:Okinawa Island

{{Main|Ryukyuan people|History of the Ryukyu Islands}}

Early Okinawan history is defined by midden or shell heap culture and is divided into Early, Middle, and Late Shell Mound periods. The Early Shell Mound period was a hunter-gatherer society, with the wave-like opening Jōmon pottery. In the latter part of this period, archaeological sites moved near the seashore, suggesting the engagement of people in fishing. On Okinawa, rice was not cultivated until the Middle Shell Mound period. Shell rings for arms made of shells obtained in the Sakishima Islands, namely Miyakojima and Yaeyama islands, were imported by Japan. In these islands, the presence of shell axes from 2,500 years ago suggests the influence of a southeastern-Pacific culture.Toshiaki, Arashiro. High School History of Ryukyu, Okinawa, Toyo Kikaku, 2001, p. 12 {{ISBN|4938984172}} p. 20Ito, Masami, "[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090512i1.html Between a rock and a hard place] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120723143910/http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090512i1.html |date=2012-07-23 }}", Japan Times, 12 May 2009, p. 3.

File:First Ryukyan mission to Edo.JPG, the capital of Tokugawa shogunate]]

After the late Shell Mound period, agriculture started about the 12th century, and the population center moved from the seashore to higher places. This period is called the Gusuku period. Gusuku is a term used for the distinctive Ryukyuan form of castles or fortresses. Many gusuku and related cultural remains in the Ryukyu Islands have been listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. There are three perspectives regarding the nature of gusuku: that they were holy places, dwellings encircled by stones, and castles of the rulers. In this period, porcelain trade between Okinawa and other countries became commonplace, and Okinawa was an important relay point in eastern-Asian trade. Ryukyuan kings, such as Shunten and Eiso, were important rulers. An attempted Mongolian invasion in 1291 during the Eiso Dynasty failed. Hiragana was imported from Japan by Ganjin in 1265. Noro, village priestesses of the Ryukyuan religion, appeared.

The Sanzan period began in 1314 when the kingdoms of Hokuzan and Nanzan declared independence from Chūzan. The three kingdoms competed with one another for recognition and trade with Ming China.{{Cite news |date=June 22, 2023 |title=China has its eyes on Okinawa |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/china/2023/06/22/china-has-its-eyes-on-okinawa |access-date=2023-06-24 |issn=0013-0613}} King Satto, leading Chūzan, was very successful, establishing relations with Korea and Southeast Asia as well as China. The Hongwu Emperor sent 36 families from Fujian in 1392 at the request of the Ryukyuan king. Their job was to manage maritime dealings in the kingdom. They assisted the Ryukyuans in developing their technology and diplomatic relations. In 1407, however, a man named Hashi overthrew Satto's descendant, King Bunei, and installed his father, Shishō, as king of Chūzan.

File:Sho_Tai.jpg]]

In 1429, King Shō Hashi completed the unification of the three kingdoms and founded the Ryūkyū Kingdom with its capital at Shuri Castle. His descendants conquered the Amami Islands. In 1469, King Shō Taikyū died, so the royal government chose a man named Kanemaru as the new king, who chose the name Shō En and established the Second Shō Dynasty. His son Shō Shin conquered the Sakishima Islands and centralized the royal government, the military, and the noro priestesses.

In 1609, the Japanese Satsuma Domain launched the invasion of Ryukyu, ultimately capturing the king and his capital after a long struggle. Ryukyu was forced to cede the Amami Islands and become a vassal of Satsuma. The kingdom became both a tributary of China and a tributary of Japan. Because China would not make a formal trade agreement unless a country was a tributary state, the kingdom was a convenient loophole for Japanese trade with China. When Japan officially closed off trade with European nations except for the Dutch, Nagasaki, Tsushima, and Kagoshima became the only Japanese trading ports offering connections with the outside world.

At some time,{{when|date=March 2024}} karate came into existence as a type of systematized martial arts.

Several Europeans visited Ryukyu starting in the late 18th century. The most important visits to Okinawa were from Captain Basil Hall in 1816 and Commodore Matthew C. Perry in 1852. A Christian missionary, Bernard Jean Bettelheim, lived in the Gokoku-ji temple in Naha from 1846 to 1854.

In 1879, Japan annexed the entire Ryukyu archipelago.The Demise of the Ryukyu Kingdom: Western Accounts and Controversy. Ed by Eitetsu Yamagushi and Yoko Arakawa. Ginowan-City, Okinawa: Yonushorin, 2002. The Meiji government then established Okinawa Prefecture. The monarchy in Shuri was abolished, and the deposed King Shō Tai was forced to relocate to Tokyo.

File:Okinawa, 27 June 1945 (6972498688).jpg

Okinawa Island had the bloodiest ground battle of the Pacific War from 1 April to 22 June 1945. During this 82-day-long battle, about 95,000 Imperial Japanese Army troops and 20,195 Americans were killed. The Cornerstone of Peace at the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman lists 149,193 persons from Okinawa—approximately one quarter of the civilian population—were either killed or committed suicide during the Battle of Okinawa and the Pacific War."The Cornerstone of Peace—number of names inscribed". Okinawa Prefecture. Retrieved 4 February 2011 Very few Japanese ended up in POW camps. This may have been because of Japanese soldiers' reluctance to surrender. The total number of casualties shocked American military strategists. This made them apprehensive to invade the other main islands of Japan, because it would result in very high casualties.{{cite web|url=http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-okinawa-the-bloodiest-battle-of-the-pacific-war.htm|title=Battle of Okinawa: The Bloodiest Battle of the Pacific War|publisher=HistoryNet|access-date=5 April 2010|date=12 June 2006|archive-date=27 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527211902/http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-okinawa-the-bloodiest-battle-of-the-pacific-war.htm|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/14/magazine/the-bloodiest-battle-of-all.html|work=The New York Times|title=The Bloodiest Battle Of All|first=William|last=Manchester|date=14 June 1987|access-date=31 March 2010|archive-date=7 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207104512/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/14/magazine/the-bloodiest-battle-of-all.html|url-status=live}}

Japan became a pacifist country with the 1947 constitution, so America was obligated to protect Japan against foreign threats. During the American military occupation of Japan (1945–1952), which followed the Imperial Japanese surrender on 2 September 1945, in Tokyo Bay, the United States controlled Okinawa Island and the rest of the Ryukyu Islands. The Amami Islands were returned to Japanese control in 1953. The remaining Ryukyu Islands were returned to Japan on 17 June 1971. America kept numerous U.S. military bases on the islands. There are 32 United States military bases on Okinawa Island by the U.S.-Japan alliance since 1951. U.S. bases on Okinawa played critical roles in the Korean War, Vietnam War, Laotian Civil War, Cambodian campaign, War in Afghanistan, and Iraq War. Okinawa served as a prime staging post for the aforementioned wars. Its ports and airports were used to transport supplies. The base at Camp Chinen, Nanjo City was used by the CIA for covert operations. In 1965, Admiral Ulysses S. Grant Sharp stated that "Without Okinawa, we couldn't continue fighting the Vietnam war."

