Okinawa Prefecture Totally Explained

Everything about Okinawa totally explained

is one of Japan's southern prefectures, and consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu 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 (Chinese: Diaoyu Islands) are also administered as part of Okinawa Prefecture at present.

History

Naha City and Yaese Town. Some human bone fragments from the Paleolithic era were unearthed, but there's no clear evidence of Paleolith remains. Japanese Jōmon influences are dominant in the Okinawa Islands, although clay vessels in the Sakishima Islands have a commonality with those in Taiwan.
   The first mention of the word Ryukyu was written in the Book of Sui. This Ryukyu might refer to Taiwan, not the Ryukyu islands. Okinawa was the Japanese word depicting 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 in the center of the East China Sea relatively close to Japan, China and South-East Asia, the Ryūkyū Kingdom became a prosperous trading nation. Also during this period, many Gusukus, similar to castles, were constructed. The Ryūkyū Kingdom had a tributary relationship with the Chinese Empire beginning in the 15th century.
   In 1609 the Satsuma clan, which controlled the region that's now Kagoshima Prefecture invaded the Ryūkyū Kingdom. Following the invasion the Ryūkyū Kingdom surrendered to the Satsuma and was forced to form a tributary relationship with Satsuma and the Tokugawa shogunate, in addition to its previous relationship with China. Ryukyuan sovereignty was maintained since complete annexation would create a problem with China. The Satsuma clan earned considerable profits from trades with China during a period in which foreign trade was heavily restricted by the shogunate.
   Though Satsuma maintained strong influence over the islands, the Ryūkyū Kingdom maintained considerable degree of domestic political freedom for over two hundred years. Four years after the 1868 Meiji Restoration, the Japanese government, through military incursions, officially annexed the kingdom and renamed it Ryukyu han. At the time, the Qing Dynasty of China asserted sovereignty over the islands of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, since the Ryūkyū Kingdom was a tributary nation of China. The Okinawa han became a prefecture of Japan in 1879, while all other hans had became prefectures of Japan in 1872.
   Following the Battle of Okinawa and the end of World War II in 1945, Okinawa was under the United States administration for 27 years. During the trusteeship rule the USAF established numerous military bases on the Ryukyu islands.
   In 1972, the U.S. government returned the islands to Japanese administration. Under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security, the United States Forces Japan (USFJ) have maintained a large military presence. 27000 personnel, including 15000 Marines, contingents from the Navy, Army and Air Force, and their 22,000 family members are stationed in Okinawa. 18% of the main island was occupied by US military bases and 75% of all USFJ bases are located in Okinawa prefecture.
   85% of the Okinawans oppose the large presence of the USFJ and demand the consolidation, reduction and removal of US military bases from Okinawa. Repeated accidents and crimes committed by U.S. servicemen have reduced local citizens' support for the U.S. military bases. The Japanese and the US government consider the mutual security treaty and the USFJ absolutely necessary and neglected the awkward situation in Okinawa for decades. The rape of a 12 year old girl by U.S. servicemen in 1995 triggered large protests in Okinawa. As a result, both the U.S. and Japanese governments agreed to the relocation of the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and other minor bases. However, at present, the closure of the bases has been indefinitely postponed. These disagreements also contribute to the relatively recent anti-Japanese sentiment and subsequently Ryukyu independence movement.

Geography

Major islands

The set of islands belonging to the prefecture is called Ryūkyū Shotō (琉球諸島). Okinawa's inhabited islands are typically divided into three geographical archipelagos. From northeast to southwest:

Okinawa Islands

Miyako Islands

Miyako-jima

Yaeyama Islands

Cities

Okinawa Prefecture includes eleven cities.

Ginowan

Ishigaki

Itoman

Miyakojima

Nago

Naha (capital)

Nanjo

Okinawa City (formerly Koza)

Tomigusuku

Urasoe

Uruma

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district.

