List of Cultural Properties of Japan - structures (Okinawa)
National Cultural Properties
Table:
Property	Date	Municipality	Comments	Ref

Ieudun Tomb 伊江御殿 墓 Ieudun baka	1687	Naha	turtle-back tomb of the Ie line , descendants of the seventh son of Shō Sei , fourth king of the Second Shō Dynasty	[ 1 ]

Sonohyan-utaki Stone Gate 園比屋武御嶽石門 Sonohyan-utaki sekimon	1519	Naha	heavily damaged during the war and restored to its previous form in 1957 ; part of the Prefectural Historic Site and of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu	[ 2 ]

Chunnaagaa 喜友名泉 Chunnaagaa	1751-1829	Ginowan	stone castellum aquae or fountain	[ 3 ]

Former Enkaku-ji Hōjō Bridge 旧 円覚寺 放生橋 kyū-Engakuji Hōjō-bashi	1498	Naha	Enkaku-ji was founded by Shō Shin in 1492 ; all its wooden buildings were destroyed during the war ; the ornately carved bridge suffered minor damage and has since been restored ; its carvings are a Prefectural Cultural Property	[ 4 ]

Miyaradunchi 旧宮良殿内 kyū-Miyaradunchi	1751-1829	Ishigaki	residence of a senior Pechin ; the gardens are a Place of Scenic Beauty	[ 5 ]

Former Sōgen-ji First Gate and Stone Wall 旧崇元寺第一門及び石牆 kyū-Sōgenji daiichimon oyobi sekishō	before 1527	Naha	Sōgenji , said to have been founded in 1470 , was destroyed during the war ; the gate was restored in 1952	[ 6 ]

Former Nakazato Magiri Warehouse Overseer 's Stone Walls 旧仲里間切蔵元石牆 kyū-Nakazato magiri kuramoto sekishō	1716-1735	Kumejima	the wooden buildings are lost	[ 7 ]

Former Yonaguni Family Residence 旧与那国家住宅 kyū-Yonaguni-ke jūtaku	1913	Taketomi	part of the Taketomi Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings	[ 8 ]

Former Waukei Family Tomb 旧和宇慶家墓 kyū-Waukei-ke haka	1601-1700	Ishigaki	combines a roofed cave burial chamber with a walled courtyard	[ 9 ]

Tamaudun 玉御殿 Tamaudun	1688	Izena	designation comprises two components : the burial chamber and stone wall	[ 10 ] [ 11 ]

Tamaudun 玉陵 Tamaudun	1501	Naha	designation comprises five components : the central chamber for temporary burial prior to washing the bones and final entombment , east chamber for the entombment of kings and queens , west chamber for the entombment of other members of the royal family , and inner and outer stone walls ; also an Historic Site and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu	[ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ] [ 16 ]

Gongen-dō 権現堂 Gongendō	1786	Ishigaki	designation comprises two components : the shinden and haiden ; first constructed in 1614 , destroyed by the 1771 Great Yaeyama Tsunami , and rebuilt the following decade	[ 17 ] [ 18 ]

Takara Family Residence 高良家住宅 Takara-ke jūtaku	1868-1911	Zamami	boatman 's house on Geruma Island	[ 19 ]

Uezu Family Residence 上江洲家住宅 Uezu-ke jūtaku	1754	Kumejima	designation comprises two components : the main building and anteroom	[ 20 ] [ 21 ]

Aragaki Family Residence 新垣家住宅 Aragaki-ke jūtaku	1801-1911	Naha	designation comprises four components : the nineteenth-century main building and workshop , and the 1911 annex and climbing kiln ; a potter 's house ( tsuboya-yaki ( 壺屋焼 ) )	[ 22 ] [ 23 ] [ 24 ] [ 25 ]

Sesoko Toteikun 瀬底土帝君 Sesoko tōteīkun	late Edo period	Motobu	on Sesokojima ( 瀬底島 ) ; complex includes honden , haiden , garden , stone walls , hearth	[ 26 ]

