Okinawa, city in Japan, on south central Okinawa Island, in Okinawa Prefecture. Okinawa Island is the largest island in the Ryukyu Islands archipelago, which stretches southward between the East China Sea and the North Pacific Ocean from Japan's Kyushu Island to near Taiwan. Okinawa is about 15 km (about 9 mi) northeast of Naha, the prefectural capital. It is built around Kadena U.S. Air Force Base, one of several large U.S. military facilities established on the island after World War II (1939-1945). The city's main commercial street is lined with American-style fast food outlets and other businesses that cater to U.S. military personnel. Tourism is also important; attractions include the nearby beaches, tropical scenery, historic castle ruins, and traditional Okinawan culture villages. Okinawa was established in 1974 with the merger of Koza city and Misato village. Population (1999) 120,798.