Intense use of the island by the U.S. military caused damage to the environment and residents. There were oil and fuel spills. Exposure to toxic substances caused illness of service members such as a nerve agent leak in 1969. Aircraft crashes, hit-and runs and murders killed residents. The perpetrators were often unpunished, since they could not be prosecuted in Okinawa Courts. The 1970s and 1980s also had severe pollution of waterways and wells with PFAS: toxic chemicals in foam used by fire fighting training at U.S. facilities such as Kadena Air Base.

In the early 1970s, according to a U.S. government report, Okinawa was a key conduit for smuggling drugs such as heroin from Thailand via Okinawa to the United States. It was called "The Okinawa System" in the global drug trade. A testimony by a head of the Department of Defense said that drug abuse was "quite extensive." It began in the second half of 1968; marijuana was smuggled from Thailand to Okinawa and grown near an unidentified U.S. Marine Corps training area in northern Okinawa. A {{cvt|100|kg}} package of marijuana fell from an aircraft, and another {{cvt|90|kg}} was discovered at a military post office. From the mid-1970s onwards, LSD and heroin became more prevalent. Deserters worked as "passport civilians" and smuggled the drugs into Okinawa. A lack of customs inspections made smuggling easy. There were well organized Ryukyuan smuggling rings who brought heroin, LSD, and marijuana to Okinawa, and produced LSD on the island.{{cite web |date=22 July 2022 |title=The Okinawa System: The US military and the 1970s narcotics trade |website=Okinawa Times |author=Jon Mitchell |url=https://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/976065 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220725192905/https://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/976065 |archive-date=25 July 2022}}

In 2013, following escalating tensions following competing claims to the uninhabited Senkaku Islands, the People's Republic of China began questioning Japan's sovereignty to the island of Okinawa, citing its past as the independent tributary state of Ryukyu.{{Cite news |last=McCurry |first=Justin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/15/china-okinawa-dispute-japan-ryukyu |title=China lays claim to Okinawa as territory dispute with Japan escalates |date=15 May 2013 |work=The Guardian |access-date=12 November 2019 |language=en-US |archive-date=13 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113050540/https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/15/china-okinawa-dispute-japan-ryukyu|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Boehler |first=Patrick |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1238080/okinawa-doesnt-belong-japan-says-hawkish-pla-general |title=Okinawa doesn't belong to Japan, says hawkish PLA general |date=15 May 2013 |publisher=South China Morning Post |access-date=12 November 2019 |language=en-US |archive-date=26 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026110646/https://amp.scmp.com/news/china/article/1238080/okinawa-doesnt-belong-japan-says-hawkish-pla-general|url-status=live}} On 31 October 2019, the main courtyard structures of Shurijo were destroyed in a fire.{{Cite news |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/10/31/national/shuri-castle-fire/ |title=Shuri Castle, a symbol of Okinawa, destroyed in fire |date=31 October 2019 |publisher=The Japan Times Online |access-date=31 October 2019 |language=en-US |issn=0447-5763 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031050530/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/10/31/national/shuri-castle-fire/ |archive-date=31 October 2019}} It marked the fifth time that Shurijo was destroyed following previous incidents in 1453, 1660, 1709 and 1945.{{cite web |url=http://oki-park.jp/userfiles/files/pdf/shurijo/lang/history_en.pdf |title=History of Shuri Castle |publisher=oki-park.jp Oki Park Official Site |access-date=2 November 2019 |archive-date=4 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204122838/http://oki-park.jp/userfiles/files/pdf/shurijo/lang/history_en.pdf|url-status=live}} The 2019 fire burned down sections of Shuri Castle: "Six castle buildings occupying some {{convert|4,200|m2}} in total were gutted."{{Cite news |url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191031/p2g/00m/0na/001000c |title=Historic Okinawa castle gutted as predawn blaze rages |date=31 October 2019 |publisher=Mainichi Daily News |access-date=31 October 2019 |language=en |archive-date=31 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031031133/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191031/p2g/00m/0na/001000c|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |title=Fire destroys Okinawa's Shuri Castle |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191031_18/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031232749/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191031_18/ |archive-date=31 October 2019 |access-date=31 October 2019 |website=NHK World-Japan |publisher= |language=en}} Rebuilding efforts were underway as of 10 February 2020.{{Cite web |date=10 February 2020 |title=Shuri Castle Reconstruction Work Begins |url=https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2020021000929/shuri-castle-reconstruction-work-begins.html |access-date=15 June 2020 |publisher=nippon.com |language=en |archive-date=15 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615040527/https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2020021000929/shuri-castle-reconstruction-work-begins.html|url-status=live}}

File:Kokusai-dori08s3s4440.jpg]]

As of September 2009, the Japanese government estimates the population at 1,384,762,{{in lang|ja}} [http://www.pref.okinawa.jp/toukeika/estimates/estidata.html 沖縄県推計人口データ一覧（Excel形式）] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713201435/http://www.pref.okinawa.jp/toukeika/estimates/estidata.html |date=13 July 2018 }}. Pref.okinawa.jp. Retrieved on 16 August 2013. which includes American military personnel and their families. The Okinawan language, called Uchināguchi, is spoken by adults only,{{e25|ryu|Okinawan, Central}} but several local groups promote the use of the Okinawan language by younger people.Noguchi 2001, p. 76.

