Okinawa Prefecture

Okinawa Prefecture (沖縄県; Japanese: Okinawa-ken, Okinawan: Uchinaa-chin) is traditionally a prefecture in the Kyūshū region of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is made up of islands which are southwest of the island of Kyushu. Recent government proposals recognize the prefecture as its own region. The capital city is Naha which is on the island of Okinawa. History Timeline 1429: Shō Hashi founded the Ryūkyū Kingdom 1609: Shimazu of Satsuma Province invade Ryukyu Kingdom 1853: Commodore Matthew C. 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 1953 (Shōwa 28): Partial reversion to Japan 1972 (Shōwa 47): Reversion to Japan 2000 (Heisei 12): 26th G8 summit at Kyushu and Okinawa 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. 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. National Parks National Parks are established in about 19% of the total land area of the prefecture. Shrines and Temples Naminouegū was the chief Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) of the Ryukyu Islands. 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. Related pages Provinces of Japan Prefectures of Japan List of regions of Japan List of islands of Japan References More reading Kerr, George H. (1958). Okinawa: the History of an Island People. Rutland, Vermont: Charles Tuttle Co. OCLC 722356 ___________. (1953). Ryukyu Kingdom and Province before 1945. Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council. OCLC 5455582 Other websites Okinawa Prefecture Archived 2018-03-12 at the Wayback Machine Okinawa Tourist Information Archived 2012-03-09 at the Wayback Machine Ryukyu Cultural Archives Okinawa Prefecture Official Home-page Archived 2005-02-05 at the Wayback Machine