Okinawa Prefecture

Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan.

It is a vast maritime region composed of three main island groups. These are the Okinawa Islands, the Sakishima Islands, and the Daitō Islands. The islands stretch across a maritime zone about 1,000 kilometers from east to west. They also span 400 kilometers from north to south.

Although the total land area is only 2,281 square kilometers, the territorial extent is massive. The total area of the surrounding seas is nearly half the size of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu combined. Of the 160 islands in the prefecture, 49 are inhabited by people.

The largest and most populated landmass is Okinawa Island. This island contains the capital city, Naha, and major urban centers like Uruma and Urasoe.

The region experiences a subtropical climate. This means the weather is warm with high rainfall throughout the entire year. People from the Nansei Islands, including Okinawa and the Sakishima Islands, are often called Ryukyuans. While they share a name, there are significant cultural differences between individual islands and local communities. Today, the economy relies mostly on tourism and service-based industries. Manufacturing plays a much smaller role in the local economy.

Okinawa's history began long before written records. The prehistoric era is divided into the Paleolithic era and the Shellmidden period, or Kaizuka period.

Evidence of early humans includes the Yamashita Cave Man from 32,000 years ago. The Minatogawa Man lived there around 18,000 years ago. In 2012, researchers found the world's oldest known fishhook at the Sakitari Cave site in Nanjo City. During the Shellmidden period, people traded with the Kyushu region. They used obsidian from Saga Prefecture and jade from Niigata Prefecture for ornaments. By the middle of this period, local pottery styles like Iha and Ogido began to emerge.

Starting in the 12th century, the islands entered the Gusuku period. This was a time of growing agrarian, or farming, societies. People moved from coastal dunes to fertile limestone plateaus. This shift allowed the population to grow and fueled international trade. Local chieftains, called Aji, built fortified residences known as Gusuku.

These structures protected territories and helped expand influence. There are between 300 and 400 known Gusuku sites across the Ryukyu Islands. By the 14th century, Okinawa Island was divided into three separate kingdoms. These were Hokuzan in the north, Chūzan in the center, and Nanzan in the south.

The Ryukyu Kingdom eventually unified the islands. In 1406, Shō Hashi established the First Shō Dynasty. He later conquered the other two kingdoms by 1429.

The Second Shō Dynasty later established a very centralized administration. Under King Shō Shin, powerful chieftains were moved to the capital of Shuri. This era was a golden age for Ryukyuan culture and trade. The kingdom acted as a vital intermediary in East Asia. They traded goods between China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. The kingdom even maintained a formal tributary relationship with the Ming dynasty in China.

Political changes shifted the islands toward Japan in the late 19th century. Following the Meiji Restoration, Japan began modernizing and creating prefectures. In 1872, the Ryukyu Disposition reclassified the kingdom as the Ryukyu Domain.

This was a step toward full incorporation into Japan. After the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, the islands came under United States administration. They did not revert to Japanese control until 1972. Currently, Okinawa hosts a large share of U.S. military facilities in Japan. These facilities account for approximately 70% of the land used by U.S. forces. This presence remains a major topic of local and national debate.

Despite these political shifts, Okinawan identity remains very strong. The islands are the birthplace of karate, which is now famous worldwide.

Local music is defined by the unique sanshin instrument. Traditional festivals, such as the Eisa dance, are also central to the culture. A small but persistent independence movement exists today. This movement reflects the unique historical path of the Ryukyu Islands. The blend of ancient traditions and modern challenges defines the prefecture today.