Whereas the northern half of Okinawa Island is sparsely populated, the south-central and southern parts of the island are markedly urbanized—particularly the city of Naha and the urban corridor stretching north from there to Okinawa City. The population distribution is approximately 120,000 in northern Okinawa, 590,000 in central Okinawa and 540,000 in southern Okinawa. It has a high population density of 1,014.93/km².{{cite web |date=1 October 2005 |url=http://www.gsi.go.jp/common/000058324.pdf |title=平成17年 全国都道府県市区町村別面積調 |publisher=国土地理院 |page=189 |access-date=4 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120052313/http://www.gsi.go.jp/common/000058324.pdf |archive-date=20 January 2013 |url-status=dead }}

During the Meiji Period, Okinawan ethnic identity, tradition, culture and language were suppressed by the Meiji government, which sought to assimilate the Okinawans as Japanese (Yamato).{{citation|last=Minahan|first=James B.|title=Ethnic Groups of North, East, and Central Asia: An Encyclopedia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oZCOAwAAQBAJ|year=2014|publisher=ABC-CLIO|pages=231–233|isbn=978-1-61069-018-8|access-date=5 April 2021|archive-date=7 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607133434/https://books.google.com/books?id=oZCOAwAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}{{sfn|Christy|2004|p=173–175}}{{sfn|Rabson|2008|p=4}}{{sfn|Dubinsky|Davies|2013|p=15–16}}{{sfn|Caprio|2014|p=49–50, 63, 66–67}}{{sfn|Inoue|2017|p=3}} Many ethnic Japanese have since migrated to Okinawa. The modern inhabitants of Okinawa are mainly ethnic Okinawan, Japanese, half Japanese and mixed.

Okinawans are known for their longevity. This particular island is a so-called Blue Zone, an area where the people live longer than most others elsewhere in the world.National Geographic magazine, June 1993 Five times as many Okinawans reach 100 years old compared to the rest of Japan. {{as of|2002}} there were 34.7 centenarians for every 100,000 inhabitants, which is the highest ratio worldwide.{{cite book|author=Santrock, John W. A|title= Topical Approach to Life-Span Development|edition=4|location=New York|publisher= McGraw-Hill|year= 2002}}{{rp|131–132}} Possible explanations are diet, low-stress lifestyle, caring community, activity, and spirituality of the inhabitants of the island.{{page needed|date=August 2014}} The Okinawan diet consists of low-fat, low-salt foods, such as whole fruits and vegetables, legumes, tofu, and seaweed.

File:Topographic_map_of_Okinawa_Island.png

Okinawa is the fifth largest island of Japan. The island has an area of {{convert|1,206.99|km2|sqmi|sp=us}}. The coastline is {{convert|476|km|mi|sp=us}} long.『日本統計年鑑 平成26年』「1-2 主な島」（2013年）p.13, 17 The straight-line distance is about {{convert|106.6|km|mi|sp=us}} from north to south.『日本歴史地名大系』「沖縄島」（2002年）p.73中段 Okinawa is in the northeastern end of Okinawa Prefecture. Since 1972 over {{convert|1000|ha|acre|sp=us}} of land has been added via reclamation (0.83% of the island's total area).

It is roughly {{convert|640|km}} south of the main island of Kyushu. Okinawa is connected to nearby islands near a land bridge: Katsuren Peninsula is connected via the Mid-Sea Road to Henza Island, Miyagi Island, Ikei Island, and Hamahiga Island. Similarly, from the Motobu Peninsula on the northwestern side, all of Sesoko-jima plus Yagaji Island and Kōri-jima are connected by bridges. Okinawa Island has several beaches such as Manza Beach, Emerald Beach, Okuma Beach, Zanpa Beach, Moon Beach and Sunset Beach (Chatan-cho). Mount Omoto, at {{Convert|525.5|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, is the highest mountain in Okinawa, with Mount Yonaha being the second highest.{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia = Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) (日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ) "Large Encyclopedia of Japan (Nipponika)") | title = Yonaha-dake | url = http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | access-date = 16 March 2012 | year = 2012 | publisher = Shogakukan | location = Tokyo | language = ja | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | archive-date = 25 August 2007 | url-status = dead }}

The Motobu Peninsula in the north has limestone layers and karst development.『日本歴史地名大系』「総論 自然環境」（2002年）p.24 In the center and south is mainly a Ryukyu limestone layer and mudstone. The topography is flat, there are few hills over {{Convert|100|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} with very few rivers. The subtropical rains accelerate erosion requiring many drainages and uvala. The southern end of the island consists of uplifted coral reef, whereas the northern half has proportionally more igneous rock. The easily eroded limestone of the south has many caves, the most famous of which is Gyokusendō in Nanjō. The northernmost Cape Hedo is only {{Convert|22|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} away from Yoronjima. Cape Arasaki is the southernmost location of Okinawa island. It is sometimes confused with Cape Kiyanmisaki.

File:Onna_Okinawa_Japan_Cape-Manzamo-01.jpg|Cliffs at Manzamo

File:Subtropical Forest of Yanbaru National Park Okinawa 2018.jpg|Subtropical forest of Yanbaru National Park

File:OkinawaOnna1.jpg|Village of Onna

File:OkinawaOnna2.jpg|A pond in Okinawa

File:Busena Resort11n4272.jpg|Cape Busena, in Nago, Okinawa

File:Chatan_Sunset_Beach_(west)_20150317-2.JPG|Sunset Beach (Chatan-cho)

File:Map-okinawa-pref.png|Map of Okinawa Prefecture with the location of Okinawa Island

The northern half of Okinawa has one of the largest tracts of subtropical rainforest in Asia called the Yanbaru. There are many endemic species of flora and fauna.{{cite web |url=http://www.ufugi-yambaru.com/annai/images/panfu_e.pdf |title=Ufugi Nature Museum |publisher=Yambaru Wildlife Conservation Centre |access-date=19 February 2012 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806005146/http://www.ufugi-yambaru.com/annai/images/panfu_e.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.marines.mil/unit/logistics/Documents/LFL/LFL-1/NaturalResources/Outreach/USMC%20Natural%20Resources%20Conservation%20Program.pdf |title=United States Marine Corps Installations Natural Resource Program: Camp Smedley D. Butler, MCB |publisher=United States Marine Corps |access-date=19 February 2012}}{{dead link|date=August 2016}} There are a small number of endemic Yanbaru kuina (also known as the Okinawa rail), a small flightless bird that is close to extinction. The critically endangered Okinawa woodpecker is also endemic to the island. The Indian mongoose was introduced to the island to prevent the native habu pit viper from attacking the birds. It did not succeed in eliminating the habu but instead preyed on birds, increasing the threat to the Okinawa rail.