Former Ōgimi Village Office Building 大宜味村役場旧庁舎 Ōgimi-son yakuba kyū-chōsha	Ōgimi	[ 27 ]

Nakamura Family Residence 中村家住宅 Nakamura-ke jūtaku	late Edo to Meiji period	Kitanakagusuku	designation comprises five components : the main building ( late Edo to Meiji period ) , anteroom , annexe , storehouse , and pigpen or fuuru ( all Meiji period )	[ 28 ] [ 29 ] [ 30 ] [ 31 ] [ 32 ]

Nakandakari Riverside Facilities 仲村渠樋川 Nakandakari hiijaa	1912	Nanjō	amenities include a fountain , retaining walls , pavements etc	[ 33 ]

Tsukayama Distillery 津嘉山酒造所施設 Tsukayama shuzōsho shisetsu	1928	Nago	awamori distillery ; designation comprises two components : the main building and distillery	[ 34 ] [ 35 ]

Leveraging the provided table plus the supporting text provided.

Answer the following question: In which year was this residential place in Okinawa Prefecture erected in the city that is political , cultural , and economic center of the Yaeyama Islands ? Output only the correct answer as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Avoid adding external knowledge.

Naha ( 那覇市 , Naha-shi , Japanese : [ naꜜha ] , Okinawan : Nāfa or Nafa ) is the capital city of the Okinawa Prefecture , the southernmost prefecture of Japan . As of 1 June 2019 , the city has an estimated population of 317,405 and a population density of 7,939 persons per km² . The total area is 39.98 km² . Naha is a city on the East China Sea coast of the southern part of Okinawa Island , the largest of Okinawa Prefecture . The modern city was officially founded on May 20 , 1921 . Before that , Naha had been for centuries one of the most important and populous sites in Okinawa . Naha is the political , economic and education center of Okinawa Prefecture . In the medieval and early modern periods , it was the commercial center of the Ryūkyū Kingdom .
Turtleback or Turtle-back tombs or turtle shell tombs ( simplified Chinese : 龟壳墓 ; traditional Chinese : 龜殼墓 ; pinyin : guī ké mù ; Pe̍h-ōe-jī : ku-khak-bōng ; Japanese : 亀甲墓 , kamekōbaka ) are a particular type of tombs commonly found in some coastal areas of Fujian , China , the Ryukyu Islands of Japan and in Quang Nam province of Vietnam . In the Chinese version , the tomb itself is made to look like the carapace of a tortoise ; the vertical tombstone with the name of the deceased is put where the tortoise would have had its head , at the end of the grave where the feet of the buried body are . The tomb is surrounded by an Ω-shaped ridge , with its opening on the side where the tortoise 's head would have been and where the tombstone is . The Ryukyuan version has the same overall shape and layout , but on a much greater scale . The body of the tortoise serves as a family burial vault .
Shō Sei ( 尚清 , 1497-1555 ) was king of the Ryukyu Kingdom from 1526 to 1555 . He was the fifth son of King Shō Shin , who he succeeded . Shō Sei suppressed a rebellion on Amami Ōshima in 1537 and took steps to improve defenses against wakō that same year . Shō Sei died in 1555 and was succeeded by his second son Shō Gen .
The First Shō Dynasty and Second Shō Dynasty ruled the Ryukyu Kingdom in 1406-1469 and 1470-1879 , respectively . In spite of the names , they were unrelated . Abbreviated genealogies of the two dynasties follow here .
Sonohyan-utaki ( 園比屋武御嶽 , Okinawan : スヌファンウタキ Sunufan-utaki ) is a sacred grove of trees and plants ( utaki ) of the traditional indigenous Ryukyuan religion . It is located on the grounds of Shuri Castle in Naha , Okinawa , a few paces away from the Shureimon castle gate . The utaki , or more specifically its stone gate ( 石門 , ishimon ) , is one of a number of sites which together comprise the UNESCO World Heritage Site officially described as Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu , and has been designated an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese national government . While the gates were once opened only for the king , today they are always closed , and so the gates have in a way become a sacred space themselves , representative of the actual sacred space behind them . Many travellers and locals come to pray at the gates . The stone gate was first built in 1519 , during the reign of Ryukyuan king Shō Shin , though the space had been