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 Okinawa's location in Okinawa, Japan. |
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  Okinawa's location in Japan. |
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| Location | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kyūshū (Ryukyu) |
| Prefecture | Okinawa |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Area | 49.00 km2 (18.92 sq mi) |
| Population (as of January 2008) | |
| Total | 128,421 |
| Density | 2,620 /km² (6,786 /sq mi) |
| Location | Coordinates: |
| Symbols | |
| Tree | Chinese Fan Palm (Livistona chinensis) |
| Flower | Hibiscus |
 Flag |
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| Okinawa Government Office | |
| Mayor | Kita Kurose |
| Address | 26-1 Nakasonechō, Okinawa-shi, Okinawa-ken 904-8501 |
| Phone number | 098-939-1212 |
| Official website: Okinawa City | |
Okinawa (沖縄市 -shi?) (Okinawan: 'Uchinā) 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.
Contents |
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.
From 1946, Koza gradually became the largest GI "bar area" in Okinawa. The street into which Gate #2 of what became Kadena Air Base led into Koza, was called "Gate 2 Street". Gate 2 Street was about 1/4 mile long and housed wall-to-wall bars and restaurants catering to US Servicemen of all services, but primarily Air Force and Army. The bars and restaurants spread out from Gate 2 Street, decreasing in frequency further from this area.
About 1/4 mile from North from the intersection of Gate 2 Street and Koza's main street was an intersection marked the entry to an area called "The Bush". The Bush was established more or less officially in 1946 as an off-base recreation area for Black soliers, and continued with varying degrees of official sanction until the Reversion of Okinawa (1974) to Japanese soveriegnty.
The Koza Riots took place on December 20, 1970, in the Bush. These were not the first black/white race riots to occur in this area. They had been occurring sporadically for two or three years. These "riots" were uprisings of a sort against the US military police, protesting what was conceived as a violation of the unofficial status quo in the Bush vis-à-vis Bush patrons and business owners and US Military (and Ryukuan) police in the Bush.
The early 70s marked a significant deterioration in US military morale and discipline, and commanders were rewarded for taking a firm stance in this area. Many directives by unenlightened, rather transient, US commanders in Okinawa aimed at "cleaning up" the Bush were ultimately responsible for these "riots".
Many of the business owners and some residents of the Bush were Black ex-military personnel, retired military or deserters, their arrival in the Bush dating back to 1946. A very fuctional business and social structure developed over the years between these black expatriates and the local Okinawan businessmen and residents. A very real mayoral and council system governed the Bush for most matters. Through internal policing, minor and major crime was kept at a very low level - much lower than surrounding entertainment areas. This internal policing was done, of course, to obviate the need for intervention by traditional police.
There was some talk about connections between Mainland Japanese or Okinawan "yakuza" and influential black organizations in the Bush, but nothing of any significance was ever documented. Particularly in the late 60s and early 70s, there was a tremendous trafficing in Marijuana from South East Asia to the US using US Air Force flights. Most of these flights stopped in Kadena for maintenance and refuelling while many of them were based at Kadena Air Base. As Okinawa represented a minuscule market, relatively small amounts of Marijuana "fell off the plane" in Okinawa. The amount offloaded in Okinawa did cause concern to the local authorities.
Some of this marijuana found it's way to the Bush, but as it favored the powers that were in the Bush not to irritate the local police, it generally stopped there - for local consumption. The largest part of this marijuana traffic was controlled by predominately "white" groups for distribution to the US military and civilian consumers on Okinawa. Drugs other than marijuana were not distributed in any significant quantity in Okinawa in the late 60s and early 70s
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 330. 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.
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 Expressway 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.
Military
The United States has six facilities located at least partially in the city of Okinawa. These are Kadena Air Base, Kadena Ammunition Storage Area, Camp Shields, Camp Zukeran, Awase Communication Station, and an Army POL depot. Also, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces operate an anti-aircraft training facility.
People
Famous people with links to the city of Okinawa include
- Kenji Haga, singer
- Issa from hip-hop group Da Pump
- Orange Range, band
- Shōkichi Kina, rock musician with Champloose
- Yu Yamada, model-actress
- Gackt Camui, rock musician, formerly from Malice Mizer
- High and Mighty Color,J-rock,band
Points of interest
Sister City
Okinawa, Japan has the following sister cities, according to Sister Cities International and the city of Okinawa:
Media
Okinawa is also home to Saya Otonashi from the anime and manga series blood+.
External links
- (Japanese) Okinawa City official
- (English) Okinawa City official website
- (Portuguese) Okinawa Web Radio(BRAZIL)
- (English) Okinawa Travel Okinawa HDR Photography, Travel Guide, and more by the Okinawa Living Magazine art director
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| Cities | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ginowan | Ishigaki | Itoman | Miyakojima | Nago | Naha (capital) | Nanjō | Okinawa | Tomigusuku | Urasoe | Uruma | |||
| Districts | |||
| Kunigami | Miyako | Nakagami | Shimajiri | Yaeyama | |||
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 3 October 2008, at 20:58.
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