The coconut crab is the largest terrestrial hermit crab of Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands. It is an endangered species due to over-hunting, which has made them scarce on Okinawa island.{{cite web |title=The Coconut-Crab Terrestrial-Hermit Crabs of the-Ryukyu-Islands |url=https://okinawanaturephotography.com/the-coconut-crab-terrestrial-hermit-crabs-of-the-ryukyu-islands/ |website=Okinawa Nature Photography |date=5 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221071012/https://okinawanaturephotography.com/the-coconut-crab-terrestrial-hermit-crabs-of-the-ryukyu-islands/ |archive-date=21 February 2022}} In 2021, coconut crabs were found to live in a small cave system on the islet Nagashima off the Henoko district.{{cite web |url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/photo/40447505 |website=Asahi |title=Caves on island off Henoko hold limestone 'jewel box' of structures |date=29 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809023041/https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/photo/40447505 |archive-date=9 August 2022}}

A small population of endangered dugongs lives around Okinawa. The estimates are between 3 and 50 survivors.[http://www.qab.co.jp/news/200905048825.html "琉球朝日放送 報道部　ニュースQプラス » 独自 古宇利島沖にジュゴンの姿"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714094317/https://www.qab.co.jp/news/200905048825.html |date=14 July 2021 }}. 琉球朝日放送 報道部　ニュースQプラス.{{cite web |last=Galvin |first=Peter |title=Saving the Okinawa dugong |website=Center for Biological Diversity web site |publisher=Center for Biological Diversity |url=http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/mammals/Okinawa_dugong/ |access-date=15 May 2008 |archive-date=7 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207040734/http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/mammals/Okinawa_dugong/ |url-status=live }}

File:Gallirallus okinawae by OpenCage.jpg|The Okinawa rail

File:Coconut Crab in Kuroshima Okinawa Prefecture.jpg|Coconut crab

The island has a humid subtropical climate bordering on a tropical rainforest climate. The climate supports a dense Subtropical forest in the northern Yanbaru National Park. A rainy season occurs in the late spring.{{cite web |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/05/13/national/rainy-season-starts-okinawa-amami |title=Rainy season starts in Okinawa and Amami |date=13 May 2017 |author=The Japan Times |access-date=16 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405055355/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/05/13/national/rainy-season-starts-okinawa-amami/ |archive-date=5 April 2022}}

{{Weather box

|location = Naha (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1890−present)

|single line = Y

|metric first = Y

|Jan record high C = 27.0

|Feb record high C = 27.1

|Mar record high C = 28.2

|Apr record high C = 30.6

|May record high C = 32.0

|Jun record high C = 34.3

|Jul record high C = 35.5

|Aug record high C = 35.6

|Sep record high C = 34.6

|Oct record high C = 33.0

|Nov record high C = 31.6

|Dec record high C = 29.4

|Jan record low C = 6.1

|Feb record low C = 4.9

|Mar record low C = 6.3

|Apr record low C = 8.7

|May record low C = 11.0

|Jun record low C = 14.8

|Jul record low C = 20.8

|Aug record low C = 20.7

|Sep record low C = 17.0

|Oct record low C = 14.8

|Nov record low C = 8.6

|Dec record low C = 6.8

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 101.6

|Feb precipitation mm = 114.5

|Mar precipitation mm = 142.8

|Apr precipitation mm = 161.0

|May precipitation mm = 245.3

|Jun precipitation mm = 284.4

|Jul precipitation mm = 188.1

|Aug precipitation mm = 240.0

|Sep precipitation mm = 275.2

|Oct precipitation mm = 179.2

|Nov precipitation mm = 119.1

|Dec precipitation mm = 110.0

|year precipitation mm = 2161.0

|Jan mean C = 17.3

|Feb mean C = 17.5

|Mar mean C = 19.1

|Apr mean C = 21.5

|May mean C = 24.2

|Jun mean C = 27.2

|Jul mean C = 29.1

|Aug mean C = 29.0

|Sep mean C = 27.9

|Oct mean C = 25.5

|Nov mean C = 22.5

|Dec mean C = 19.0

|year mean C = 23.3

|Jan high C = 19.8

|Feb high C = 20.2

|Mar high C = 21.9

|Apr high C = 24.3

|May high C = 27.0

|Jun high C = 29.8

|Jul high C = 31.9

|Aug high C = 31.8

|Sep high C = 30.6

|Oct high C = 28.1

|Nov high C = 25.0

|Dec high C = 21.5

|year high C = 26.0

|Jan low C = 14.9

|Feb low C = 15.1

|Mar low C = 16.7

|Apr low C = 19.1

|May low C = 22.1

|Jun low C = 25.2

|Jul low C = 27.0

|Aug low C = 26.8

|Sep low C = 25.8

|Oct low C = 23.5

|Nov low C = 20.4

|Dec low C = 16.8

|year low C = 21.1

|Jan humidity = 66

|Feb humidity = 69

|Mar humidity = 71

|Apr humidity = 75

|May humidity = 78

|Jun humidity = 83

|Jul humidity = 78

|Aug humidity = 78

|Sep humidity = 75

|Oct humidity = 72

|Nov humidity = 69

|Dec humidity = 67

|year humidity = 73

|Jan sun = 93.1

|Feb sun = 93.1

|Mar sun = 115.3

|Apr sun = 120.9

|May sun = 138.2

|Jun sun = 159.5

|Jul sun = 227.0

|Aug sun = 206.3

|Sep sun = 181.3

|Oct sun = 163.3

|Nov sun = 121.7

|Dec sun = 107.4

|year sun = 1727.1

|Jan snow cm = 0

|Feb snow cm = 0

|Mar snow cm = 0

|Apr snow cm = 0

|May snow cm = 0

|Jun snow cm = 0

|Jul snow cm = 0

|Aug snow cm = 0

|Sep snow cm = 0

|Oct snow cm = 0

|Nov snow cm = 0

|Dec snow cm = 0

|year snow cm = 0

|unit precipitation days = 0.5 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 12.2