recognized as a sacred utaki prior to that . Whenever the king left the castle on a journey , he would first stop at Sonohyan-utaki to pray for safe travels . The site also played an important role in the initiation of the High Priestess ( 聞得大君 , kikoe-ōgimi ) of the native religion . The gate is said to be a prime example of traditional Okinawan architecture , and shows many signs of Chinese influence , along with a Japanese-influenced gable in the karahafu style . It was severely damaged in the 1945 battle of Okinawa , but was restored in 1957 , and officially designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 , along with a number of other sites across Okinawa Island . The utaki , i.e . the sacred grove itself , was once much larger than it is today , an elementary school and other buildings having encroached upon the space .
The Pacific War , sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War , was the theater of World War II that was fought in the Pacific and Asia . It was geographically the largest theater of the war , including the vast Pacific Ocean theater , the South West Pacific theater , the South-East Asian theater , the Second Sino-Japanese War , and the Soviet-Japanese War . The Second Sino-Japanese War between the Empire of Japan and the Republic of China had been in progress since 7 July 1937 , with hostilities dating back as far as 19 September 1931 with the Japanese invasion of Manchuria . However , it is more widely accepted [ g ] that the Pacific War itself began on 7/8 December 1941 , when the Japanese invaded Thailand and attacked the British colonies of Malaya , Singapore , and Hong Kong as well as the United States military and naval bases in Hawaii , Wake Island , Guam , and the Philippines . The Pacific War saw the Allies pitted against Japan , the latter aided by Thailand and to a lesser extent by the Axis allies , Germany and Italy . The war culminated in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki , and other large aerial bomb attacks by the Allies , accompanied by the Soviet Union 's declaration of war and invasion of Manchuria and other territories on 9 August 1945 , resulting in the Japanese announcement of intent to surrender on 15 August 1945 . The formal surrender of Japan ceremony took place aboard the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945 . After the war , Japan lost all rights and titles to its former possessions in Asia and the Pacific , and its sovereignty was limited to the four main home islands and other minor islands as determined by the Allies . Japan 's Shinto Emperor relinquished much of his authority and his divine status through the Shinto Directive in order to pave the way for extensive cultural and political reforms .
The Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu ( 琉球王国のグスク及び関連遺産群 , Ryūkyū ōkoku no gusuku oyobi kanren'isangun ) is an UNESCO World Heritage Site which consists of nine sites all located in the Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . The heritage sites include two utaki ( or sacred sites , one a gate and the other a grove ) , the Tamaudun mausoleum , one garden , and five gusuku castles sites , four of which are ruins and one of which is a reconstruction . The sites were inscribed based on the criteria that they were a fine representation of the Ryūkyū Kingdom 's culture , whose unique blend of Japanese and Chinese influence made it a crucial economic and cultural junction between several neighboring states .
Ginowan ( 宜野湾市 , Ginowan-shi ) ( Okinawan : じのーん , romanized : Jinōn ) is a city located in Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . As of 2012 , the city has an estimated population of 94,405 , with 40,041 households and a population density of 4,838.8 persons per km² . The total area is 19.51 km² . The city borders Chatan to the west , Okinawa City to the North , Urasoe to the south and Nishihara to the East .
