japan to reduce the number of U.S. military personnel on the island, moving 9,000 personnel to other locations and moving bases out of heavily populated Greater Naha, but 10,000 Marines will remain on the island, along with other U.S. military units.[57][66] Attempts to completely close bases on the southern third of the island, where 90% of the population lives (all but about 120,000 people) have been impeded by both the American desire that alternative locations be found where bases subject to closure could move to (e.g. Henoko Peninsula, mid-island), as well as by local Okinawan opposition to any suggested locations on the island (who demand no U.S. troops at all anywhere on the island).[63] Tokyo says the U.S. bases are important for national security. Locals complain that despite being home to less than 1% of Japan's population and area, Okinawa hosts the majority of the U.S. military presence in Japan.[67] In late December 2013, Governor Hirokazu Nakaima gave permission for land reclamation to begin for a new U.S. military base at Henoko, reneging on previous promises and furthering the effort to consolidate the American troop presence on the island, though away from urban Naha.[68]
In December 2016 the U.S. returned 10,000 acres (40 km2; 16 sq mi) of the Northern Training Area on Okinawa to Japan. This reduced the footprint of the U.S. forces by 20% on the island. It was the biggest land return since 1972.[69]
Architecture
Okinawa has various historical buildings and monuments, such as feudal castles, ruins, UNESCO, and other historical significant sites.
- Shuri Castle is the most famous castle on Okinawa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Nakagusuku Castle is a gusuku in the village of Kitanakagusuku, Okinawa. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the 100 most famous castles in Japan.[70]
- The Cornerstone of Peace monument in Itoman commemorates the Battle of Okinawa and the end of World War II.[71] Nearby is the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum.
- Nakamura House is an original 18th-century farmhouse in Kitanakagusuki.
- The former Japanese Navy Underground HQ
- Katsuren Castle
- Nakijin Castle
Shuri Castle in Naha
Nakagusuku Castle ruins
Cornerstone of Peace monument
Nakamura house
Attractions
Natural
- Cape Manzamo
- Cape Hedo
- Sefa-utaki
- Mid-Sea Road
- Okinawa Senseki Quasi-National Park
- Gyokusendo Cave
- Moon Beach is a natural beach shaped like a crescent moon with tropical trees
Other
- Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
- Mid-Sea Road
- Kokusaidori main street of Naha
- The American Village in Chatan, Okinawa.
- Okinawa World
Culture
Festivals
There are multiple festivals on Okinawa throughout the year.[72]
- Shurijo Castle Park New Year's Celebration - January
- Cherry Blossom Festival - January, February
- Naha Hari Festival - May
- Orion Beerfest - August
- Eisa Dancers Parade - August
- Shuri Castle Festival - October
- Naha Great Tug-of-War Festival - October
- The Ryukyu Dynasty Festival Shuri - November
Sports
- FC Ryukyu, association football team, plays in J2 League.[73]
- Ryukyu Golden Kings, basketball team, plays in B.League.
Transportation
Airport
Naha Airport is the main transportation hub for the Ryukyu Islands and has an increasingly large role in regional logistics. All Nippon Airways opened a cargo hub at the airport in 2009, providing overnight freight service between Japan and other Asian countries.[51]
Monorail
The Okinawa Urban Monorail (Yui Rail) runs from Naha Airport to Japan's south-easternmost monorail station, Akamine Station, before heading to its final destination of Tedako-Uranishi Station (Urasoe) and back.[74]
Buses
There are multiple bus companies, such as Toyo Bus, Ryukyu Bus Kotsu, Naha Bus, and Okinawa Bus.
Roads
The Okinawa Expressway is a toll road that runs from Naha to Nago, and has a speed limit of 80 km/h (50 mph), the highest on the island.
Ferries
There are many ferries to many of the nearby islands, such as Ie Shima. Tomarin Port in Naha, has ferries to nearby islands such as Aguni, Tokashiki and Zamami.
Regions and cities
Northern Okinawa
With Kunigami district, it has an area of 764 square kilometers (295 sq mi) and a population of about 120,000. There is much nature with subtropical rainforest.
Central Okinawa
With Nakagami district, it has an area of 280 square kilometers (110 sq mi) and a population of about 590,000. Most US military facilities are located here. Urasoe has strong connections with the southern municipalities, including the Southern Wide Area Municipal Area Administrative Association, Nishihara town, Nakagusuku village, and Kitanakagusuku Village. These belong to the Southern Wide Area Administrative Association. With Kunigami district or Yamabaru . It has an area of 764 km2 (295 sq mi) and a population of about 120,000. Rich nature remains.
Southern Okinawa
With Shimajiri district, it has an area of 198 square kilometers (76 sq mi) and a population of about 540,000. The capital is Naha.
