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is Japan 's southernmost Prefecture , and consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over 1,000 km long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū (the southwesternmost of Japan's main four islands) to Taiwan . Okinawa's capital, Naha , is located in the southern part of the largest and most populous island, Okinawa Island , which is approximately half-way between Kyūshū and Taiwan. The disputed Senkaku Islands ( Chinese : Diaoyu Islands) are also administered as part of Okinawa Prefecture. HISTORY See Also: History of Ryukyu Islands The oldest evidence of the human existences in the Ryukyu islands are discovered in era were unearthed, but there is no clear Paleolith remains. Japanese Jōmon influences are dominant in the Okinawa Islands , although clay vessels in the Sakishima Islands have a commonality with those in Taiwan . The first mention of the word ''Ryukyu'' was written in the Book Of Sui . This Ryukyu might refer to the Taiwan island, not Ryukyu islands. ''Okinawa'' was the Japanese word depicting the islands, first seen in the Biography of Jianzhen , written in 779. Agricultural societies begun in the 8th century, have slowly developed to the 12th century. The islands locate in the center of the East China Sea and relatively close to Japan , China and South-East Asia . The Ryūkyū Kingdom became a prosperous trading nation, and many Gusuku s, castle ruins constructed in this period. The Ryūkyū Kingdom had a Tributary Relationship with China in the 15th and 16th century. In 1609 the Satsuma clan, which controlled the region that is now Kagoshima Prefecture invaded the Ryūkyū Kingdom. Following the invasion the Ryūkyū Kingdom surrendered to the Satsuma and was forced to tie a tributary relationship with Satsuma and the Tokugawa Shogunate , in addition to their previous relationship with China. Ryukyuan sovereignty was maintained since entire absorption would create a problem with China. The Satsuma clan earned considerable profits from trades with China during a period in which foreign trades was heavily restricted by the shogunate. Though Satsuma maintained strong influence over the islands, the Ryūkyū Kingdom maintained some degrees of domestic political freedom for two hundred years. Four years after the 1868 Meiji Restoration , the Japanese government officially annexed the kingdom and entitled it Okinawa Han . The Qing Dynasty claimed that the islands had been subjected to China, but later withdrew the demand. The Okinawa han became a prefecture in 1879 , while all other hans had became prefectures in 1872 . Following the Battle Of Okinawa and the end of World War II in 1945 , Okinawa was under the United States Administration for 27 years. During the trusteeship rule the USAF established numerous military bases on the Ryukyu islands. In 1972 , the U.S. government returned the islands to Japanese administration. Under the Treaty Of Mutual Cooperation And Security , the United States Forces Japan (USFJ) have maintained a large military presence there. 27000 personnel, including 15000 Marines, contingents from the Navy, Army and Air Force, and their 22,000 families are stationed in Okinawa. 沖縄県の基地の現状 , Okinawa Prefectural Government 18% of the main island was occupied as the US military bases and 75% of all USFJ base are located in Okinawa prefecture.. 沖縄に所在する在日米軍施設・区域 , Japan Ministry of Defense Many Okinawans oppose the large presence of the USFJ and demand the consolidation, reduction and removal of US military bases from Okinawa. 語り継ぎたい「沖縄戦」 , Okinawa Times , May 13 , 2007 Repeated accidents and crimes committed by the U.S. servicemen have deteriorated the local citizens' feeling about the military base. The Japanese and the US government consider the mutual security treaty and the USFJ absolutely necessary and neglected the awkward situation in Okinawa for decades. The Rape Of A 12 Year Old Girl by marines in 1995 triggered the large protest campaign in Okinawa and both of the governments agreed to the removal of the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and minor bases, but the procedure is halted at the present time. GEOGRAPHY Major islands The set of islands belonging to the prefecture is called Ryūkyū Shotō (琉球諸島). Okinawa's inhabited islands are typically divided into three geographical archipelagos. From northeast to southwest:
Cities Okinawa Prefecture includes eleven cities. Towns and villages These are the towns and villages in each District . Mergers
DEMOGRAPHY CLIMATE AND NATURE The island is largely composed of Coral rock, and rainwater filtering through that coral has given the island many Cave s, which played an important role in the Battle Of Okinawa . Gyokusendo , an extensive limestone cave in the southern part of Okinawa's main island, is a popular tourist attraction. Okinawa is said to have the most beautiful beaches in all of Japan and normally enjoys temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius for most of the year. Okinawa and the many islands that make up the prefecture boast some of the most abundant coral reefs found in the world. Rare blue corals are found off of Ishigaki and Miyako islands as are numerous species throughout the chain. Many Coral Reef s are found in this region of Japan and wildlife is abundant. Sea Turtle s return yearly to the southern islands of Okinawa to lay their eggs. The summer months carry warnings to swimmers regarding poisonous Jellyfish and other Dangerous Sea Creatures . Okinawa is a major producer of Sugar Cane , Pineapple , Papaya , and other tropical fruit, and the Southeast Botanical Gardens represent tropical plant species. Okinawa has a very large proportion of population living to 100 years of age. This is attributed to their healthy diet rich in vegetables and fish. Okinawa also has the highest life expectancy rate in the world, with native men living on average to 90.1 years and native women living to an average of 93.2 years. LANGUAGE AND CULTURE See Also: Okinawan cuisine on a traditional tile roof.]] pots.]] , a stone that wards off evil spirits (. There is a radio news program in the language as well. {Link without Title} Okinawa also has its own Religious Beliefs , generally characterized by ancestor worship and the respecting of relationships between the living, the dead, and the gods and spirits of the natural world. Okinawan culture