Okinawa City 沖縄市 Uchinaa | |
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 Okinawa City Hall | |
 Flag  Seal | |
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 Location of Okinawa inOkinawa Prefecture | |
  Okinawa City | |
| Coordinates:26°20′3″N127°48′20″E / 26.33417°N 127.80556°E /26.33417; 127.80556 | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kyushu |
| Prefecture | Okinawa Prefecture |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Vacant |
| Area | |
• Total | 49.00 km2 (18.92 sq mi) |
| Population (October 1, 2020) | |
• Total | 142,752 |
| • Density | 2,913.31/km2 (7,545.4/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| - Tree | Chinese Fan Palm(Livistona chinensis) |
| - Flower | Hibiscus |
| Phone number | 098-939-1212 |
| Address | 26-1 Nakasonechō, Okinawa-shi 904-8501 |
| Website | www |
Okinawa City (沖縄市,Okinawa-shi,Japanese:[okinawa]) is the second-largestcity inOkinawa Prefecture,Japan, followingNaha, the capital city.[1] It is located in the central part of the island ofOkinawa, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Naha. As of 1 October 2020, the city has an estimatedpopulation of 142,752 and apopulation density of 2,913.31 people per km2.[2] The total area is 49.00 km2.
Under theRyukyu Kingdom the present-day area of Okinawa City was occupied by twomagiri, a type of administrative district. The Goeku magiri occupied the south of the city, and the north of the city was part of the Misato magiri.[3]
In 1908, Okinawa Prefecture ended the magiri system and established the villages of Goeku and Misato. Both villages were agricultural and lacked urbanized areas prior toWorld War II.[4]
After theBattle of Okinawa the United States established the first refugee camp in Okinawa in the area south of present-day Kadena Air Base. The population of the former villages swelled rapidly. An area of Goeku, calledGoya (ごや), was mispronounced by Americans asKoza (コザ). During the occupation of Okinawa, the U.S. military government established the city of Koza (コザ市,Koza-shi) in Goeku. Koza was the first city to use thekatakanasyllabary for its name.[3] Misato merged into a neighboring community, and in 1946, again became separate, as did Goeku. Both municipalities, which were formerly largely agricultural, became heavily urbanized as a result of the construction of refugee camps and the establishment of large-scale military bases. The area became a "base city" catering to United States military personnel.[4] On June 13, 1956, Goeku changed its name to the village of Koza; on July 1 of the same year it became a city.[3]
The city of Okinawa was the site of theKoza riot on the night of December 20, 1970. Roughly 5,000 Okinawans came into violent contact with roughly 700 AmericanMPs. Approximately 60 Americans were injured and 75 cars were burned. Additionally, several buildings onKadena Air Base were destroyed or heavily damaged. The Koza riot was considered a symbol of Okinawan anger after 25 years of US military occupation. The riot was unexpected, and strained the ongoing negotiations on the end of theUnited States administration of Okinawa.[5][6]
The city of Okinawa was founded on April 1, 1974 with the merger of Koza and Misato.[1]
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The commercial center of the city lies alongRoute 330. It extends from Goya Crossing to Koza Crossing. The district extending from Goya to the gate ofKadena 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.[1]
The city includes forty-six wards.[7]
Neighboring municipalities consist of:
In June 2013 more than 20 barrels were found on an Okinawa city civilian soccer field built on former U.S. military land. Barrels revealed traces of herbicides and nearby water had levels ofdioxin 840 times above safe limits.[8]
A park in the southeastern portion of the city was the site of aNational Sports Festival of Japan. Other city facilities include a baseball stadium where theHiroshima Toyo Carp hold their spring training.
The city operates 15 elementary schools and eight middle schools. There is also a private elementary school. The five high schools are operated byOkinawa Prefectural Board of Education.
Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools onKadena Air Base, and in Okinawa City:
TheOkinawa Expressway has two interchanges in the city. They are Okinawa North Number 5 and Okinawa South Number 4. Thenational highways passing through the city areRoutes 329 and330.[4]
Ryūkyū,Okinawa, andTōyō buses operate on some 26 routes in Okinawa.
The United States has six installations located at least partially in the city of Okinawa. These areKadena Air Base, Kadena Ammunition Storage Area, which lie on the boundaries with the town of Kadena and the village of Onna,[1]Camp Shields,Camp Foster,Awase Communication Station, and an ArmyPetroleum product depot.
TheJapan Ground Self-Defense Forces operate an anti-aircraft training facility.
The city hosted some matches for2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup sharing withPhilippines andIndonesia at theOkinawa Arena.
Notable people with links to the city of Okinawa include:
Okinawa City hosts thirty designated or registered cultural properties and monuments, at the national, prefectural or municipal level.[16]
Okinawa, Japan has the followingsister cities, according toSister Cities International andthe city of Okinawa:
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