Okinawa Prefecture

Okinawa Prefecture (Japanese: 沖縄県 Hepburn: Okinawa-ken, Okinawan: ウチナーチン Uchinaa-chin) is the southernmost prefecture of Japan. It comprises hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) long. The Ryukyus extend southwest from Kyushu (the southwesternmost of Japan's main four islands) to Taiwan. The Okinawa Prefecture encompasses the southern two thirds of that chain. Naha, Okinawa's capital, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island.

History

The oldest evidence of human existence on the Ryukyu islands is from the Stone Age and was discovered in Naha and Yaese. Some human bone fragments from the Paleolithic era were unearthed, but there is no clear evidence of Paleolithic remains. Japanese Jōmon influences are dominant on the Okinawa Islands, although clay vessels on the Sakishima Islands have a commonality with those in Taiwan.

The first mention of the word Ryukyu was written in the Book of Sui. Okinawa was the Japanese word identifying the islands, first seen in the biography of Jianzhen, written in 779. Agricultural societies begun in the 8th century slowly developed until the 12th century. Since the islands are located at the eastern perimeter of the East China Sea relatively close to Japan, China and South-East Asia, the Ryukyu Kingdom became a prosperous trading nation. Also during this period, many Gusukus, similar to castles, were constructed. The Ryukyu Kingdom entered into the Imperial Chinese tributary system under the Ming dynasty beginning in the 15th century, which established economic relations between the two nations.

Okinawa, Okinawa

Okinawa (沖縄市 Okinawa-shi, Okinawan: Uchinaa) is the second-largest city in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, following Naha, the capital city. It is located in the central part of the island of Okinawa, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Naha.

As of December 2012, the city has an estimated population of 138,431 and a population density of 2,625.12 persons per km². The total area is 49.00 km².

Geography

The commercial center of the city lies along Route 330. It extends from Goya Crossing to Koza Crossing. The district extending from Goya to the gate of Kadena Air Base, and Chūō Park Avenue, has many visitors from the U.S. military, and many shops have signs in both Japanese and English. However, the development of large shopping centers in nearby communities has resulted in some decline in these areas.

Neighboring municipalities

Neighboring municipalities consist of Uruma, Kadena, Chatan, Onna, Kitanakagusuku and Yomitan

History

Under the Ryukyu Kingdom the present-day area of Okinawa City was occupied by two magiri, a type of administrative district. The Goeku magiri occupied the south of the city, and the north of the city was part of the Misato magiri.

Okinawa (disambiguation)

Okinawa Prefecture is Japan's southernmost of all prefecture

Okinawa may also refer to:

  • Okinawa, Okinawa, the second largest city in the prefecture
  • Okinawa Island, the largest island in the prefecture
  • Okinawa Islands, an island group including Okinawa Island and its neighbours
  • Battle of Okinawa
  • Okinawa (film), a 1952 American film by Leigh Jason
  • See also

  • Okinawan
  • Ryukyu (disambiguation)
  • Podcasts:

    PLAYLIST TIME:

    Okinawa

    by: Indochine

    (Nicola Sirchis / Dominique Nicolas)
    Un visage de fille tout souriant,eblouissant
    Des cheveux tout noirs, une peau doree, des yeux brides
    Elle passait ses jours a repasser et a laver
    Dans une sagesse infinie
    Elle y donnait sa vie
    C'etait sans compter sur lui
    Car tout lui est permis
    O - Okinawa
    Les mains dans les draps
    O - Okinawa
    Comme tu la vois
    O - Okinawa oh! oh! oh!
    O - Okinawa oh! oh! oh!
    Par un soleil rouge la remarqua derriere les draps
    Elle dans ses chaussons quitta ses freres mais pas sa mere
    Un autre univers qui l'attendait pour l'ima(in)ger
    Elle vendit son corps
    Par couverture d'or
    La gloire pour le jour
    La nuit sans amour
    O - Okinawa
    Les mains dans les draps
    O - Okinawa
    Comme tu la vois
    O - Okinawa oh! oh! oh!
    O - Okinawa oh! oh! oh!
    Quand les 3 garcons et son idee furent arrives
    Par les pleins pouvoirs il les coiffa, les habilla
    Une fois reconnus, ils isolerent la terre entiere
    Dans une sagesse infinie
    Elle y donnait sa vie
    La gloire pour le jour
    La nuit sans amour
    O - Okinawa
    Les mains dans les draps
    O - Okinawa
    Comme tu la vois
    O - Okinawa oh! oh! oh!
    O - Okinawa oh! oh! oh!
    Oh! oh! oh!