Enkaku-ji ( 円覚寺 , Okinawan : ウフティラ ufutira , lit . the great temple ) was a Rinzai Buddhist temple and royal bodaiji of the Ryūkyū Kingdom , located in Naha , Okinawa . The temple was erected during the reign of King Shō Shin ( r. 1477-1526 ) , the first abbot was Kaiin Shōko ( 芥隠承琥 ) . It also used as bodaiji of Ryukyuan kings . Ryukyuan kings should visit Enkaku-ji , Tennō-ji and Tenkai-ji after their genpuku and investiture . Enkaku-ji was recognized as a national treasure of Japan in 1933 , but it was destroyed in the 1945 battle of Okinawa . Only the sōmon ( general gate ) and Hōjō Bridge ( 放生橋 ) were reconstructed in 1968 because of lack of historical records . The government of Okinawa Prefecture began plans to reconstruct its sanmon in 2014 . It is scheduled to be completed in 2018 .
Shō Shin ( 尚眞 , 1465-1527 ; r. 1477-1527 ) was a king of the Ryukyu Kingdom , the third of the line of the Second Shō Dynasty . Shō Shin 's long reign has been described as the Great Days of Chūzan , a period of great peace and relative prosperity . He was the son of Shō En , the founder of the dynasty , by Yosoidon , Shō En 's second wife , often referred to as the queen mother . He succeeded his uncle , Shō Sen ' i , who was forced to abdicate in his favor .
This list is of the Cultural Properties of Japan designated in the category of sculptures ( 彫刻 , chōkoku ) for the Prefecture of Okinawa .
The old residence of Miyaradunchi ( 宮良殿内 , also read Meeradounujii and Meerayaradunuzi ) is located on the island of Ishigaki , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . Erected around 1819 by the local governor , it has been designated an Important Cultural Property as representative of the architecture of the Yaeyama Islands . The gardens are a Place of Scenic Beauty .
Ishigaki ( 石垣市 , Ishigaki-shi , Yaeyama : Isïgaksï , Ishanagzï ) is a city in Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . It includes Ishigaki island and the disputed Senkaku Islands territory . The city is the political , cultural , and economic center of the Yaeyama Islands . New Ishigaki Airport serves the city . As of December 2012 , the city has an estimated population of 48,816 and a population density of 213 persons per km2 . The total area is 229.00 km2 . It is also the location of the past-disputed Senkaku Islands ( see below in the Geography section ) .
Pechin ( 親雲上 , Peechin ) , or Pekumi ( 親雲上 , Peekumi ) , was a rank among the Yukatchu class of the former Ryukyu Kingdom ( modern-day Okinawa , Japan ) , above the rank of Satunushi and below the rank of Ueekata . As scholar-officials , they often served in administrative positions in the Ryukyuan government . Placed in the upper class , the Pechin would often travel with a servant at their side . There were three ranks of Pechin : Chikudun Pechin ( 筑登之親雲上 ) , Satunushi Pechin ( 里之子親雲上 ) , and Pekumi or Pechin .
This list is of the Places of Scenic Beauty of Japan located within the Prefecture of Okinawa .
Sōgen-ji ( 崇元寺 ) was a Buddhist temple and royal mausoleum of the Ryūkyū Kingdom , located in Naha , Okinawa . It was erected during the reign of King Shō Shin ( r. 1477-1526 ) , and destroyed in the 1945 battle of Okinawa . In 1496 , memorial tablets representing the kings of the Ryūkyū Kingdom were installed in the temple , establishing it as a royal mausoleum . Anyone entering the temple grounds , including the king himself , had to dismount and enter the temple on foot out of respect for the prior sovereigns . The temple grounds were expanded at this time as well , with the construction of the massive stone gates and walls which remain today . Though these royal memorial tablets continued to be enshrined in the Sōgen-ji for many centuries , beginning in 1521 , the actual royal remains were entombed in the Tamaudun mausoleum completed that year a short distance from Shuri Castle . In the early years , spirit tablet of three royalties were placed here : Shō Shoku ( 尚 稷 ) , father of King Shō En ; Shō Kyū ( 尚 久 ) , father of King Shō Hō ; and Shō I ( 尚 懿 ) , father of King Shō Nei . In 1699 , Shō Shoku and Shō Kyū 's spirit tablet were moved to Tennō-ji , Shō I 's was moved to Tenkai-ji . All the temple buildings were destroyed in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 ; only the stone walls and gates , foundations and steps , and some tablets and steles survived . Of two stone tablets erected outside the gates warning visitors to dismount , one remains today . The site is today a public park .