Kunigami District

Miyako District

Tarama

Nakagami District

Shimajiri District

Yaeyama District

Mergers

Demography

Okinawa prefecture age pyramid as of 1 October 2003
(per 1000's of people)

Age	People
0-4	84
5-9	85
10-14	87
15-19	94
20-24	91
25-29	97
30-34	99
35-39	87
40-44	91
45-49	96
50-54	100
55-59	64
60-64	65
65-69	66
70-74	53
75-79	37
80 +	55

Okinawa Prefecture age pyramid, divided by sex, as of 1 October 2003
(per 1000's of people)

Males	Age	Females
43	0-4	41
44	5-9	41
45	10-14	42
48	15-19	46
46	20-24	45
49	25-29	48
49	30-34	50
43	35-39	44
46	40-44	45
49	45-49	47
52	50-54	48
32	55-59	32
32	60-64	33
32	65-69	34
24	70-74	29
14	75-79	23
17	80 +	38

Source: Japan Statistics Bureau (総務省統計局)

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's main island, is a popular tourist attraction.
Okinawa is said to have the most beautiful beaches in all of Japan and normally enjoys temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius for most of the year. Okinawa and the many islands that make up the prefecture boast some of the most abundant coral reefs found in the world. Rare blue corals are found off of Ishigaki and Miyako islands as are numerous species throughout the chain. 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, pineapple, papaya, and other tropical fruit, and the Southeast Botanical Gardens represent tropical plant species.

Language and culture

Having historically been a separate nation, Okinawan language and culture differ considerably from that of mainland Japan.

Language

There remain numerous Ryukyuan languages which are more-or-less incomprehensible to Japanese speakers. These languages are in decline as the Mainland Japanese is being used by the younger generation. Many linguists, at least those outside Japan, consider Ryukyuan languages as different languages from Japanese, while they're generally perceived as "dialects" by mainland Japanese and Okinawans themselves. Standard Japanese is almost always used in formal situations. In informal situations, de facto everyday language among Okinawans under age 60 is Okinawa-accented mainland Japanese called (Uchinā Yamatoguchi "Okinawan Japanese"), which is often misunderstood as Okinawan language proper, (Uchināguchi "Okinawan language"). Uchināguchi still is used in traditional cultural activities, such as folk music, or . There is a radio news program in the language as well. (External Link

)

Religion

Okinawa also has its own religious beliefs, generally characterized by ancestor worship and the respecting of relationships between the living, the dead, and the gods and spirits of the natural world.

Cultural influences

Okinawan culture bears traces of its various trading partners. One can find Chinese, Thai and Austronesian influences in the island's customs. 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 after the invasion and forced annexation by Japan during the Meiji Restoration period 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.

Other cultural characteristics

The people of Okinawa maintain a strong tradition of pottery, textiles, and glass making.
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). 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 Shotokan, Shorin-Ryu, Wado Ryu, Uechi Ryu, Goju Ryu, Isshin-Ryu, Shito-Ryu, Motobu-ryu, Shorinji Ryu, and Shuri-ryu.

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 statue resembling 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.

U.S. military controversy

Because the islands are close to China and Taiwan, the United States has large military bases on the island. The area of 14 US bases are, occupying 18% of the main island. Okinawa accounts for less than one percent of Japan's land, but hosts about two-thirds of the 40,000 American forces in the country., and crimes committed by U.S. military personnel. The Okinawan prefectural government and local municipalities have made various withdrawal demands of the US military since the end of WWII, but any fundamental solution was never performed by both of the Japanese and U.S. governments.
According to historian Peter Schrijvers, an estimated 10,000 Japanese women were raped by American troops during the World War II Okinawa campaign.(External Link

) Reported cases of U.S. rapes for the first 10 days of the occupation of the Kanagawa prefecture are 1,336.(External Link

). According to Schrijvers, U.S. rape was "a general practice against Japanese women".(External Link

) In 1998 the remains of 3 executed presumed rapists from the occupation forces were discovered in a cave.(External Link

