7/27/2007

Okinawa Prefecture (沖縄県, Okinawa-ken, Okinawan: Uchinā) is Japan’s southernmost prefecture, 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.

The islands that now make up Okinawa Prefecture were originally not part of Japan, but part of an independent nation called the Ryūkyū Kingdom. Okinawa’s location in the East China Sea, and relatively close proximity to Japan, 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. The Ryūkyū Kingdom long had a tributary relationship with China.

In 1609 the Satsuma clan, who controlled the region that is now Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan invaded the Ryūkyū Kingdom. Following this invasion, the Ryūkyū Kingdom was forced to enter into a tributary relationship with Satsuma in addition to their previous tributary relationship with China. Ryukyuan sovereignty, however, was maintained, since to do otherwise would have created problems with both China and the Tokugawa shogunate, which Satsuma had opposed during the preceding period of conflict. This gave Satsuma a high level of access to trade with China during a period in which such trade was heavily restricted and largely clandestine.

Though Satsuma maintained strong influence over the Ryūkyū Kingdom, the Ryūkyū Kingdom maintained a large degree of political independence. Four years after the 1868 Meiji Restoration, Japan annexed the kingdom as a colony, entitling it Okinawa han (domain); Okinawa did not become a prefecture until 1879–incidentally, all other Japanese domains became prefectures in 1872.

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 (main island) 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. Over 15,000 Marines, in addition to contingents from the Navy, Army and Air Force, are stationed there. Representing only 0.6% of the total landmass of Japan, Okinawa supports roughly 75% of all U.S. troops in the country.

Most Okinawans feel that the large presence places an undue burden on their small island (20% of land on Okinawa Island is U.S. territory) and have been upset by a number of incidents involving U.S. servicemembers and local citizens. Both Japan and the U.S., however, believe that the benefits of the U.S. presence outweigh the disadvantages. In 2006, the U.S. announced plans to move a few of its bases to Guam over a span of several years.

Naha is the perfecture’s capital and is the most developed among all the islands in Okinawa. This busy island city is home to more than 300,000 people and with its port and airport, it is a transportation hub that connects Okinawa to other parts of Asia. This little town has a bloody history of its own. The city suffered attacks and was mostly destroyed during the Battle Okinawa. But since the, has rebuilt itself to be what it is today – an attraction for the locals of Japan and international tourists.

If you look at some of the pictures of Okinawa, you will find that the sea is beautiful turquoise blue and the sand reminisce those in Hawaii. It is beautiful and the climate mild. During winter, the temperature seldom go below 15 degrees. And that, my friends, is a lot of reason to move to Okinawa as it is. With the beach, sun, sand and beautiful people, Okinawa is definitely a place to visit.

Next, we will talk about the Okinawa islands and other attractions.

Source: Wikipedia