The administrative divisions of the Ryukyu Kingdom were a hierarchy composed of districts , magiri , cities , villages , and islands established by the Ryukyu Kingdom throughout the Ryukyu Islands .
Kumejima ( 久米島町 , Kumejima-chō , Okinawan : Kumishima ) is a town located in Shimajiri District , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . The town consists of the islands of Kume , Ōjima , Ōhajima , Torishima , and Iōtorishima . Among the islands , only Kumejima and Ōjima are populated . Kumejima is located approximately 100 kilometres ( 62 mi ) west of Naha . The town can be accessed by the New Kumejima Ferry , Japan Transocean Air , or Ryukyu Air Commuter . Kumejima Airport serves the island . As of 2016 [ update ] , the town had an estimated population of 7,647 and a population density of 120 persons per km² . The total area is 63.50 km² . Kume Island is often said to be one of the most beautiful of the Okinawa Islands . It is well known for its textiles , called Kumejima-tsumugi which are designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property . The town is also known for its Kumesen Awamori ( Okinawan sake ) and deep sea water . Kumejima 's main industries are sugar cane ( sato-kibi ) , tourism , and deep seawater products .
Taketomi ( 竹富町 , Taketomi-chō , Yaeyama : Teedun , Okinawan : Dakidun ) is a town located in Yaeyama District , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . The town includes all of the islands in the Yaeyama Islands excluding Ishigaki , Yonaguni , and the Senkaku Islands . This includes the islands of Iriomote , Taketomi , Kohama , Kuroshima , Hateruma , and Hatoma . Although Ishigaki is not part of the town of Taketomi , the town hall is located there . As of October 2016 , the town has an estimated population of 4,050 and the density of 12 persons per km2 ( 31/sq mi ) . The total area is 334.02 km2 ( 128.97 sq mi ) .
Groups of Traditional Buildings ( 伝統的建造物群 , Dentōteki Kenzōbutsu-gun ) is a Japanese category of historic preservation introduced by a 1975 amendment of the law which mandates the protection of groups of traditional buildings which , together with their environment , form a beautiful scene . They can be post towns , castle towns , mining towns , merchant quarters , ports , farming or fishing villages , etc . The Japanese government 's Agency for Cultural Affairs recognizes and protects the country 's cultural properties under the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties . Municipalities can designate items of particular importance as Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings ( 伝統的建造物群保存地区 , Dentōteki Kenzōbutsu-gun Hozon-chiku ) and approve measures to protect them . Items of even higher importance are then designated Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings ( 重要伝統的建造物群保存地区 , Jūyō Dentōteki Kenzōbutsu-gun Hozon-chiku ) by the central government . The Agency for Cultural Affairs then provides guidance , advice , and funds for repairs and other work . Additional support is given in the form of preferential tax treatment . As of October 19 , 2019 , 120 districts have been classified as Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings .
Izena Tamaudun ( 伊是名玉陵 ) is one of the three royal mausoleums of the Ryukyu Kingdom , along with Tamaudun at Shuri Castle and Urasoe yōdore at Urasoe Castle . It is located near Izena Castle in Izena , Okinawa . It was built in 1501 by King Shō Shin .
Izena ( 伊是名村 , Izena-son , Okinawan : Ijina , also known as Meejii ( 前地 ) ) is a village occupying Izena Island in the north of Okinawa Prefecture , Japan ( though administered as part of Shimajiri District ) . There are five localities of about equal size and population located on the island : Izena , Nakada , Shomi , Uchihana , and Jicchaku ( also called Serikyaku ) . Izena 's primary claim to fame is that it was the birthplace of King Shō En , the first king of the Second Shō Dynasty . It is also the birthplace of the contemporary artist Naka Bokunen and musician Irei Shunichi ( 伊禮俊一 ) . As of October 2016 , the island has an estimated population of 1,518 and a density of 98 persons per square kilometer . The total area is 15.42 km² ( 5.95 mi² ) .