|Feb precipitation days = 11.3

|Mar precipitation days = 12.6

|Apr precipitation days = 11.6

|May precipitation days = 13.1

|Jun precipitation days = 12.4

|Jul precipitation days = 11.0

|Aug precipitation days = 13.9

|Sep precipitation days = 13.3

|Oct precipitation days = 10.6

|Nov precipitation days = 9.6

|Dec precipitation days = 10.7

|year precipitation days = 142.0

|source 1 = Japan Meteorological Agency{{cite web

| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/index.php?prec_no=91&block_no=47936&year=&month=&day=&view=

| script-title = ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）

| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency

| access-date = 19 May 2021

| archive-date = 21 May 2021

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210521161229/https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/index.php?prec_no=91&block_no=47936&year=&month=&day=&view=

| url-status = live

}}

}}

{{see|Okinawan cuisine}}

There are many local pubs (izakaya) and cafes that serve Okinawan cuisine and dishes, such as gōyā chanpurū (bitter melon stir fry), fu chanpurū (wheat gluten chanpurū), and tonkatsu (tenderized, breaded, fried pork cutlet). Okinawan soba is the signature dish and consists of wheat noodles served hot in a soup, usually with pork (rib or pork belly). This contrasts with the mainland soba, which is buckwheat noodles. Rafute, which is braised pork belly, is another popular Okinawan dish. American presence on the island has also led to some creative dishes such as taco rice, which is now a common meal served in bentos, and the common use of spam.

File:OkinawaOnna3.jpg

Among the prefectures of Japan, Okinawa has the youngest and fastest-growing population but has the lowest employment rate and average income. The island economy is primarily driven by tourism and the U.S. military presence, with efforts in recent years to diversify into other sectors.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/okinawas-reinvention-enters-next-phase-1415912139|title=Okinawa's Reinvention Enters Next Phase|last1=Martin|first1=Alexander|date=13 November 2014|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=19 May 2016|url-access=subscription|archive-date=11 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611025110/http://www.wsj.com/articles/okinawas-reinvention-enters-next-phase-1415912139|url-status=live}}

Other significant contributors to the economy include public utilities and public works, as well as, to a lesser extent, telecommunications ({{ill|Okinawa Cellular Telephone|ja|沖縄セルラー電話}}), and alcoholic beverages (Orion Breweries).{{cite web|date=30 June 2021|url=https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20210630-50773/|title=Half-century of subsidies hamper Okinawa's path to self-reliance|publisher=The Japan News|access-date=30 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915175015/https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20210630-50773/|archive-date=15 September 2024|url-status=live}}

The Motobu Peninsula has a large-scale quarry and cement factory, taking advantage of the limestone in the area.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ryukyucement.co.jp/kouzan.htm |title=安和鉱山 琉球セメント |access-date=21 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217112331/http://www.ryukyucement.co.jp/kouzan.htm |archive-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=dead }} There is also agriculture with tropical fruit such as Malpighia emarginata.{{cite web|date=14 May 2009|url=http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-144509-storytopic-5.html|title=飲んで元気 アセローラ 本部町が産地をPR|publisher=琉球新報|access-date=17 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623124154/http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-144509-storytopic-5.html|archive-date=23 June 2013|url-status=dead}}

Tourist attractions include Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (at one time the world's largest aquarium), Century Beach, Pineapple Park, the Orion Beer Factory and Hiji Falls. In recent years, Okinawa has become an increasingly popular destination for tourists from China and Southeast Asia.{{cite news|last1=Yoshida|first1=Reiji|title=Economics of U.S. base redevelopment sway Okinawa mindset|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/05/17/national/politics-diplomacy/economics-u-s-base-redevelopment-sway-okinawa-mindset|access-date=19 May 2016|work=The Japan Times|date=17 May 2015|archive-date=9 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509224847/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/05/17/national/politics-diplomacy/economics-u-s-base-redevelopment-sway-okinawa-mindset|url-status=live}} In 2018, Okinawa attracted 9,842,400 tourists, a positive growth of 4.7% from 9,396,200 in the previous year.{{cite web|url=http://english.ryukyushimpo.jp/2019/02/08/29912/|title=Okinawa fails to surpass Hawaii in terms of 2018 tourist numbers and increase rate|website=Ryukyu Shimpo - Okinawa, Japanese newspaper, local news|language=en-US|access-date=25 July 2019|archive-date=25 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725084302/http://english.ryukyushimpo.jp/2019/02/08/29912/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/02/09/national/okinawa-tourist-numbers-top-hawaii-first-time/|title=Okinawa tourist numbers top those of Hawaii for first time|date=9 February 2018|work=The Japan Times Online|access-date=25 July 2019|language=en-US|issn=0447-5763|archive-date=25 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725084302/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/02/09/national/okinawa-tourist-numbers-top-hawaii-first-time/|url-status=live}}

The U.S. military bases account for 4 to 5% of the island economy. There is also a smaller contingent of Japanese military bases on the island. Several former U.S. military facilities on Okinawa have been re-developed as commercial areas, most notably the American Village in Chatan, which opened in 1998, and the Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycom in Kitanakagusuku, which opened in 2015.

{{main|United States Forces Japan}}

File:18thopgroup-f15-eagles.jpg and an F-15D of the 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base]]

File:US military bases in Okinawa.svg

The United States maintains American military bases in Japan as part of the U.S.-Japan alliance since 1951. Most U.S. military is in Okinawa Prefecture. In 2013, there were approximately 50,000 U.S. military personnel stationed in Japan with 40,000 dependents and 5,500 American civilians employed by the United States Department of Defense.Yoshida, Reiji, "[http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2008/03/25/reference/basics-of-the-u-s-military-presence/ Basics of the U.S. military presence] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821130637/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2008/03/25/reference/basics-of-the-u-s-military-presence/ |date=2019-08-21 }}", Japan Times, 25 March 2008, p. 3. About 26,000 U.S. military personnel are on Okinawa Island.

