Okinawa Prefecture

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.

### Timeline

- **1429**: Shō Hashi founded the Ryūkyū Kingdom
- **1609**: Shimazu of Satsuma Province invade Ryukyu Kingdom
- **1853**: Commodore Mathew 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  which includes five sanctuaries.

## Related pages

- Provinces of Japan
- Prefectures of Japan
- List of regions of Japan
- List of islands of Japan

## 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
- Okinawa Tourist Information
- Ryukyu Cultural Archives
- Okinawa Prefecture Official Home-page

## Infobox (place symbols)

- **embedded**: Yes
- **country**: Japan
- **bird**: Okinawa woodpecker (_Sapheopipo noguchii_)
- **fish**: Pterocaesio, Banana fish (_Pterocaesio diagramma_, "takasago", "gurukun")
- **flower**: Deego (_Erythrina variegata_)
- **tree**: _Pinus luchuensis_ ("ryūkyūmatsu")


## Infobox (settlement)

- **name**: Okinawa Prefecture
- **native name**: 沖縄県
- **native name lang**: ja
- **settlement type**: Prefectures of Japan, Prefecture
- **translit lang1**: Native
- **translit lang1 type1**: Romanization of Japanese, Japanese
- **translit lang1 type2**: Okinawan language, Okinawan
- **image flag**: Flag of Okinawa Prefecture.svg
- **flag size**: 100px
- **image blank emblem**: Emblem of Okinawa Prefecture.svg
- **blank emblem size**: 80px
- **blank emblem type**: Symbol
- **image map**: File:Map of Japan with 47 Okinawa prefecture.svg
- **subdivision type**: Country
- **subdivision type1**: List of regions of Japan, Region
- **subdivision name1**: Kyushu
- **subdivision type2**: List of islands of Japan, Island
- **subdivision name2**: Okinawa Islands, Okinawa, Daitō Islands, Daitō, Sakishima Islands, Sakishima and Senkaku Islands, Senkaku (disputed)
- **seat type**: List of capitals in Japan, Capital
- **seat**: Naha
- **parts type**: Subdivisions
- **parts style**: para
- **p1**: Districts of Japan, Districts: 5
- **p2**: Municipalities of Japan, Municipalities: 41
- **leader title**: List of prefectural governors in Japan, Governor
- **leader name**: Denny Tamaki
- **area total km2**: 2281
- **area water percent**: 0.5
- **area rank**: List of Japanese prefectures by area, 44th
- **population total**: 1457162
- **population as of**: February 2, 2020
- **population rank**: List of Japanese prefectures by population, 29th
- **population density km2**: auto
- **iso code**: JP-47