Okinawa

Group of islands, 520 km/323 mi from the Japanese mainland, forming part of the Japanese Ryukyu Islands in the west Pacific; Okinawa is also the name of the largest island, and of a city on Okinawa; area 2,250 sq km/869 sq mi; population (1995 est) 1,318,000. The capital is Naha.

Features Okinawa, the largest island of the group (106 km/66 mi long from north to south, 20 km/12 mi wide; area 1,176 sq km/454 sq mi, has a large US military base. As a region, Okinawa has a distinctive dialect and folk culture.

Economy Traditional textiles are manufactured in a range of distinctive local dyes and weaves. Sugarcane, rice, soybeans, and pineapples are grown, and other industries include sugar refining, pineapple canning, and the manufacture of lacquerware and the rice wine known as sake.

History Virtually all buildings were destroyed in World War II. The principal island, Okinawa, was captured by the USA in the Battle of Okinawa 1 April-21 June 1945, with 47,000 US casualties (12,000 dead) and 60,000 Japanese (only a few hundred survived as prisoners). During the invasion over 150,000 Okinawans, mainly civilians, died; many were massacred by Japanese forces. The island was returned to Japan in 1972.