Tamaudun ( 玉陵 ) is one of the three royal mausoleums of the Ryukyu Kingdom , along with Urasoe yōdore at Urasoe Castle and Izena Tamaudun near Izena Castle in Izena , Okinawa . The mausoleum is located in Shuri , Okinawa , and was built for Ryūkyūan royalty in 1501 by King Shō Shin , the third king of the Second Shō Dynasty a short distance from Shuri Castle .
Monuments ( 記念物 , kinenbutsu ) is a collective term used by the Japanese government 's Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties to denote Cultural Properties of Japan [ note 1 ] as historic locations such as shell mounds , ancient tombs , sites of palaces , sites of forts or castles , monumental dwelling houses and other sites of high historical or scientific value ; gardens , bridges , gorges , mountains , and other places of great scenic beauty ; and natural features such as animals , plants , and geological or mineral formations of high scientific value .
In Shinto shrine architecture , the honden ( 本殿 , main hall ) , also called shinden ( 神殿 ) , or sometimes shōden ( 昇殿 ) as in Ise Shrine 's case , is the most sacred building at a Shinto shrine , intended purely for the use of the enshrined kami , usually symbolized by a mirror or sometimes by a statue . The building is normally in the rear of the shrine and closed to the general public . In front of it usually stands the haiden , or oratory . The haiden is often connected to the honden by a heiden , or hall of offerings . Physically , the honden is the heart of the shrine complex , connected to the rest of the shrine but usually raised above it , and protected from public access by a fence called tamagaki . It usually is relatively small and with a gabled roof . Its doors are usually kept closed , except at religious festivals . Shinto priests themselves enter only to perform rituals . The rite of opening those doors is itself an important part of the shrine 's life . Inside the honden is kept the go-shintai ( 御神体 ) , literally , the sacred body of the kami . The go-shintai is actually not divine , but just a temporary repository of the enshrined kami . Important as it is , the honden may sometimes be completely absent , as for example when the shrine stands on a sacred mountain to which it is dedicated , or when there are nearby himorogi ( enclosure ) or other yorishiro ( substitute object ) that serve as a more direct bond to a kami .
In Shinto shrine architecture , the haiden ( 拝殿 ) is the hall of worship or oratory . It is generally placed in front of the shrine 's main sanctuary ( honden ) and often built on a larger scale than the latter . The haiden is often connected to the honden by a heiden , or hall of offerings . While the honden is the place for the enshrined kami and off-limits to the general public , the haiden provides a space for ceremonies and for worshiping the kami . In some cases , for example at Nara 's Ōmiwa Shrine , the honden can be missing and be replaced by a patch of sacred ground . In that case , the haiden is the most important building of the complex .
The 1771 Great Yaeyama Tsunami ( also called 明和の大津波 , the Great Tsunami of Meiwa ) was caused by the Yaeyama Great Earthquake at about 8 A.M. on April 24 , 1771 , south-southeast of Ishigaki Island , part of the former Ryūkyū Kingdom and now forming part of present-day Okinawa , Japan . According to records , 8,439 persons were killed on Ishigaki Island and 2,548 on Miyako Island .
Zamami ( 座間味村 , Zamami-son , Okinawan : Kushigiruma ( 後慶留間 ) ) is a village located in Shimajiri District , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . The village consists of more than 20 islands approximately 40 kilometres ( 25 mi ) west of the prefectural capital of Naha . As of February 2013 the village had a population of 913 and a population density of 55.20 persons per km² . The total area of the village of Zamami is 16.74 square kilometres ( 6.46 sq mi ) . On March 3 , 2014 ( Coral Day ) , the Kerama Islands , including Zamami Village , were designated a Japanese National Park . Other designations of Zamami include a two-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide Japan , as well as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention ( 2005 ) .