    Latest News for: Okinawa

    Edit

    80 years ago the USS Laffey was attacked at the Battle of Okinawa. Laffey's legacy ...

    The Post and Courier 20 Apr 2025
    Veterans of the former USS Laffey gathered at Patriots Point to honor the ship and remember the 80th anniversary of its' most famous battle ... .
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    Japan, U.S. patrol Okinawa streets after sexual assaults

    Japan Times 19 Apr 2025
    In the first such joint operation since 1973, participants walked along a downtown street dotted with restaurants, bars and clubs near a U.S. airbase ... .
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    Fighter jet tilts after tire detaches while taxiing on Okinawa runway

    Stars and Stripes 18 Apr 2025
    An F-15E Strike Eagle deployed to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa lost a tire while taxiing on the runway Thursday, according to the 18th Wing ... The incident occurred around 1 p.m., a spokesman for the Okinawa Defense Bureau said by phone Friday.
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    What to do on a three-hour visit to Japan's Okinawa island

    The Star 17 Apr 2025
    Some cruises stop at the Japanese islands of Okinawa and Ishigaki. Read full story ... .
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    In Okinawa, war trauma carried by orphans still lingers

    Japan Times 14 Apr 2025
    “War orphans were pushed to the margins of society after the war," says one academic ... .
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    Airman, Marine arrested on Okinawa ahead of joint patrol relaunch

    Stars and Stripes 14 Apr 2025
    NAHA, OkinawaJapanese police arrested two U.S. service members on Okinawa over the weekend in separate incidents — one on suspicion of breaking into a retirement home and the other of assaulting a Japanese man.
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    Okinawa police, U.S. military to hold joint patrol in night district

    Asahi News 12 Apr 2025
    NAHA--A joint patrol involving Okinawa prefectural police and the U.S. military is to be mounted in the entertainment district of Okinawa city near the U.S ... Sexual assault cases in Okinawa involving U.S.
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    Japan, U.S. to hold joint patrol after Okinawa sexual assaults

    Japan Times 11 Apr 2025
    The one-off joint operation through busy areas until the early hours of the next day was proposed by the U.S. side ... .
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    Okinawa sexual assaults: Japan, US to hold joint patrol

    Gulf News 11 Apr 2025
    Japanese and US officials said Friday they will jointly conduct a patrol in Okinawa following sexual assault cases involving US servicemen ... Okinawa governor Denny Tamaki may participate, the official added.
    Edit

    Okinawa leaders’ struggles against U.S. bases shown in new film

    Asahi News 11 Apr 2025
    A new documentary film that depicts the long campaigns waged by two Okinawa governors against the concentration of U.S ... The documentary depicts how the two governors championed the rights of Okinawa residents against the central government.
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    US and Japan launch historic joint patrol in Okinawa to address sexual assault concerns

    The Times of India 11 Apr 2025
    Japanese and US officials announced on Friday that a rare joint patrol will take place in Okinawa on the night of April 18, following a string of sexual assault cases involving American military ...
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    US troops, Japanese police to resume joint patrols on Okinawa after 50 years

    Stars and Stripes 11 Apr 2025
    CAMP FOSTER, OkinawaU.S. service members will join Japanese police and local officials for the first joint patrol on Okinawa in more than half a century following a series of high-profile criminal cases involving American troops.
    Edit

    HK Express launches surprise ticket offers to Japan’s Okinawa, Ishigaki and Miyako

    Hong Kong Standard 10 Apr 2025
    The city’s budget airline HK Express is running a one-day promotion, offering tickets to Japan’s Okinawa, Ishigaki and Miyako with a price as low as HK$0.
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    Japan, U.S. to hold patrol in Okinawa after sexual assault cases

    Kyodo 10 Apr 2025
    forces and Japanese police will hold a joint patrol in Okinawa Prefecture next week after a number of sexual assault cases involving U.S ... File photo taken in June 2024 shows a busy street in downtown Naha, Okinawa.
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    Okinawa construction unearths more US shells 80 years after WWII battle

    Stars and Stripes 10 Apr 2025
    artillery shells uncovered at construction sites across southern Okinawa and detonated another offshore, according to local officials ... Two shells were unearthed in Okinawa’s capital, Naha, city officials said ... (Naha city, Okinawa).
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