There are 13 United States military bases on Okinawa Island.{{Cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2012/05/13/general/what-awaits-okinawa-40-years-after-reversion/|title=What awaits Okinawa 40 years after reversion?|last=Mitchell|first=Jon|date=13 May 2012|work=The Japan Times|access-date=19 June 2018|author-link=Jon Mitchell (journalist)|archive-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620002002/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2012/05/13/general/what-awaits-okinawa-40-years-after-reversion/|url-status=live}} Approximately 62% of all United States bases in Japan are on Okinawa.http://www.pref.okinawa.jp/site/chijiko/kichitai/documents/petition20031116.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304005946/http://www.pref.okinawa.jp/site/chijiko/kichitai/documents/petition20031116.pdf |date=4 March 2014 }}, Okinawa Prefectural Government{{cite web |url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201606290073.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630192633/http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201606290073.html |archive-date=30 June 2016 |title=Okinawa accuses U.S. military of distorting figure on U.S. bases：The Asahi Shimbun}} They cover 25% of Okinawa island. The major bases are Futenma, Kadena, Hansen, Torii, Schwab, Foster, and Kinser.{{Citation|last1=Jaffe|first1=Greg|title=U.S. comes to agreement with Japan to move 9,000 marines off Okinawa|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-comes-to-agreement-with-japan-to-move-9000-marines-off-okinawa/2012/04/26/gIQA1seKkT_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|publication-date=26 April 2012|access-date=28 April 2012|last2=Heil|first2=Emily|last3=Harlan|first3=Chico|url-access=limited|archive-date=27 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427222413/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-comes-to-agreement-with-japan-to-move-9000-marines-off-okinawa/2012/04/26/gIQA1seKkT_story.html|url-status=live}} There are 28 U.S. military facilities on Okinawa. They are mainly concentrated in the central area. At one point, Okinawa hosted approximately 1,200 nuclear warheads.{{cite news |title='Okinawa bacteria' toxic legacy crosses continents, spans generations |first=Jon |last=Mitchell |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2013/06/04/issues/okinawa-bacteria-toxic-legacy-crosses-continents-spans-generations/ |newspaper=The Japan Times |date=4 June 2013 |access-date=2 September 2019 |archive-date=2 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902122922/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2013/06/04/issues/okinawa-bacteria-toxic-legacy-crosses-continents-spans-generations/ |url-status=live }} There were several nuclear weapons incidents on Okinawa and in the sea near the islands.{{cite news |title=H-Bomb Lost at Sea in '65 Off Okinawa, U.S. Admits |author=Broder, John M. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-09-mn-3000-story.html |newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |date=9 May 1989 |access-date=2 September 2019 |archive-date=17 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317233757/http://articles.latimes.com/1989-05-09/news/mn-3000_1_nuclear-weapons-nuclear-reactors-william-m-arkin |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2013/11/11/issues/okinawa-the-junk-heap-of-the-pacific/ |title=Okinawa: the junk heap of the Pacific; Decades of Pentagon pollution poison service members, residents and future plans for the island |last1=Mitchell |first1=Jon |date=11 November 2013 |publisher=The Japan Times |access-date=2 September 2019 |archive-date=21 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021204529/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2013/11/11/issues/okinawa-the-junk-heap-of-the-pacific/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Okinawa: the junk heap of the Pacific |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2013/11/11/issues/okinawa-the-junk-heap-of-the-pacific/#.XW0DLHszWUk |publisher=The Japan Times |date=11 November 2013 |access-date=2 September 2019 |archive-date=21 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021204529/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2013/11/11/issues/okinawa-the-junk-heap-of-the-pacific/#.XW0DLHszWUk |url-status=live }}

In 1997, the peculiar inhabitant population of this island [both Americans and Japanese living together since 1945] was used to prove a curious conjecture. By that time nine subtypes of JC virus had been found, each from a different segment of the old world. Virtually every individual of this world is infected with one or the other JCV subtype, by the time he/she reaches 10 years of age. This virus is isolated from urine, and another conjecture is that most children are infected from parents, and that too, through living at close quarters for years together. According to this conjecture, even if two different populations, say Americans and Japanese, were living together in the same area, but not within the same family, the individuals would not cross-infect one another. Okinawa island proved an ideal place to test this conjecture. No evidence was found that Japanese children were infected with American type JCV, although they had been living at the same island as the Americans. Since it is assumed now that JCV subtypes are virtually unique to each world area, it is now used to determine human migration patterns.{{cite journal | vauthors = Sugimoto C, Kitamura T, Guo J, Al-Ahdal MN, Shchelkunov SN, Otova B, Ondrejka P, Chollet JY, El-Safi S, Ettayebi M, Grésenguet G, Kocagöz T, Chaiyarasamee S, Thant KZ, Thein S, Moe K, Kobayashi N, Taguchi F, Yogo Y |title= Typing of urinary JC virus DNA offers a novel means of tracing human migrations |journal= Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A |date=August 19, 1997 | volume = 94| issue =17 |pages=9191–9196|doi=10.1073/pnas.94.17.9191

|pmid=9256458|pmc=23108|doi-access = free|bibcode= 1997PNAS...94.9191S }}

In 2020, tests around Kadena Air Base showed severe contamination of the wells and waterways of Dakujaku River and Hija river with toxic chemicals PFAS. This affects the drinking water of 450,000 residents. PFAS was used in foam at fire fighting training sites on U.S. facilities during the 1970s and 1980s.{{cite web |date=18 August 2022 |title=450,000 Okinawans' drinking water contaminated by Kadena Air Base training site, new evidence suggests |publisher=Okinawa Times |author=John Mitchell |url=https://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/998284 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818093928/https://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/998284 |archive-date=18 August 2022}}

The 1971 Okinawa Reversion Agreement officially ended the U.S. military occupation on Okinawa.{{cite news|date=14 May 2002|title=Handover of Okinawa to Japan was prickly issue|publisher=The Japan Times|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2002/05/14/national/handover-of-okinawa-to-japan-was-prickly-issue/#.XW0BKHszWUk|access-date=2 September 2019|archive-date=31 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031161002/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2002/05/14/national/handover-of-okinawa-to-japan-was-prickly-issue/#.XW0BKHszWUk|url-status=live}} The bases primarily exist to serve Japanese and American strategic interests,{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17865198|title=Okinawa deal between US and Japan to move marines|last=|date=27 April 2012|access-date=16 August 2013|publisher=BBC News|archive-date=15 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615180816/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17865198|url-status=live}} despite recent efforts to move the bases out of core areas following incidents involving military personnel and resultant protests (including the 1995 Okinawa rape incident).{{cite news |title=Okinawa rape case sparks resentment |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2008/02/13/national/okinawa-rape-case-sparks-resentment/#.XW0Iw3szWUk |work=The Japan Times |date=13 February 2008 |access-date=2 September 2019 |archive-date=5 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805161201/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2008/02/13/national/okinawa-rape-case-sparks-resentment/#.XW0Iw3szWUk |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Two US sailors accused of Okinawa rape |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/17/us-sailors-accused-okinawa-rape |work=The Guardian |date=17 October 2012 |access-date=2 September 2019 |archive-date=2 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902122913/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/17/us-sailors-accused-okinawa-rape |url-status=live }}