bears traces of its various trading partners. One can find Chinese , Thai and Malaysia n influences in the island's customs. Perhaps Okinawa's most famous cultural export is Karate , probably a product of the close ties with and influence of China on Okinawan culture. Karate is thought to be a synthesis of Chinese Kung Fu with traditional Okinawan martial arts. A ban on weapons in Okinawa for two long periods after the invasion and forced annexation by Japan during the Meiji Restoration period also very likely contributed to its development. Another traditional Okinawan product that owes its existence to Okinawa's trading history is Awamori —an Okinawan distilled spirit made from ''indica'' Rice imported from Thailand . The people of Okinawa maintain a strong tradition of Pottery , textiles, and glass making. Other prominent examples of Okinawan culture include the Sanshin —a three-stringed Okinawan instrument, closely related to the Chinese Sanxian , and ancestor of the Japanese Shamisen , somewhat similar to a Banjo . Its body is often bound with snakeskin (from Python s, imported from elsewhere in Asia, rather than from Okinawa's poisonous Habu , which are too small for this purpose). Okinawan culture also features the Eisa Dance , a traditional drumming dance. A traditional craft, the fabric named Bingata , is made in workshops on the main island and elsewhere. Karate See Also: Karate Karate originated on Okinawa. There are several styles, among them Shotokan , Shorin-Ryu , Wado Ryu , Uechi Ryu , Goju Ryu , Isshin-Ryu , Shito-Ryu , Moto bu Ryu, Shorinji Ryu , and Shuri-ryu . Architecture Okinawa has many remains of a unique type of castle or fortress called '' Gusuku ''. These are believed to be the predecessors of Japan's castles. Whereas most homes in Japan are made with wood and allow free-flow of air to combat humidity, typical modern homes in Okinawa are made from concrete with barred windows (protection from flying plant matter) to deal with regular Typhoon s. Roofs are also designed with strong winds in mind, with each tile cemented on and not merely layered as seen with many homes elsewhere in Japan. Many roofs also display a statue resembling a lion or dragon, called a ''shisa'' , which is said to protect the home from danger. Roofs are typically red in color and are inspired by Chinese design. U.S. MILITARY CONTROVERSY See Also: United States Forces Japan Because the islands are close to mainland China and Taiwan , the United States has large military bases in the island. The area of 32 US bases are 233km2, occupying 18% of the main island. 75% of the United States Forces Japan base located in the relatively small Okinawa prefecture. Most of Okinawans oppose the presence of the U.S. military due to committed by U.S. military personnel 沖縄・米兵による女性への性犯罪(Rapes and murders by the US military personnel 1945-2000) , 基地・軍隊を許さない行動する女たちの会. The Okinawan prefectural government and all of local municipalities demand the withdrawal of the US militaries for 50 years Military base Affairs Division , Okinawa prefecture, but a fundamental solution was never performed by both of the Japanese and U.S. governments. Consequent problems of military crimes (including Extraterritoriality ), a base-dependent local economy, and other issues continue to arise in Okinawa and have their roots in the early post-war period. The Yumiko Incident is notorious for the Rape and Murder of six-year-old Yumiko, in 1955. Isaac J. Hart, who was accused of the crime, was not convicted. Forty years later, on September 4 , 1995 , three U.S. servicemen Abducted and raped a 12-year-old girl. At the time of The Incident , Japanese police could not arrest the men known to be involved because the U.S.-Japan Status Of Forces Agreement gave US servicemen Immunity from local laws. Eventually by the political compromise, the soldiers were tried, and convicted in early 1996. Anti-military base emotions erupted in some of the largest , 1996 As a result of this incident US-Japan Agreements which were criticized for being too protective of US servicemen involved in crimes underwent revision and a movement to alleviate Civilian burden by reducing the size of US military bases got under way. In November of 1995, a group called "Okinawan Women Act Against Military Violence" was organized to raise Awareness of crimes alleged to have been committed by U.S. military personnel on the Island . Alleged US nuclear arms base Japanese government strictly restrained the introduction of nuclear arms into the Japanese territory by the , 1999 . Most of the weapons were stored in ammunition bunkers of the Kadena Air Base , with Poison Gas munitions. There is wide range speculations that not all the weapons were removed from Okinawa. 疑惑が晴れるのはいつか , Okinawa Times, May 16 , 1999 Edwin O. Reischauer , former US ambassador to Japan, in a interview with the Mainichi Shimbun in 1981, said that US naval ships armed with nukes stopped at Japanese ports on a routine duty, and this was approved by the Japanese government. In the '', William M. Arkin , and William Burr wrote that the United States has placed Nuclear Arms on Okinawa. This is disputed by the American Government . MCAS Futenma relocation The governments of the United States and Japan agreed on October 26 , 2005 to move the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma base from its location in the densely populated city of Ginowan to the more northerly and remote Camp Schwab . Under the plan, thousands of Marines will relocate. The move is partly an attempt to relieve tensions between the people of Okinawa and the Marine Corps. Protests from environmental groups and residents over the Construction of part of a Runway at Camp Schwab, and from businessmen and politicians around Futenma and Henoko , have occurred {Link without Title} . The legality of the proposed training violates these three Conventions . EDUCATION The (DoDDS) operates 12 schools total in Okinawa. Six of these schools are located on Kadena Air Base. SPORTS Soccer
In addition, various Baseball teams hold training during the Winter in the prefecture as it is the warmest prefecture of Japan with no Snow and higher Temperatures than other prefectures. TRANSPORTATION Air transportation
Highways
Rail See Also: Rail transportation in Okinawa Ports The major Ports of Okinawa include
UNITED STATES MILITARY INSTALLATIONS
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