Okinawa City, Okinawa Prefecture, Kyūshū Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Okinawa City (沖縄市) is the second-largest city in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It is located in the central part of the island of Okinawa, about 20 km (12 mi) north of the capital city Naha.

History Under the Ryukyu Kingdom the present-day area of Okinawa City was occupied by two magiri, 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.

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 to World War II.

After the Battle 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, called Goya (ごや), was mispronounced by Americans as Koza (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 the katakana syllabary for its name. 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. On June 13, 1956, Goeku changed its name to the village of Koza; on July 1 of the same year it became a city.

The city of Okinawa was the site of the Koza riot on the night of December 20, 1970. Roughly 5,000 Okinawans came into violent contact with roughly 700 American MPs. Approximately 60 Americans were injured and 75 cars were burned. Additionally, several buildings on Kadena 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 the United States administration of Okinawa.

The city of Okinawa was founded on April 1, 1974 with the merger of Koza and Misato.

Geography The commercial centre of the city lies along Route 330. It extends from Goya Crossing to Koza Crossing. The district extending from Goya to the gate of Kadena 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 centres in nearby communities has resulted in some decline in these areas.

Neighboring municipalities Neighboring municipalities consist of: • Uruma • Kadena • Chatan • Onna • Kitanakagusuku • Yomitan.

Environmental problems 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 of dioxin 840 times above safe limits.

Parks and recreation A park in the south-eastern portion of the city was the site of a National Sports Festival of Japan. Other city facilities include a baseball stadium where the Hiroshima Toyo Carp hold their spring training.

Education The city operates 15 elementary schools and eight middle schools. There is also a private elementary school. The five high schools are operated by Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education.

Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools on Kadena Air Base, and in Okinawa City: • Bob Hope Elementary School • Kadena Elementary School • Ralph F. Stearley Primary School • Amelia Earhart Intermediate School • Kadena Middle School • Ryukyu Middle School • Kadena High School.

Transport: Road The Okinawa Expressway has two interchanges in the city. They are Okinawa North Number 5 and Okinawa South Number 4. The national highways passing through the city are Routes 329 and 330.

Bus lines Ryūkyū, Okinawa, and Tōyō buses operate on some 26 routes in Okinawa.

United States military installations The United States has six installations located at least partially in the city of Okinawa. These are Kadena Air Base, Kadena Ammunition Storage Area, which lie on the boundaries with the town of Kadena and the village of Onna, Camp Shields, Camp Foster, Awase Communication Station, and an Army Petroleum product depot.

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces operate an anti-aircraft training facility.

Sport The city hosted some matches for 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup sharing with Philippines and Indonesia at the Okinawa Arena.

In popular media • The Yokai King, an American television series was shot in 2013 in various locations of Okinawa City. • The Karate Kid Part II (1986) is set in Okinawa, in a fishing village bordering Kadena Air Force Base, where Mr. Miyagi returns home after decades to tend to his dying father. Filming was actually done in Oahu, Hawaii, and Los Angeles, due to the modern build-up on Okinawa. The Okinawan village portrayed in the film was constructed on a private estate on the windward side of Oahu, where seven authentic replicas of Okinawan houses were constructed, along with more than three acres of planted crops. Fifty Okinawa-born Hawaii residents were also recruited as film extras.

Points of interest • Southeast Botanical Gardens.