Geruma Island ( 慶留間島 , Geruma-jima , Okinawan : ギルマ Giruma ) is an island in the Pacific Ocean . It is part of the Kerama Islands group in Shimajiri District , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . This small island is linked by a bridge to Fukaji and Aka islands .
The anagama kiln ( Japanese : 窖窯 ) is an ancient type of pottery kiln brought to Japan from China via Korea in the 5th century . It is a version of the climbing dragon kiln of south China , whose further development was also copied , for example in breaking up the firing space into a series of chambers in the noborigama kiln . An anagama ( a Japanese term meaning cave kiln ) consists of a firing chamber with a firebox at one end and a flue at the other . Although the term firebox is used to describe the space for the fire , there is no physical structure separating the stoking space from the pottery space . The term anagama describes single-chamber kilns built in a sloping tunnel shape . In fact , ancient kilns were sometimes built by digging tunnels into banks of clay . The anagama is fueled with firewood , in contrast to the electric or gas-fueled kilns commonly used by most contemporary potters . A continuous supply of fuel is needed for firing , as wood thrown into the hot kiln is consumed very rapidly . Stoking occurs round the clock until a variety of variables are achieved including the way the fired pots look inside the kiln , the temperatures reached and sustained , the amount of ash applied , the wetness of the walls and the pots , etc . Burning wood not only produces heat of up to 1400°C ( 2,500 °F ) , it also produces fly ash and volatile salts . Wood ash settles on the pieces during the firing , and the complex interaction between flame , ash , and the minerals of the clay body forms a natural ash glaze . This glaze may show great variation in color , texture , and thickness , ranging from smooth and glossy to rough and sharp .
The Edo period ( 江戸時代 , Edo jidai ) or Tokugawa period ( 徳川時代 , Tokugawa jidai ) is the period between 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan , when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country 's 300 regional daimyō . The period was characterized by economic growth , strict social order , isolationist foreign policies , a stable population , no more wars , and popular enjoyment of arts and culture . The shogunate was officially established in Edo on March 24 , 1603 , by Tokugawa Ieyasu . The period came to an end with the Meiji Restoration on May 3 , 1868 , after the fall of Edo .
Motobu ( 本部町 , Motobu-chō , Kunigami and Okinawan : Mutubu ) is a town located in Kunigami District , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . As of October 2016 , the town has an estimated population of 13,441 and a density of 250 persons per km2 . The total area is 54.30 square kilometres ( 20.97 sq mi ) . Several islands can be accessed from Motobu , namely the small islands of Sesoko ( by bridge ) and Minna-jima ( by ferry ) . Both islands are incorporated as part of the Town of Motobu . Ferry service also runs from Motobu Port to Ie-jima . Motobu is served by three large supermarkets and eight individual schools from elementary to high school levels . Like many towns in Okinawa , Motobu is composed of what were formerly several smaller and independent villages . In addition to Motobu proper other included districts are Sesoko , Kamimotobu , Sakimotobu and Izumi . The well-known Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is located in Motobu . Other notable sites include the remains of Nakijin Castle , as well as several cafes .
Ōgimi ( 大宜味村 , Ōgimi-son , Okinawan : Ufujimi , Kunigami : Uujimii ) is a village located in Kunigami District , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . As of October 2016 , the village has an estimated population of 3,024 and a population density of 51 persons per km² . The total area is 63.12 square kilometres ( 24.37 sq mi ) . Several population works have established that this village has the most longevity index in the world with a great percent quantity over 100 years old . [ citation needed ]