Photo gallery
Okinawa Island is the home of Tsuboya-yaki, pottery in the Ryūkyūan tradition.
See also
References
Citations
- ^ "Okinawa | Facts, History, & Points of Interest". from the original on 4 April 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
- ^
"Statistical reports on the land area by prefectures and municipalities in Japan as of 2018" (PDF) (in Japanese). Geospatial Information Authority of Japan. 1 October 2018. p. 103. (PDF) from the original on 19 March 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2019. - ^ a b c (in Japanese) 沖縄県推計人口データ一覧（Excel形式） 13 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Pref.okinawa.jp. Retrieved on 16 August 2013.
- ^ 語彙詳細―首里・那覇方言 19 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Okinawa Center of Language Study. Retrieved on 2 December 2014.
- ^ "Okinawa Main Island". VISIT OKINAWA JAPAN | Official Okinawa Travel Guide.
- ^ . MLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) (in Japanese). Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. 22 August 2015. Archived from the original (website) on 13 November 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
MILT classification 6,852 islands(main islands: 5 islands, remote islands: 6,847 islands)
- ^ "Okinawa Island | island, Japan". Encyclopedia Britannica. from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ Arashiro Toshiaki High School History of Ryukyu, Okinawa, Toyo Kikaku, 2001, p12,ISBN 4-938984-17-2 p20
- ^ Ito, Masami, "Between a rock and a hard place Archived 2012-07-23 at archive.today", Japan Times, 12 May 2009, p. 3.
- ^ The Demise of the Ryukyu Kingdom: Western Accounts and Controversy. Ed by Eitetsu Yamagushi and Yoko Arakawa. Ginowan-City, Okinawa: Yonushorin, 2002.
- ^ "The Cornerstone of Peace – number of names inscribed". Okinawa Prefecture. Retrieved 4 February 2011
- ^ "Battle of Okinawa: The Bloodiest Battle of the Pacific War". HistoryNet. 12 June 2006. from the original on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- ^ Manchester, William (14 June 1987). "The Bloodiest Battle Of All". The New York Times. from the original on 7 December 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
- ^ John Pike. "Battle of Okinawa". Globalsecurity.org. from the original on 5 April 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- ^ a b Mitchell, Jon (13 May 2012). "What awaits Okinawa 40 years after reversion?". The Japan Times. from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Jon Mitchell (22 July 2022). . Okinawa Times. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022.
- ^ a b c d John Mitchell (18 August 2022). . Okinawa Times. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022.
- ^ McCurry, Justin (15 May 2013). "China lays claim to Okinawa as territory dispute with Japan escalates". The Guardian. from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
- ^ Boehler, Patrick (15 May 2013). "Okinawa doesn't belong to Japan, says hawkish PLA general". South China Morning Post. from the original on 26 October 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
- ^ a b . The Japan Times Online. 31 October 2019. ISSN 0447-5763. Archived from the original on 31 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ "History of Shuri Castle" (PDF). oki-park.jp. Oki Park Official Site. (PDF) from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
- ^ . Mainichi Daily News. 31 October 2019. Archived from the original on 31 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ "Fire destroys Okinawa's Shuri Castle | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News". NHK WORLD. from the original on 31 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ "Shuri Castle Reconstruction Work Begins". nippon.com. 10 February 2020. from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ Okinawan, Central at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
- ^ Noguchi 2001, p. 76.
- ^ (PDF). 国土地理院. 1 October 2005. p. 189. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
- ^ Minahan, James B. (2014), Ethnic Groups of North, East, and Central Asia: An Encyclopedia, ABC-CLIO, pp. 231–233, ISBN 978-1-61069-018-8, from the original on 7 June 2020, retrieved 5 April 2021
- ^ Christy 2004, p. 173–175.
- ^ Rabson 2008, p. 4.
- ^ Dubinsky & Davies 2013, p. 15–16.
- ^ Caprio 2014, p. 49–50, 63, 66–67.
- ^ Inoue 2017, p. 3.
- ^ National Geographic magazine, June 1993
- ^ a b Santrock, John W. A (2002). Topical Approach to Life-Span Development (4 ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
- ^ 『日本統計年鑑 平成26年』「1-2 主な島」（2013年）p.13, 17
- ^ 『日本歴史地名大系』「沖縄島」（2002年）p.73中段
- ^ . Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) (日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ) “Large Encyclopedia of Japan (Nipponika)”) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. Archived from the original on 25 August 2007. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
- ^ a b 『日本歴史地名大系』「総論 自然環境」（2002年）p.24
- ^ (PDF). Yambaru Wildlife Conservation Centre. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
- ^ "United States Marine Corps Installations Natural Resource Program: Camp Smedley D. Butler, MCB" (PDF). United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 19 February 2012.[dead link]
- ^ a b . Okinawa Nature Photography. 5 July 2017. Archived from the original on 21 February 2022.
