Okinawa

—Okinawan, adj., n.

/oh'keuh now"weuh, -nah"weuh/; Japn. /aw"kee nah"wah/, n.

the largest of the Ryukyu Islands, in the N Pacific, SW of Japan: taken by U.S. forces April-June 1945 in the last major amphibious campaign of World War II. 748,632; 544 sq. mi. (1409 sq. km).

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Island of Japan, located in the Ryukyu archipelago, in the East China Sea.

The largest island in the Ryukyu chain, it is about 70 mi (112 km) long and 7 mi (11 km) wide, with an area of 463 sq mi (1,199 sq km). It was the site of severe fighting between the U.S. and Japan in World War II. In April 1945 U.S. troops made an amphibious landing on Okinawa, which was heavily defended by the Japanese. In a three-month-long campaign, both sides sustained heavy casualties before U.S. forces gained control of the island. In 1972 the United States returned jurisdiction over Okinawa to Japan, though U.S. military installations remained.

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▪ Japan

formerly  Koza  

 city, Okinawa ken (prefecture), Japan. It is situated in the central part of Okinawa Island and was designated as a new city in 1974. Originally occupying a region of agriculture and forestry, the city, after World War II, became the location for the U.S. Kadena military base, which continued to exist after the American occupation of Japan was ended. Okinawa city has the Southeast Botanical Garden displaying tropical plants, an aquarium, an amusement park, a zoo, and the Moromi Folkcraft Museum. Pop. (2005) 126,400.

▪ prefecture, Japan

      ken (prefecture), Japan, in the East China Sea. The prefecture is composed of the Ryukyu Islands (q.v.). Okinawa Island is the largest in the Ryukyu Islands archipelago, being about 70 miles (112 km) long and 7 miles (11 km) wide. Okinawa Island has an area of 463 square miles (1,199 square km). Before Okinawa became a prefecture during the early part of the Meiji period (1868–1912), it was a semi-independent kingdom under the influence of both Japan and China. Tuna fishing, cattle raising, sugar refining, and pineapple canning constitute Okinawa's main economic activities. Sweet potatoes, rice, and soybeans are also grown on the island, and textiles, sake (rice wine), and lacquerware are manufactured. Offshore wells yield petroleum. Naha is the prefectural capital.

      Okinawa Island was the site of one of the bloodiest campaigns in the Pacific theatre during World War II. In April 1945 U.S. troops made an amphibious landing on Okinawa, which was heavily defended by the Japanese. In the resulting three-month-long campaign, U.S. forces sustained about 12,000 dead and 36,000 wounded before they were able to establish complete control of the island. The Japanese sustained about 100,000 dead.

      In 1972 the United States returned Okinawa Island to Japan, although the extensive U.S. military installations there remained operative. Area prefecture, 871 square miles (2,255 square km). Pop. (1990) 1,222,458; (1995 prelim.) 1,273,508.

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