) In 1955 Isaac J. Hart was accused but not convicted of the rape and murder of six-year-old Yumiko. This is known as "The Yumiko Incident". Forty years later, on September 4, 1995, two U.S. marines and a sailor abducted and raped a 12-year-old girl. At the time of the incident, Japanese police couldn't arrest the men known to be involved because they'd to remain with the United States Military until charged in a court, see U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement. Anti-military base emotions erupted in some of the largest protests in recent history. Eventually through political pressure, the soldiers were tried and convicted in early 1996. As a result of this incident US-Japan agreements which were criticized for being too protective of US servicemen involved in crimes underwent revision and a movement to alleviate civilian burden by reducing the size of US military bases got under way. In November of 1995, a group called "Okinawan Women Act Against Military Violence" was organized to raise awareness of crimes alleged to have been committed by U.S. military personnel on the island. Due to allegations of an assault committed by an American servicemen against a minor, a restriction was imposed to all U.S. military and SOFA status personnel of bases in Okinawa and Iwakuni in February 2008. It has since been lifted..
In April 2008 the U.S. Military charged a Marine with raping a 14-year-old girl in Okinawa, pressing ahead with a case that spurred protests against the U.S. presence on the island. U.S. military charges against Staff Sgt. Tyrone L. Hadnott include rape of a child under 16, abusive sexual conduct, making a false official statement, adultery and "kidnapping through inveigling," or trickery. Hadnott was later cleared of the charge of rape and kidnapping and convicted on the assault charge with a jail sentence of three years.

Alleged former US nuclear arms base

The Japanese government strictly restrained the introduction of nuclear arms into Japanese territory by the non-nuclear policy (Three Non-Nuclear Principles). Prior to the reversion of Okinawa to Japanese administration in 1972, it's reported that 1200 nuclear weapons were deployed to US bases in Okinawa. Most of the weapons were stored in ammunition bunkers at Kadena Air Base.
There are wide range speculations that not all the weapons were removed from Okinawa. Edwin O. Reischauer, former US ambassador to Japan, in an interview with the Mainichi Shimbun in 1981, said that US naval ships armed with nukes stopped at Japanese ports on a routine duty, and this was approved by the Japanese government.
In the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists in early 2000, (External Link

) (External Link

) Robert S. Norris, William M. Arkin, and William Burr wrote that the United States has placed nuclear arms on Okinawa. This is disputed by the American government.

MCAS Futenma relocation

The governments of the United States and Japan agreed on October 26, 2005 to move the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma base from its location in the densely populated city of Ginowan to the more northerly and remote Camp Schwab. Under the plan, thousands of Marines will relocate. The move is partly an attempt to relieve tensions between the people of Okinawa and the Marine Corps. Protests from environmental groups and residents over the construction of part of a runway at Camp Schwab, and from businessmen and politicians around Futenma and Henoko, have occurred (External Link

).
The legality of the proposed heliport relocation has been questioned as being a violation of International Law, including the World Heritage Convention, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage

in an article titled "Boundary Intersections of UNESCO Heritage Conventions: Using Custom and Cultural Landscapes to Save Okinawa’s Dugong Habitat from U.S. Heliport Construction"

. The article even questions whether the current use of Camp Schwab for amphibious training violates these three conventions.

Proposed Solutions

As recently as 2003 the US was considering moving most of the 20,000 Marines on Okinawa to new bases that would be established in Australia; increasing the presence of US troops in Singapore and Malaysia; and seeking agreements to base Navy ships in Vietnamese waters and ground troops in the Philippines. Under plans on the table, all but about 5,000 of the Marines would move, possibly to Australia.
As of 2006, some 8,000 US Marines were being removed from the island and being relocated to Guam

Education

The public schools in Okinawa are overseen by the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education. The agency directly operates several public high schools (External Link

). The US Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) operates 13 schools total in Okinawa. Seven of these schools are located on Kadena Air Base.

Sports

Football

F.C. Ryūkyū (Naha) Basketball

Ryukyu Kings (Naha) In addition, various baseball teams hold training during the winter in the prefecture as it's the warmest prefecture of Japan with no snow and higher temperatures than other prefectures.

Softbank Hawks

Yokohama BayStars

Chunichi Dragons

Yakult Swallows

Transportation

Ports

The major ports of Okinawa include

Naha Port (External Link

)

Port of Unten (External Link

)

Port of Kinwan (External Link

)

Nakagusukuwan Port (External Link

)

Hirara Port (External Link

)

Port of Ishigaki (External Link

)

United States military installations

Kadena Air Base

Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler

Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
Camp Courtney
Camp Foster
Camp Hansen
Camp Kinser
Camp McTureous
Camp Schwab
Camp Gonsalves (Northern Training Area, Jungle Warfare Training Center)

Naha Military Port

Naval Facility White Beach

Camp Lester

Torii Station

Camp ShieldsFurther Information

Get more info on 'Okinawa'.

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