Okinawa Prefecture

Okinawa Prefecture (沖縄県, Japanese: Okinawa-ken, Okinawan: Uchinaa-chin^[1]) is traditionally a prefecture in the Kyūshū region of Japan.^[2] Okinawa Prefecture is made up of islands which are southwest of the island of Kyushu.^[3] Recent government proposals recognize the prefecture as its own region.^[4]

Okinawa Prefecture 沖縄県
Prefecture
Native transcription(s)
• Japanese	Okinawa-ken
• Okinawan	ʔUchinā-chin
Flag Symbol
Coordinates: 26°30′N 128°0′E
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu
Island	Okinawa, Daitō, Sakishima and Senkaku (disputed)
Capital	Naha
Subdivisions	Districts: 5, Municipalities: 41
Government
• Governor	Denny Tamaki
Area
• Total	2,281 km2 (881 sq mi)
• Rank	44th
Population  (February 2, 2020)
• Total	1,457,162
• Rank	29th
• Density	640/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	JP-47
Website	www.pref.okinawa.lg.jp
Symbols
Bird	Okinawa woodpecker (Sapheopipo noguchii)
Fish	Banana fish (Pterocaesio diagramma, "takasago", "gurukun")
Flower	Deego (Erythrina variegata)
Tree	Pinus luchuensis ("ryūkyūmatsu")

The capital city is Naha which is on the island of Okinawa.^[5]

History

Timeline

• 1429: Shō Hashi founded the Ryūkyū Kingdom
• 1609: Shimazu of Satsuma Province invade Ryukyu Kingdom
• 1853: Commodore Mathew Perry and US Navy ships at Naha
• 1875 (Meiji 5): Ryūkyū Domain is created
• 1879 (Meiji 12): Okinawa Prefecture was established.
• 1945 (Shōwa 20): US administration after World War II^[6]
• 1953 (Shōwa 28): Partial reversion to Japan^[6]
• 1972 (Shōwa 47): Reversion to Japan^[6]
• 2000 (Heisei 12): 26th G8 summit at Kyushu and Okinawa^[7]

Geography

Okinawa is a grouping of many islands along the border at the edge of the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean from Kyūshū to Taiwan. It is the southernmost prefecture in Japan.^[3]

Cities

Okinawa Prefecture has eleven cities. Okinawan names are in parentheses.

• Ginowan (Jinoon)
• Ishigaki (Ishigachi)
• Itoman (Ichuman)
• Miyakojima (Naaku)
• Nago (Nagu)
• Naha (Naafa) (capital)
• Nanjō (Nanjoo)
• Okinawa (Uchinaa) (formerly Koza)
• Tomigusuku (Timigushiku)
• Urasoe (Urashii)
• Uruma (Uruma)

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district.

Kunigami District (Kunjan) Ginoza (Jinuja) Higashi (Agarijima) Ie (Iijima) Kin (Chin) Kunigami (Kunjan) Motobu (Mutubu) Nakijin (Nachijin) Onna (Unna) Ōgimi (Ujimi)

Miyako District (Naaku) Tarama (Tarama) Nakagami District (Nakajan) Chatan (Chatan) Kadena (Kadina) Kitanakagusuku Nakagusuku (Nakagushiku) Nishihara (Nishibaru) Yomitan (Yuntan)

Shimajiri District (Shimajiri) Aguni (Aguni) Haebaru (Feebaru) Iheya (Ihyaa) Izena (Ijina) Kitadaitō (Ufuagarijima) Kumejima (Kumijima) Minamidaitō Tokashiki (Tukashichi) Tonaki (Tunachi) Yaese Yonabaru (Yunabaru) Zamami (Jamami) Yaeyama District (Eema) Taketomi (Dakidun) Yonaguni (Yunaguni)

National Parks

National Parks are established in about 19% of the total land area of the prefecture.^[8]

Shrines and Temples

Naminouegū was the chief Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) of the Ryukyu Islands.^[9] In 1890, the shrine was recognized in the system of State Shinto. It is among the ranked, nationally significant shrines or Kanpei-shōsha (官幣小社) which includes five sanctuaries.^[10]

Related pages

• Provinces of Japan
• Prefectures of Japan
• List of regions of Japan
• List of islands of Japan