FACTS ABOUT OKINAWA

Okinawa is the name for the biggest island in the Ryūkyū Islands, far south of Japan. It is also the common name for Okinawa Prefecture, which controls the Southern Ryūkyū Islands.

Okinawa, Japan is a prefecture (similar to a state in the United States) that is made up of hundreds of islands in southern Japan. The islands comprise a total of 877 square miles (2,271 square kilometers) and had a population of 1,379,338 as of December 2008. Okinawa Island is the largest of these islands and is where the capital of the prefecture, Naha, is located.

The capital of Okinawa is Naha. Naha is on the island with the most people, Okinawa island. Okinawa used to be called Great Lew Chew Island.

Many of Okinawa's islands are scenic, and there are many beaches there.

The temperature in Okinawa is often warm or hot. Many animals make their home around the Okinawa islands. For example,sea turtles, jellyfish, and many kinds of birds all live around Okinawa.

An average person in Okinawa lives to be older than 90. Some people think that is because Okinawan food is healthy. Fish is very popular, but people also eat sea vegetables and pork. Okinawan food is famous for its originality. Examples of local specialties are Okinawa Soba, Go-ya Champuru, Rafute, and Ji-mami-doufu.

Okinawa's music is popular all over Japan. A musical instrument called a sanshin is often used.

Okinawa was the site of the last big battle of World War II, the Battle of Okinawa. A lot of Okinawan people died during the battle. Now, the United States has some military bases for soldiers on the different islands of Okinawa. There are some symbols of this battle in Okinawa. The Himeyuri Monument is the most famous symbol.

Okinawa has recently been in the news because a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the prefecture on February 26, 2010. Little damage was reported from the earthquake but a tsunami warning was issued for the Okinawa Islands as well as the nearby Amami Islands and the Tokara Islands.

The following is a list of ten important facts to know about Okinawa, Japan:

• The main set of islands making up Okinawa is called the Ryukyu Islands. The islands are then further divided into three regions called, the Okinawa Islands, the Miyako Islands and the Yaeyama Islands.

• Most of Okinawa's islands are made up of coral rocks and limestone.

• Because Okinawa has abundant coral reefs, its islands also have a plethora of sea animals. Sea turtles are common in the southernmost islands, while jellyfish, sharks, sea snakes and several types of venomous fish are widespread.

• Okinawa's climate is considered subtropical with an average August high temperature of 87°F (30.5°C). Much of the year can also be rainy and humid. The average low temperature for January, Okinawa's coldest month, is 56°F (13°C).

• Because of this climate, Okinawa produces sugar cane, pineapple, papaya and features popular botanical gardens.

• Historically, Okinawa was a separate kingdom from Japan and was controlled by the Chinese Qing Dynasty after the area was annexed in 1868. At that time, the islands were called Ryukyu in native Japanese and Liuqiu by the Chinese. In 1872, Ryukyu was annexed by Japan and in 1879 it was renamed the Okinawa Prefecture.

• During World War II, there was a Battle of Okinawa in 1945, which led to Okinawa being controlled by the United States. In 1972, the United States returned control to Japan with the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. Despite giving the islands back to Japan, the U.S. still maintains a large military presence in Okinawa.

• Today, the United States currently has 14 military bases on the Okinawa Islands- most of which are on Okinawa's largest main island.

• Because Okinawa was a separate nation from Japan for much of its history, its people speak various languages that differ from traditional Japanese.

• Okinawa is known for its unique architecture that developed as a result of frequent tropical storms and typhoons in the region. Most of Okinawa's buildings are made of concrete, cement roof tiles and covered windows.

References

http://geography.about.com/od/japanmaps/a/okinawajapan.htm

http://www.kidzsearch.com/wiki/Okinawa