The Meiji era ( 明治 , Meiji , Japanese pronunciation : [ meꜜː ( d ) ʑi ] ) is an era of Japanese history which extended from October 23 , 1868 to July 30 , 1912 . This era represents the first half of the Empire of Japan , during which period the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonisation by European powers to the new paradigm of a modern , industrialised nation state and emergent great power , influenced by Western scientific , technological , philosophical , political , legal , and aesthetic ideas . As a result of such wholesale adoption of radically-different ideas , the changes to Japan were profound , and affected its social structure , internal politics , economy , military , and foreign relations . The period corresponded to the reign of Emperor Meiji and was succeeded upon the accession of Emperor Taishō by the Taishō era .
Kitanakagusuku ( 北中城村 , Kitanakagusuku-son , Okinawan : キタナカグシク , romanized : Kitanakagushiku ) is a village located in Nakagami District , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . As of 2016 [ update ] , the village has an estimated population of 16,040 and the density of 1,400 persons per km² . The total area is 11.53 km² . It is home to Nakagusuku Castle and the Nakagusuku Hotel ruins .
A pig toilet ( sometimes called a pig sty latrine ) is a simple type of dry toilet consisting of an outhouse mounted over a pigsty , with a chute or hole connecting the two . The pigs consume the feces of the users of the toilet , as well as other food .
Nanjō ( 南城市 , Nanjō-shi , Okinawan : Nangushiku ) is a city located in the southern part of Okinawa Island in Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . Translated literally , the name Nanjō means southern castle . Many castle ruins , called gusuku in the Okinawan language , can be found throughout the city . The modern city of Nanjō was established on January 1 , 2006 , from the merger of the town of Sashiki , and the villages of Chinen , Ōzato and Tamagusuku ( all from Shimajiri District ) . Nanjō has an area of 49.69 km² and , on the date of its inception , a population of 41,305 , and a density of 831.25 per km² . Of the eleven cities in Okinawa Prefecture , Nanjō has the smallest population . It does not have a separate police station nor a high school . For those services , citizens have to refer to the neighbouring towns of Yonabaru and Yaese . The city hosts a fire station responsible for Chinen , Ōzato and Tamagusuku and parts of Yaese , while Sashiki is served by a separate station . The city 's main economical activities are agriculture and tourism . Important crops include sugarcane , for sugar and vinegar production , and turmeric , a popular medicinal herb in Okinawa . Several turmeric processing plants are based in the city , producing semi-processed goods to be used by industries on the mainland or consumer products like tea and dietary supplements .
Nago ( 名護市 , Nago-shi , Okinawan : ナグ Nagu , Kunigami : ナグー Naguu ) is a city located in the northern part of Okinawa Island , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . As of December 2012 , the city has an estimated population of 61,659 and a population density of 288 persons per km2 . Its total area is 210.30 km2 .
Awamori ( 泡盛 , Okinawan : アームイ , aamui ) is an alcoholic beverage indigenous and unique to Okinawa , Japan . It is made from long grain indica rice , and is not a direct product of brewing ( like sake ) but of distillation ( like shōchū ) . All awamori made today is from indica rice imported from Thailand , the local production not being sufficient to meet domestic demand . Awamori is typically 60-86 proof ( 30-43% alcohol ) , although export brands ( including brands shipped to mainland Japan ) are increasingly 50 proof ( 25% alcohol ) . Some brands ( notably hanazake ) are 120 proof ( 60% ) and are flammable . Awamori is aged in traditional clay pots to improve its flavor and mellowness . The most popular way to drink awamori is with water and ice . When served in a restaurant in Okinawa , it will nearly always be accompanied by a container of ice and carafe of water . Awamori can also be drunk straight , on the rocks , and in cocktails . Traditionally , awamori was served in a kara-kara , a small earthen vessel with a small clay marble inside . The marble would make a distinctive kara-kara sound to let people know the vessel was empty . These vessels are still found in Okinawa , but the clay marbles are often absent .