Okinawa Island

Okinawa Island is the largest island of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, and the principal island of the Ryukyu Islands. It is home to Naha, the prefecture’s capital, and major U.S. military installations.

Ryukyu Islands: An island chain stretching from Kyushu, Japan, toward Taiwan, including Okinawa and the Amami Islands. Okinawa Island is the chain’s largest and most populous island.
Ryukyu Kingdom: An independent kingdom centered on Okinawa that ruled much of the Ryukyu Islands from the fifteenth to nineteenth centuries. Shuri on Okinawa Island served as the kingdom’s political center.
United States Forces Japan: The U.S. military command responsible for American forces and installations stationed in Japan. Its forces operate major bases concentrated on Okinawa Island.
Okinawan language: A Japonic language traditionally spoken on Okinawa Island and neighboring parts of the Ryukyu Islands. Its decline reflects language shift and assimilation on the island.
Kerama Islands: An island group west of Okinawa Island, within Okinawa Prefecture. They lie close offshore and are linked to the island by ferry and regional administration.
Okinawa Prefecture: Japan’s southernmost prefecture, comprising the Ryukyu Islands and surrounding waters. The island gives the prefecture its name and contains its capital.
Satsuma Domain: A Japanese domain that invaded the Ryukyu Kingdom in 1609 and thereafter exerted control over it. Its invasion altered the island’s political history while the kingdom retained nominal autonomy.
Marine Corps Air Station Futenma: A United States Marine Corps air station located in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture. Its presence in a densely populated part of the island drives relocation disputes.
Okinawan cuisine: A regional food tradition shaped by Ryukyuan history, local ingredients, and exchange with China and Japan. The island is the main center for the cuisine’s restaurants and food culture.
Kume Island: An island in Okinawa Prefecture, west of Okinawa Island. It is a neighboring island connected to Okinawa Island through regional transport.

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