- ^ . Asahi. 29 August 2021. Archived from the original on 9 August 2022.
- ^ "琉球朝日放送 報道部 ニュースQプラス » 独自 古宇利島沖にジュゴンの姿" 14 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine. 琉球朝日放送 報道部 ニュースQプラス.
- ^ Galvin, Peter. "Saving the Okinawa dugong". Center for Biological Diversity web site. Center for Biological Diversity. from the original on 7 December 2008. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
- ^ The Japan Times (13 May 2017). . Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
- ^ 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. Japan Meteorological Agency. from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
- ^ Martin, Alexander (13 November 2014). "Okinawa's Reinvention Enters Next Phase". The Wall Street Journal. from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ . 琉球新報. 14 May 2009. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ^ a b c Yoshida, Reiji (17 May 2015). "Economics of U.S. base redevelopment sway Okinawa mindset". The Japan Times. from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ "Okinawa fails to surpass Hawaii in terms of 2018 tourist numbers and increase rate". Ryukyu Shimpo - Okinawa, Japanese newspaper, local news. from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
- ^ "Okinawa tourist numbers top those of Hawaii for first time". The Japan Times Online. 9 February 2018. ISSN 0447-5763. from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
- ^ Yoshida, Reiji, "Basics of the U.S. military presence 2019-08-21 at the Wayback Machine", Japan Times, 25 March 2008, p. 3.
- ^ http://www.pref.okinawa.jp/site/chijiko/kichitai/documents/petition20031116.pdf 4 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Okinawa Prefectural Government
- ^ . Archived from the original on 30 June 2016.
- ^ a b Jaffe, Greg; Heil, Emily; Harlan, Chico (26 April 2012), "U.S. comes to agreement with Japan to move 9,000 marines off Okinawa", The Washington Post, from the original on 27 April 2012, retrieved 28 April 2012
- ^ Mitchell, Jon (4 June 2013). "'Okinawa bacteria' toxic legacy crosses continents, spans generations". The Japan Times. from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
- ^ Broder, John M. (9 May 1989). "H-Bomb Lost at Sea in '65 Off Okinawa, U.S. Admits". The Los Angeles Times. from the original on 17 March 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
- ^ Mitchell, Jon (11 November 2013). "Okinawa: the junk heap of the Pacific; Decades of Pentagon pollution poison service members, residents and future plans for the island". The Japan Times. from the original on 21 October 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
- ^ "Okinawa: the junk heap of the Pacific". The Japan Times. 11 November 2013. from the original on 21 October 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
- ^ "Handover of Okinawa to Japan was prickly issue". The Japan Times. 14 May 2002. from the original on 31 October 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
- ^ a b "Okinawa deal between US and Japan to move marines". BBC News. 27 April 2012. from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
- ^ "Okinawa rape case sparks resentment". The Japan Times. 13 February 2008. from the original on 5 August 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
- ^ "Two US sailors accused of Okinawa rape". The Guardian. 17 October 2012. from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
- ^ Ito, Masami (28 April 2012). . The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 27 April 2012.
- ^ . archive.marinecorpstimes.com. 14 August 2014. Archived from the original on 8 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
- ^ AP (27 December 2013). . DailyDigest. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ Garamone, Jim (21 December 2016). . DOD News. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- ^ "Nakagusuku Castle Remains". from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
- ^ . Okinawa Prefecture. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ "Events". Visit Okinawa Japan. from the original on 11 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ "FC琉球公式サイト | FC Ryukyu Official Website". from the original on 1 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Yui Rail Museum: An Indoor Learning Experience For All". Okinawa.Org. from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
Sources
- Caprio, Mark (2014). Japanese Assimilation Policies in Colonial Korea, 1910-1945. University of Washington Press. ISBN 978-0-295-99040-8. from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
- Christy, Alan S. (2004). "The making of imperial subjects in Okinawa". In Weiner, Michael (ed.). Race, Ethnicity and Migration in Modern Japan: Imagined and imaginary minorites. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-0-415-20857-4. from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
- Dubinsky, Stanley; Davies, William (2013). Steven Heine (ed.). "Language Conflict and Language Rights: The Ainu, Ryūkyūans, and Koreans in Japan". Japan Studies Review. 17. ISSN 1550-0713. from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
- Inoue, Masamichi S. (2017). Okinawa and the U.S. Military: Identity Making in the Age of Globalization. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-51114-8. from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
- Rabson, Steve (February 2008). "Okinawan Perspectives on Japan's Imperial Institution". The Asia-Pacific Journal. 6 (2). from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
External links
- Okinawa Island travel guide from Wikivoyage