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Ginowan 宜野湾市 Jinōn | |
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 Ginowan City Montage | |
 Flag  Seal | |
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 Ginowan inOkinawa Prefecture | |
  Ginowan | |
| Coordinates:26°16′54″N127°46′42″E / 26.28167°N 127.77833°E /26.28167; 127.77833 | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kyushu |
| Prefecture | Okinawa Prefecture |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Atsushi Sakima (since February 2012) |
| Area | |
• Total | 19.51 km2 (7.53 sq mi) |
| Population (February 2024) | |
• Total | 100,319 |
| • Density | 5,142/km2 (13,320/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| Tree | Thurs ebony |
| Flower | Chrysanthemum, Santanka |
| Phone number | 098-893-4411 |
| Address | 1-1-1 Nodake, Ginowan-shi, Okinawa-ken 901-2710 |
| Website | www |
Ginowan (Japanese:宜野湾市,Hepburn:Ginowan-shi,Okinawan:ジノーン,romanized: Jinōn[1]) is acity located inOkinawa Prefecture,Japan. As of 2024, the city has an estimatedpopulation of 100,319, with 47,490households and apopulation density of 5,142 persons per km2.[2] The total area is 19.51 km2.
The city bordersChatan to the west,Okinawa City to the north,Urasoe to the south andNishihara to the east.
Ginowan was heavily damaged during World War II. After the war, half of the area of the city was allocated for use by the United States military. A refugee camp was built in the Nodake area of Ginowan. The population of the refugee camp increased exponentially, and the area was renamed Nodake City. The American occupation forces abolished Nodake City in 1946, and renamed the area Ginowan Village. Subsequently, the occupation authorities confiscated the main areas of Ginowan to build military bases. The area became a base town with military bases centered in Nodaka and Futenma.[3]
Around 33% of Ginowan has been leased by the Japanese Ministry of Defense for use as a US military base under the Japanese and American mutual defense agreement.[citation needed] and hostsMarine Corps Air Station Futenma and part of the Marine Corps'Camp Foster.Ginowan was elevated to city status on July 1, 1962.
Ginowan is located in the south ofOkinawa, and sits on the western coast of the island along theEast China Sea.[3][4] The city sits on gently-sloping coastal terrace composed ofRyukyuan limestone.[4] 38% of the city is occupied by military bases used by the United States.[3]
The city includes seventeen wards.[5]
Clockwise, starting north, Ginowan borders on the following municipalities in Okinawa Prefecture:
Its tourist attractions include two castle ruins.
Japanese officials found dozens of abandoned metal drums in October 2013 when they entered the base with US permission to look for buried cultural property, The officials did not report this to the Ginowan city's mayor until March 2014. "No unusual odor or color change in soil" was detected and no health problems have been actively "reported by residents living around the base". Ginowan city government called the Japanese defense ministry to investigate for "possible environmental impacts". The Japanese Defense MinisterItsunori Onodera said: "We will take appropriate measures in cooperation with the United States and the city of Ginowan" as they plan environmental studies on soil in the week of March 18, 2014. The United States rarely allow environmental inspections on U.S. bases not planned for return to Japan.[6]
Ginowan has been economically dependent on the United States military.[3][4]The city is home totaro, specifically thetaimo (田芋) used in Okinawa cuisine. While the taimo remains the chief product of Ginowan, agriculture greatly declined in the city in the postwar period. Like other municipalities on Okinawa Island, the city produces cut flowers for sale on the home islands of Japan.
The Okinawa Convention Center was constructed in Ginowan, and has hosted numerous international conferences. The city is also home to the Okinawa Prefectural Ginowan Marina, the Ginowan Municipal Museum, and the Sakima Art Museum.[4]
In the recent decades, several turtleback tombs in Ginowan City were studied academically and some were designated cultural assets of Ginowan City, such as theMotobu Udun Tomb in Ganeko, Ginowan. The Motobu Udun Tomb is considered valuable for research on the relationship between the royal family and the Ginowan District of the time, the construction of ancient turtleback tombs, and their transformations. On February 25, 2021, the Motobu Udun Tomb was designated a cultural property historical site by Ginowan City in recognition of its high value as a material that unravels the relationship between Ginowan District and royal descendants at that time.
Ginowan was home to the formerOkinawa International University Junior College.
Ginowan is run by a city assembly of 28 elected members.
Ginowan is crossed byJapan National Route 58, which stretches across segments ofKyūshū,Tanegashima,Amami Ōshima, andOkinawa, andJapan National Route 330, which connects thecity of Okinawa and the prefectural capital ofNaha. Both highways are routed around the U.S. military bases. TheOkinawa Expressway, which connectsNago to Naha, runs along the eastern border of the Ginowan.[4]
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