Location

Okinawa Prefecture, off the eastern part of the continen of Asia, is located soutwest of mainland Japan and consists of 160 large and small islands, 112 of whish areinhabited. The islands extend about 400 km in a north-south direction and 1000 km in east-west direction, situated approximately between 24 and 28 degrees north latitude and between 123 and 131 degrees east longitude. Coral reef surround most of the islands.
Geographically, they can be classified into the Okinawa, Miyako, Yaeyama, Daito, and Sensaku Island Groups.

In addition, the prefecture -able to link with mainland Japan, the continent of China, the Korean peninsula, and the Southeast Asian countries- is located in an area of geographical importance, so that by the mid-15th century, it had already undertaken trade activities with these regions. Major cities within a radius of 1500 km of Okinawa Island (Naha City) inclde Fukuoka, Osaka, Taipei, Shangai, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Manila.

You can view a more detailed map in the download section.

Topography

Geologically, sedimentary rock, mainly composed of mudstone, sandstone, chert, and limestone formed from the Permian Period of the Paleozoic Era to the Tertiary Period of the Cenozoic Era, are spread throughout the northern part of the Okinawa, Yaeyama, and Senkaku Islands. Younger limestone originating mainly from coral reef formed during the Quaternary Period of the Cenozoic Era is found in the central and southern parts of Okinawa, Daito and Miyako Islands. North and South Daito in the Daiko Islands group were formed by the upheaval of coral reef, something rarely seen in other parts of the world.

Mt. Omoto on Ishigaki Island in the Yaeyama Islands Group is the highest point in the prefecture, with most of the other islands having terrain bellow 300 m in height. Each island seems to reflect its own geological features. Those islands made up of older rock formations have hilly terrain called the "hight island" type. Kume, Ishigaki, and Iriomote Islands are classified as hight islands. Those islands formed of younger rock are low, relatively flat lands called the "low island" type. Miyako, Hateruma, and Taketomi Islands are classified as low islands. The main Okinawa Island has both high island features in its northern area and low island features in its southern area.

On the main island, the soil is generally poor in organic material, possessing little capacity for water and nutrients.

Okinawa Island (1202 km²) is the largest island with Iriomote (289 km²), Ishigaki (222 km²), and Miyako (159 km²) Islands following respectively. These four islands make up approximately 80% of the total prefectural area (2267 km²). Moreover, the total prefectural land area accounts for about 0.6% of the total national japanese land area (377 837 km²).

Population

The total prefectural population is 1 311 282 (as of Nov. 1, 1999), increasing annually since WWII. More than 80% of the total population is concentrated in the central and southern parts of Okinawa island, and almost one out of every four people lives in the prefectural capital of Naha. Population centers of the other island groups are Hirara City in the Miyako Islands Group and Ishigaki City of the Yaeyama Islands Group.

Administrative Division

Administratively, the prefecture is divided into the following main groups; from the north, Okinawa is the principal island of the Okinawa Islands Group, Miyako Island the principal island of the Miyako Island Group, and Ishigaki Island the principal island of the Yaeyama Islands group.

Okinawa Island is the center of politics and economics for the prefecture, with more than 90% of the total population residing there. Beginning with the national government's Okinawa Office of the General Affairs Bureau, numerous organizations from other countries, newspaper offices, television/radio stations, and banks are concentrated in Naha City, where the Okinawa Prefectural Government is also located. Having the international airport and ports situated there, it is the base of air and marine transportation as well.

The Miyako Islands Group is divided into six municipal districts with 4.3% of the total prefectural population. All islands in the group were formed from coral reef limestone which covers most of the landscape, resulting in a lack of surface water. However, the island group has reserves of underground water, so that an underground reservoir was constructed and is now utilized for agricultural irrigation.

The Yaeyama Islands Group is divided into three administrative districts, and 3.7% of the total prefectural population lives there. With mangrove trees growing around many mouths of creeks and rivers, the islands are blessed with a bountiful natural enviroment. A national park is located on Iriomote Island, and the islands are active in tourism related activities.

For more information

• Japan Atlas
• Okinawa Prefectural Home Page

Download

• Okinawa map (1135x703) [JPEG: ~147 KB] - [zip: ~147 KB]