In 2012, an agreement was struck between the United States and Japan to reduce the number of U.S. military personnel on the island, moving 9,000 personnel to other locations and moving bases out of heavily populated Greater Naha, but 10,000 Marines will remain on the island, along with other U.S. military units.{{Cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120428a2.html|title=U.S., Japan tweak marine exit plan|last=Ito|first=Masami|date=28 April 2012|work=The Japan Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427181628/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120428a2.html|archive-date=27 April 2012}} Attempts to completely close bases on the southern third of the island, where 90% of the population lives (all but about 120,000 people{{Cite web |title=Japan: Administrative Division (Prefectures, Districts and Cities) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/japan/admin/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}) have been impeded by both the American desire that alternative locations be found where bases subject to closure could move to (e.g. Henoko Peninsula, mid-island), as well as by local Okinawan opposition to any suggested locations on the island (who demand no U.S. troops at all anywhere on the island). Tokyo says the U.S. bases are important for national security. Locals complain that despite being home to less than 1% of Japan's population and area, Okinawa hosts the majority of the U.S. military presence in Japan.{{Cite web |url=http://archive.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20140814/NEWS/308140041/U-S-military-takes-1st-step-Okinawa-relocation |title=U.S. military takes 1st step in Okinawa relocation |date=14 August 2014 |website=archive.marinecorpstimes.com |access-date=7 February 2015 |archive-date=8 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208005908/http://archive.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20140814/NEWS/308140041/U-S-military-takes-1st-step-Okinawa-relocation |url-status=dead}} In late December 2013, Governor Hirokazu Nakaima gave permission for land reclamation to begin for a new U.S. military base at Henoko, reneging on previous promises and furthering the effort to consolidate the American troop presence on the island, though away from urban Naha.{{cite web|last=AP|title=Okinawa Governor Gives Go-ahead For New US Base|url=http://dailydigest.com/19041/okinawa-governor-gives-go-ahead-for-new-us-base/|publisher=DailyDigest|access-date=27 December 2013|date=27 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228153212/http://dailydigest.com/19041/okinawa-governor-gives-go-ahead-for-new-us-base/|archive-date=28 December 2013}}

In December 2016 the U.S. returned {{convert|10000|acre|km2 sqmi}} of the Northern Training Area on Okinawa to Japan. This reduced the footprint of the U.S. forces by 20% on the island. It was the biggest land return since 1972.{{Cite news|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/1036252/us-returns-10000-acres-of-okinawan-training-area-to-japan/ |title=U.S. Returns 10,000 Acres of Okinawan Training Area to Japan |last=Garamone |first=Jim |date=21 December 2016 |work=DOD News |access-date=12 January 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112225217/https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/1036252/us-returns-10000-acres-of-okinawan-training-area-to-japan/ |archive-date=12 January 2020}}

Okinawa has various historical buildings and monuments, such as feudal castles, ruins, UNESCO, and other historical significant sites.

• Shuri Castle is the most famous castle on Okinawa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Nakagusuku Castle is a gusuku in the village of Kitanakagusuku, Okinawa. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the 100 most famous castles in Japan.{{cite web|title=Nakagusuku Castle Remains|url=http://www.nakagusuku-jo.jp/en|access-date=2 April 2014|archive-date=28 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328140606/http://www.nakagusuku-jo.jp/en|url-status=live}}
• The Cornerstone of Peace monument in Itoman commemorates the Battle of Okinawa and the end of World War II.{{cite web |url=http://www3.pref.okinawa.jp/site/view/contview.jsp?cateid=11&id=7793&page=1 |title=The Cornerstone of Peace - statement of purpose |publisher=Okinawa Prefecture |access-date=4 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927153832/http://www3.pref.okinawa.jp/site/view/contview.jsp?cateid=11&id=7793&page=1 |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=dead }} Nearby is the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum.
• {{ill|Nakamura House|ja|中村家住宅 (沖縄県)}} is an original 18th-century farmhouse in Kitanakagusuki.
• The former {{ill|Japanese Navy Underground HQ|ja|海軍司令部壕}}
• Katsuren Castle
• Nakijin Castle

File:Naha_Shuri_Castle20s5s3200.jpg|Shuri Castle in Naha

File:Naha_Shuri_Castle32bs5s4592.jpg|Shureimon

File:Nakagusuku_Castle25bs3104.jpg|Nakagusuku Castle ruins

File:Okinawa_prefectural_Peace_memorial_Museum-2007-06-27_4.jpg|Cornerstone of Peace monument

File:Nakamura_House_Kitanakagusuku01n3104.jpg|Nakamura house

• Cape Manzamo
• Cape Hedo
• Sefa-utaki
• Okinawa Senseki Quasi-National Park
• {{ill|Gyokusendo Cave|ja|玉泉洞}}
• {{ill|Moon Beach|ja|ムーンビーチ}} is a natural beach shaped like a crescent moon with tropical trees

• Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
• Mid-Sea Road
• {{ill|Kokusaidori|ja|国際通り}} main street of Naha
• The American Village in Chatan, Okinawa.
• Okinawa World

File:131027 Shuri Castle Festival Naha Okinawa pref Japan02s8.jpg]]

There are multiple festivals on Okinawa throughout the year.{{cite web |url=https://www.visitokinawa.jp/events |title=Events |publisher=Visit Okinawa Japan |access-date=21 August 2019 |archive-date=11 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811070226/http://www.visitokinawa.jp/events |url-status=live }}

• Shurijo Castle Park New Year's Celebration{{snd}}January
• Cherry Blossom Festival{{snd}}January, February
• Naha Hari Festival{{snd}}May
• Orion Beerfest{{snd}}August
• Eisa Dancers Parade{{snd}}August
• Shuri Castle Festival{{snd}}October
• Naha Great Tug-of-War Festival{{snd}}October
• The Ryukyu Dynasty Festival Shuri{{snd}}November

File:Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium 1.jpg in Okinawa]]

• FC Ryukyu, association football team, plays in J2 League.{{Cite web|url=http://fcryukyu.com/profile/2020/|title=FC琉球公式サイト | FC Ryukyu Official Website|access-date=11 July 2020|archive-date=1 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701030507/http://fcryukyu.com/profile/2020/|url-status=live}}
• Ryukyu Golden Kings, basketball team, plays in B.League.

