Okinawa, Okinawa
Encyclopedia
is the second-largest city
in Okinawa Prefecture
, Japan
, following Naha
, the capital city. It is located in the central part of the island of Okinawa
, about 20 km north of Naha.
As of 2008, the city has an estimated population
of 128,421 and a density
of 2,620 persons per km². The total area is 49.00 km².
The city of Okinawa was founded on April 1, 1974 with the merger of Koza and Misato.
. It extends from Goya Crossing to Koza Crossing. The district extending from Goya to the gate of Kadena Air Base
, and Chūō Park Avenue, has many visitors from the U.S. military, and many shops have signs in both Japanese and English. However, the development of large shopping centers in nearby communities has resulted in some decline in these areas.
A park in the southeastern portion of the city was the site of a National Sports Festival of Japan
. Other city facilities include a baseball stadium where the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
hold their spring training.
Kadena Air Base
and neighboring military facilities lie on the boundaries with town of Kadena
and the village of Onna
. Okinawa also has boundaries with Uruma
, Chatan
, and Kitanakagusuku
.
has two interchanges in the city. They are Okinawa North Number 5 and Okinawa South Number 4.
The national highways
passing through the city are Routes 329
and 330
.
Ryūkyū, Okinawa, and Tōyō buses operate on some 26 routes in Okinawa.
, Kadena Ammunition Storage Area, Camp Shields, Camp Zukeran, Awase Communication Station, and an Army POL
depot. Also, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
s operate an anti-aircraft training facility.
, according to Sister Cities International and the city of Okinawa:
Lakewood, Washington
, United States of America
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
in Okinawa Prefecture
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, following Naha
Naha, Okinawa
is the capital city of the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa.Naha is a coastal city located on the East China Sea coast of the southern part of Okinawa Island, the largest of the Ryukyu Islands...
, the capital city. It is located in the central part of the island of Okinawa
Okinawa Island
Okinawa Island is the largest of the Okinawa Islands and the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, and is home to Naha, the capital of Okinawa Prefecture. The island has an area of...
, about 20 km north of Naha.
As of 2008, the city has an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 128,421 and a density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 2,620 persons per km². The total area is 49.00 km².
History
In 1908, Okinawa Prefecture established the villages of Goeku and Misato. During the occupation of Japan, the U.S. military government established the city of Koza in Goeku. Misato merged into a neighboring community, and in 1946, again became separate, as did Goeku. On June 13, 1956, Goeku changed its name to the village of Koza; on July 1 of the same year it became a city.The city of Okinawa was founded on April 1, 1974 with the merger of Koza and Misato.
Geography
The commercial center of the city lies along Route 330Route 330 (Japan)
National Route 330 is a national highway of Japan connecting Okinawa, Okinawa and Naha, Okinawa in Japan, with a total length of 26.1 km ....
. It extends from Goya Crossing to Koza Crossing. The district extending from Goya to the gate of Kadena Air Base
Kadena Air Base
, is a United States Air Force base in the towns of Kadena and Chatan and the city of Okinawa, in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Kadena Air Base is the hub of U.S. airpower in the Pacific, and home to the USAF's 18th Wing and a variety of associate units.-Units:The 18th Wing is the host unit at Kadena...
, and Chūō Park Avenue, has many visitors from the U.S. military, and many shops have signs in both Japanese and English. However, the development of large shopping centers in nearby communities has resulted in some decline in these areas.
A park in the southeastern portion of the city was the site of a National Sports Festival of Japan
National Sports Festival of Japan
is the national premier sports event of Japan. The abbreviated name is Kokutai . The 65th National Sports Festival of Japan was held in October 2010 in Chiba Prefecture.- Emperor's Cup and Empress Cup Champions :...
. Other city facilities include a baseball stadium where the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League. The team is primarily owned by the Matsuda family, led by , who is a descendant of Mazda founder Jujiro Matsuda. Mazda is the largest single shareholder , which is less than the portion owned by the Matsuda family . Because of that,...
hold their spring training.
Kadena Air Base
Kadena Air Base
, is a United States Air Force base in the towns of Kadena and Chatan and the city of Okinawa, in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Kadena Air Base is the hub of U.S. airpower in the Pacific, and home to the USAF's 18th Wing and a variety of associate units.-Units:The 18th Wing is the host unit at Kadena...
and neighboring military facilities lie on the boundaries with town of Kadena
Kadena, Okinawa
is a town located in Nakagami District, Okinawa, Japan.As of 2005, the town has an estimated population of 13,624 and a density of 915.9 persons per km². The total area is 15.04 km². Approximately 85% of the town is controlled by the US Government including Kadena Air Base, the second-largest...
and the village of Onna
Onna, Okinawa
is a village located in Kunigami District, Okinawa, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 9,333 and a population density of 183.83 persons per km². The total area is 50.77 km²....
. Okinawa also has boundaries with Uruma
Uruma, Okinawa
is a city in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.It was formed on April 1, 2005, from the merger of the old cities of Gushikawa and Ishikawa, and the towns of Katsuren and Yonashiro, both from Nakagami District....
, Chatan
Chatan, Okinawa
is a town located in Nakagami District, Okinawa, Japan.In 2003, the town has an estimated population of 26,377 and the density of 1,936.64 per km². The total area is 13.62 km²...
