The southernmost prefecture of Japan, consisting of Okinawa Island proper and most of the islands of the Ryuukyuu chain. A tropical island that once was an independent kingdom.
Throughout history it was a crossroad of trade from China and Southeast Asia to Japan. This is reflected in its culture which blends native elements with Japanese, Chinese, and Southeast Asian influences. Conquered by the Satsuma domain in 1609, Okinawa became part of the Japanese nation during the Meiji restoration.
In World War II it was the site of the Battle of Okinawa, one of the fiercest battles of the Pacific Theater. Occupied by the United States military after the war, it wasn't returned to Japanese control until 1972. It is home to the majority of US bases in Japan, which occupy 18% of the total land area.
Okinawans (or Ryukyuans) are not a recognized minority group in Japan, as Japanese authorities consider them a subgroup of the Japanese people, akin to the Yamato people. The traditional Okinawan language is related to Japanese, and has been supplanted by the national language in most uses. Its capital is Naha City; historically it was Shuri, where Shuri Castle is located.
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