 Okinawa Prefecture (沖縄県, Okinawa-ken, Okinawan:
Uchinā) - 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.
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
Ie-jima
Kume
Okinawa Honto
Tokashiki
Miyako Islands
Miyako-jima
Yaeyama Islands
Iriomote
Ishigaki
Yonaguni
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.
 The oldest evidence of human existence in the Ryukyu islands
was discovered in Naha City and Yaese Town. Some human bones
from the Paleolithic era were unearthed, but there is 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
is 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.
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 are 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 ウチナーヤマトグチ (Uchinā Yamatoguchi "Okinawan
Japanese"), which is often misunderstood as Okinawan
language proper, ウチナーグチ (Uchināguchi "Okinawan language").
Uchināguchi still is used in traditional cultural
activities, such as folk music, or folk dance. There is a
radio news program in the language as well.
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
A traditional Okinawan houseOkinawa 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.
Okinawa Prefecture includes eleven cities.
Ginowan
Ishigaki
Itoman
Miyakojima
Nago
Naha (capital)
Nanjo
Okinawa City (formerly Koza)
Tomigusuku
Urasoe
Uruma
Information source: “Okinawa Prefecture.” wikipedia.org. Article
date: 3 Mar. 2008. Retrieved: Wikipedia. 4 Mar. 2008 <Okinawa Prefecture>. |
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