, and Kitanakagusuku
Kitanakagusuku, Okinawa
is a village located in Nakagami District, Okinawa, Japan., the village has an estimated population of 16,269 and the density of 1,411.01 persons per km². The total area is 11.53 km².-External links:*...
.
Education
The city operates 15 elementary schools and eight middle schools. There is also a private elementary school. The five high schools are operated by Okinawa Prefecture.Transportation
The Okinawa ExpresswayOkinawa Expressway
The is an expressway on Okinawa Island in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The expressway has a length of 57.3 km. West Nippon Expressway Company operates this expressway.The toll from end to end is 1000 yen...
has two interchanges in the city. They are Okinawa North Number 5 and Okinawa South Number 4.
The national highways
National highways of Japan
Japan has a nationwide system of distinct from the expressways. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and other government agencies administer the national highways. Beginning in 1952, Japan classified these as Class 1 or Class 2. Class 1 highways had one- or two-digit numbers, while...
passing through the city are Routes 329
Route 329 (Japan)
National Route 329 is a national highway of Japan connecting Nago, Okinawa and Naha, Okinawa in Japan, with a total length of 78.5 km ....
and 330
Route 330 (Japan)
National Route 330 is a national highway of Japan connecting Okinawa, Okinawa and Naha, Okinawa in Japan, with a total length of 26.1 km ....
.
Ryūkyū, Okinawa, and Tōyō buses operate on some 26 routes in Okinawa.
Military
The United States has six facilities located at least partially in the city of Okinawa. These are Kadena Air BaseKadena Air Base
, is a United States Air Force base in the towns of Kadena and Chatan and the city of Okinawa, in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Kadena Air Base is the hub of U.S. airpower in the Pacific, and home to the USAF's 18th Wing and a variety of associate units.-Units:The 18th Wing is the host unit at Kadena...
, Kadena Ammunition Storage Area, Camp Shields, Camp Zukeran, Awase Communication Station, and an Army POL
POL
-Given name:*Pol Amat , field hockey player from Spain*Pol Antràs , Spanish economist*Pol Cruchten , Luxembourgian film director and producer*Pol Espargaró , Grand Prix motorcycle racer...
depot. Also, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
The , or JGSDF, is the army of Japan. The largest of the three services of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the Ground Self-Defense Force operates under the command of the chief of the ground staff, based in the city of Ichigaya, Tokyo. The present chief of ground staff is General Yoshifumi Hibako...
s operate an anti-aircraft training facility.
Notables
Notable people with links to the city of Okinawa include- Gackt Camui, music artist, formerly from Malice MizerMalice MizerMalice Mizer was a visual kei rock band from Japan. They were active from August 1992 to December 2001. Formed by Mana and Közi, the band's name stands for "malice and misery", extracted from "nothing but a being of malice and misery" — their reply to the question "what is human?"...
- Kenji HagaKenji Haga, better known as , is a mixed-race entertainment talent, actor and businessperson from Okinawa, Okinawa. Haga was born to an American father and an Okinawan mother...
, singer - IssaIssaIssa or ISSA may refer to:Issa*Abdisalam Issa-Salwe, Somali scholar*Darrell Issa, a Californian Representative*List of The Belgariad and The Malloreon characters#Issa, a divine character in David Eddings's fantasy series The Belgariad and The Malloreon*Issa or Isa, the Arabic name for Jesus in...
from hip-hop group Da PumpDa Pumpis an Okinawan male idol group comprising lead vocalist, Issa and MCs Ken, Yukinari, and Shinobu. The group formed as students at Okinawa Actors School in 1996... - Orange RangeOrange Rangeis a 5-member Okinawan alternative rock band, based in Okinawa, Japan. Formed in 2001, the band began with Spice Music and later signed with Sony Music Japan's gr8! records division in 2003. The group left gr8! records in 2010 to start their own label, Super Echo....
, band - Shōkichi KinaShoukichi Kina, born June 10, 1948 in Koza , Okinawa, is an Okinawan rock musician who, along with his band Champloose, played a large role in the Japanese home-grown "folk rock" scene in the 70s and 80s. His first big hit was "Haisai Ojisan" in 1972, which he wrote when he was in high school...
, rock musician with ChamplooseChamplooseis a Japanese band from Okinawa blending traditional Okinawan music with a strong Western rock influence. Their name is apparently derived from the word for a traditional Okinawan stir-fry, chanpuru. Singer and lead songwriter Shoukichi Kina's electric sanshin was a particularly distinctive part of... - Yu YamadaYu Yamadais a model, actress, and singer best known from her modeling work with CanCam magazine. Shintaro Yamada is her brother.- Career :Yamada graduated from Okinawa Actors School...
, model-actress - High and Mighty ColorHigh and Mighty ColorHigh and Mighty Color was a Japanese metal band active from 2003 to 2010. They notably had two vocalists; a male and a female.- Formation and Anti-Nobunaga :...
, J-rock, band
Sister city
Okinawa, Japan has the following sister citiesTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
, according to Sister Cities International and the city of Okinawa:
Lakewood, Washington
Lakewood, Washington
Lakewood is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 58,163 at the 2010 census.-History:Lakewood was officially incorporated on February 28, 1996. Historical names include Lakewood Center and Lakes District...
, United States of America