File:20100526那覇空港.JPG (2010)]]

Naha Airport is the main transportation hub for the Ryukyu Islands and has an increasingly large role in regional logistics. All Nippon Airways opened a cargo hub at the airport in 2009, providing overnight freight service between Japan and other Asian countries.

File:Okinawa Monorail 1206+1106 20080606.jpg

The Okinawa Urban Monorail (Yui Rail) runs from Naha Airport to Japan's south-easternmost monorail station, Akamine Station, before heading to its final destination of Tedako-Uranishi Station (Urasoe) and back.{{cite web|url=https://www.okinawa.org/blog/yui-rail-museum-an-indoor-learning-experience-for-all.46/|title=Yui Rail Museum: An Indoor Learning Experience For All|website=Okinawa.Org|language=en-US|access-date=20 August 2019|archive-date=8 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208124203/https://www.okinawa.org/blog/yui-rail-museum-an-indoor-learning-experience-for-all.46/|url-status=live}}

There are multiple bus companies, such as Toyo Bus, Ryukyu Bus Kotsu, Naha Bus, and Okinawa Bus.

The Okinawa Expressway is a toll road that runs from Naha to Nago, and has a speed limit of {{convert|80|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}, the highest on the island.

There are many ferries to many of the nearby islands, such as Ie Shima. Tomarin Port in Naha, has ferries to nearby islands such as Aguni, Tokashiki and Zamami.

File:Yanbaru.jpg

With Kunigami district, it has an area of {{convert|764|km2|sqmi|sp=us}} and a population of about 120,000. There is much nature with subtropical rainforest.

• Kunigami district
• Ginoza
• Higashi
• Kinmu
• Kunigami
• Motobu
• Nakijin
• Ōgimi
• Onna
• Nago

With Nakagami district, it has an area of {{convert|280|km2|sqmi|sp=us}} and a population of about 590,000. Most U.S. military facilities are located here. Urasoe has strong connections with the southern municipalities, including the Southern Wide Area Municipal Area Administrative Association, Nishihara town, Nakagusuku village, and Kitanakagusuku Village. These belong to the Southern Wide Area Administrative Association. With Kunigami district or Yamabaru, it has an area of {{cvt|764|km2}} and a population of about 120,000. Rich nature remains.

• Ginowan
• Nakagami district
• Yomitan
• Kadena
• Chatan
• Kitanakagusuku
• Nakagusuku
• Nishihara
• Okinawa City
• Urasoe
• Uruma

File:The main streets of Naha city 2.JPG

With Shimajiri district, it has an area of {{convert|198|km2|sqmi|sp=us}} and a population of about 540,000. The capital is Naha.

• Itoman
• Naha
• Nanjo
• Shimajiri district
• Haebaru
• Yaese
• Yonabaru
• Tomigusuku

File:KinjoPot1656.jpg|Okinawa Island is the home of Tsuboya-yaki, pottery in the Ryūkyūan tradition

File:TogyuWP.jpg|Bullfighting (Tōgyū) arena. Okinawa is the home of a form of bullfighting sometimes compared to sumo.

{{Portal|Japan|Islands}}

• Geography of Japan
• Japanese archipelago
• History of the Ryukyu Islands
• Ryukyu Kingdom
• List of monarchs of Ryukyu Islands
• Shō Dynasties family tree
• Names of Okinawa
• Okinawan martial arts

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• {{cite book|last=Caprio|first=Mark|title=Japanese Assimilation Policies in Colonial Korea, 1910-1945|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oj_IhRConN8C|year=2014|publisher=University of Washington Press|isbn=978-0-295-99040-8|access-date=5 April 2021|archive-date=19 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519232535/https://books.google.com/books?id=oj_IhRConN8C|url-status=live}}
• {{cite book|editor-first=Michael|editor-last=Weiner|editor-link=Michael Weiner (professor)|last=Christy|first=Alan S.|chapter=The making of imperial subjects in Okinawa|title=Race, Ethnicity and Migration in Modern Japan: Imagined and imaginary minorities|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4z_JJfG-hyYC|year=2004|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-415-20857-4|access-date=5 April 2021|archive-date=19 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519232532/https://books.google.com/books?id=4z_JJfG-hyYC|url-status=live}}
• {{cite journal|last1=Dubinsky|first1=Stanley|last2=Davies|first2=William|editor=Steven Heine|editor-link=Steven Heine|title=Language Conflict and Language Rights: The Ainu, Ryūkyūans, and Koreans in Japan|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278729134|year=2013|journal=Japan Studies Review|volume=17|issn=1550-0713|access-date=5 April 2021|archive-date=23 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023034728/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278729134|url-status=live}}
• {{cite book|last=Inoue|first=Masamichi S.|title=Okinawa and the U.S. Military: Identity Making in the Age of Globalization|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TnsVoSw8hRgC|year=2017|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-51114-8|access-date=5 April 2021|archive-date=17 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217032309/https://books.google.com/books?id=TnsVoSw8hRgC|url-status=live}}
• {{cite journal |first=Steve |last=Rabson |title=Okinawan Perspectives on Japan's Imperial Institution |url=http://apjjf.org/-Steve-Rabson/2667/article.html |date=February 2008 |journal=The Asia-Pacific Journal |volume=6 |issue=2 |access-date=8 February 2017 |archive-date=12 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812092152/https://apjjf.org/-Steve-Rabson/2667/article.html |url-status=live }}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Okinawa Island}}

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Category:Islands of Okinawa Prefecture

Category:Ryukyu Islands

Category:World War II sites in Japan

Category:World War II sites of the United States