Okinawa [Prefecture] - Okinawa

Japanese: 沖縄[県] - おきなわ

The Ryukyu Islands are made up of the Okinawa Islands and the Miyako and Yaeyama Islands. The Chinese name is Ryukyu. The prefectural capital is Naha City on Okinawa Island. The area is 2,281.12 ^km2 . The population is 1,392,818 (2010). [History] It once flourished as the Ryukyu Kingdom, but in 1609 the Shimazu clan invaded and conquered the royal castle of Shuri. After that, it became a Japanese vassal, becoming the Ryukyu Domain in 1872, and Okinawa Prefecture in 1879. In 1920, a self-governing system similar to that of the mainland was adopted, and in 1921 Naha and Shuri were incorporated as cities. In 1945, the US military occupied the islands and they came under military rule, with governments being established on each island. In 1951, the military government was replaced by civilian government, and rule began under the US Civil Government and the High Commissioner, who also served as the Commander of the US Forces in Okinawa. The following year, just before the Treaty of Peace with Japan came into effect, the Ryukyu Government was established as an autonomous institution with a separation of powers. However, the scope of autonomy was limited because the High Commissioner had the power to issue decrees, the power to appoint the Chief Minister, and the power to veto legislation. From 1953 to 1958, an island-wide struggle against the confiscation of military land broke out, and in 1960 the Okinawa Prefecture Reversion Council was formed. In November 1968, the first open election for Chief Minister of the Ryukyu Government was held, and Yara Chobyo, the unified candidate for the reversion forces, was elected, and in 1970, participation in national politics (election to the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors) was realized. In June 1971, the Okinawa Reversion Agreement was signed between Japan and the United States, and on May 15, 1972, Okinawa was returned to Japanese soil, and Okinawa Prefecture was restored for the first time in 27 years. Bases were placed in Okinawa at the same time as the occupation, and especially with the Korean War, the construction of permanent bases began in earnest, and as the Vietnam War progressed, it became the largest overseas base for the US military. After Okinawa was returned to Japan, about 50 bases were returned in whole or in part, but there are still US military facilities such as Kadena Air Base, which account for 11% of the prefecture's land area, and most of them are concentrated in the central part of Okinawa Island (Okinawa Base Issue, Futenma Base Issue). In April 2012, the 40th anniversary of Okinawa's return was celebrated, but the issue of returning the US military bases is closely related to the issue of reorganizing the US military in Asia, and is a difficult issue in Japan-US negotiations. [Industry] The population composition by industry is 5.9% for the first generation, 16.3% for the second generation, and 76.3% for the third generation (2005), with the proportion of commerce, services, base employees, and other third-generation industries being the highest in the country. Sugarcane is the main crop, and vegetables and flowers are cultivated, but the amount of arable land per farm is only half that of the mainland. Livestock farming, mainly pig and chicken farming, accounts for just over one-third of the gross agricultural production (2003). In terms of fisheries, skipjack and tuna fishing is common, and sea bream, kuruma shrimp, and mozuku seaweed farming is also popular. In terms of industrial shipments, Okinawa ranks 46th out of 47 prefectures (2003). In manufacturing, sugar refining, processed pineapples, and other foods are at the top of the list, followed by petroleum and ceramics. Other specialty products include bingata (dyed dyeing), high-quality cloth, awamori (a type of liquor), and lacquerware. The number of tourists is increasing, and Shuri and the fierce battlefields in the southern part of Okinawa Island, where the Himeyuri Tower is located, have become major tourist destinations. In recent years, the area has become popular as a base for various marine sports and whale watching. In 2000, the Gusuku Castles and Related Sites of the Kingdom of the Ryukyus were registered as cultural heritage under the World Heritage Convention (Nakijin Castle Ruins, Zakimi Castle Ruins, Katsuren Castle Ruins, Nakagusuku Castle Ruins, Shuri Castle, Sefa Utaki, Tamaudun, Shikinaen Garden, and Sonohyan Utaki Stone Gate). [Transportation] There are air routes to Naha Airport from Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, etc., and from Naha there are also air routes to islands within the prefecture, such as Hirara (Miyakojima) and Ishigaki. There are regular ferry services to Naha Port from Tokyo, Osaka, Kagoshima, etc. The main shipping route between the islands is also Naha Port, and mutual communication between the islands is inconvenient. Transportation within each island relies on buses and taxis, but in August 2003, the Okinawa Urban Monorail opened on the main island of Okinawa, the first railway in the prefecture since the war.
→ Related topics Kyushu region | Goya Chanpuru | Residual sovereignty | Secret agreement between Japan and the United States | Ryukyu Islands | Ryukyu culture

Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

琉球諸島を構成する沖縄諸島と宮古・八重山両列島から成る。漢名は琉球。県庁所在地は沖縄島の那覇(なは)市。2281.12km²。139万2818人（2010）。〔沿革〕　かつて琉球王国として栄えたが（琉球），1609年に島津氏が侵攻して王城の首里を征服し，以後，日本に服属，1872年琉球藩となり，1879年沖縄県となった。1920年本土と同様の自治制度が採用され，1921年那覇と首里が市制を施行した。1945年米軍が占領しその軍政下に入り，各諸島に政府が置かれた。1951年軍政から民政に移り，在沖縄米軍司令官が兼ねる高等弁務官と米民政府による統治が始まった。翌年対日講和条約発効直前，三権分立の琉球政府が自治機関として設立されたが，高等弁務官が布令権を有し，琉球政府の主席任命権と法令拒否権も有するため自治の範囲は限られていた。1953年―1958年には軍用地接収に反対する島ぐるみの闘争が起こり，1960年沖縄県祖国復帰協議会ができた。1968年11月初の琉球政府主席公選で，復帰勢力統一候補の屋良朝苗が当選，1970年には国政参加（衆参院議員の選出）が実現。1971年６月日米間で沖縄返還協定が調印され，1972年５月15日本土復帰が実現，27年ぶりに沖縄県が復活した。沖縄には占領と同時に基地が置かれたが，特に朝鮮戦争を契機として恒久的基地建設が本格化し，ベトナム戦争の進展とともに米軍最大の海外基地となった。本土復帰後，約50の基地の全部もしくはその一部が返還されたが，なお嘉手納(かでな)空軍基地などの米軍施設があって県面積の11％に達しており，大半が沖縄本島中部に集中している（沖縄基地問題，普天間基地問題）。2012年４月，復帰40周年を迎えたが，米軍基地の返還問題はアジアにおける米軍の再編問題とも密接に関連しており，日米交渉の難題となっている。〔産業〕　産業別人口構成は第１次5.9％，第２次16.3％，第３次76.3％（2005）で，商業，サービス業，基地雇用者など第３次の比率は全国１位。サトウキビを軸に野菜，花卉(かき)などを栽培するが，農家１戸当り耕地は本土の半分にすぎない。養豚，養鶏を中心とした畜産が農業粗生産額の３分の１強（2003）を占める。水産ではカツオ・マグロ漁業が多く，タイ・クルマエビ・モズク養殖も盛ん。工業出荷額は47都道府県中46位（2003）にある。製造業は製糖・パイナップル加工などの食品をトップに石油，窯業の順にある。ほかに紅型(びんがた)，上布，泡盛，漆器などを特産。観光客は増大しつつあり，ひめゆりの塔などがある沖縄島南部の激戦地や首里などが主要観光地になっている。近年は各種マリンスポーツ，ホエールウォチングなどの基地として人気をよんでいる。2000年琉球王国のグスク及び関連遺産群が世界遺産条約の文化遺産に登録された（今帰仁城跡，座喜味城跡，勝連城跡，中城城跡，首里城，斎場御嶽，玉陵，識名園，園比屋武御嶽石門）。〔交通〕　東京，大阪，福岡などから那覇空港へ空路が通じ，那覇から平良(ひらら)（宮古島），石垣など県内の諸島へも空路がある。東京，大阪，鹿児島などから那覇港へ定期船便がある。諸島間の航路も那覇港が中心で，各島間の相互連絡は不便である。各島内交通はバス，タクシーに依存するが，2003年８月に沖縄本島で，県内では戦後初となる鉄道として沖縄都市モノレールが開通した。
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