Naha is the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture, the southernmost prefecture of Japan. As of 1 June 2019, the city has an estimated population of 317,405 and a population density of 7,939 persons per km2. In the medieval and early modern periods, it was the commercial center of the Ryūkyū Kingdom.
About Naha, Okinawa in brief
Naha is the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture, the southernmost prefecture of Japan. As of 1 June 2019, the city has an estimated population of 317,405 and a population density of 7,939 persons per km2. Naha is a city on the East China Sea coast of the southern part of Okinawa Island. In the medieval and early modern periods, it was the commercial center of the Ryūkyū Kingdom. The name of Naha comes from its original name, Naba, which was the name of a large, mushroom-shaped stone in the city. In Naha, some archeological relics of the Stone Age were found. Pottery found by archaeologists indicates that the area was an active site of trade with the Japanese archipelago and Korean peninsula at least as early as the 11th century. The modern city was officially founded on May 20, 1921, but Naha had been for centuries one of the most important and populous sites in Okinawa. The main port area for international trade, Naha proper, was divided into the East and West districts and was on the southwestern portion of Ukishima. A large number of Japanese temples and shrines were located here, along with a residence, known as the Tenshikan, for visiting Chinese officials. A pair of embankments were built across the entrance to the harbor to defend the harbor, and a small island within the harbor held a warehouse used for storing goods.
The administrators of Tomari were responsible for collecting and managing tribute to the Amami Islands, whose tribute was made here by the chief Kōdume-dume, who served as chief of the port-general for the kingdom. The city is home to the Okinawa Prefectural Museum, containing sections devoted to the art, history, and natural history of the Ryukyus, opened in November 2007 and sits in front of Shintoshin Park. The Okinawa Urban Monorail, the only train system in the prefecture, was released to Okinawa in 1987, but major development only began in the mid-1990s. Omoromachi Station is attached directly to an upscale shopping mall; another mall,Naha Main Place, contains many upscale Western-brand fashion boutiques, with restaurants and other shops. The area boasts large stores such as Toys R Us and Best Denki, a co-op market, many restaurants and a movie theater. It was once a major center of ceramic production. Northeast of Kokusai-dōri is a relatively new commercial district called Sh Macintoshin. The area was formerly United States military housing, but was released in 1987. Though today Naha has grown to incorporate the former royal capital city Shuri, center of Chinese learning Kumemura.
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This page is based on the article Naha, Okinawa published in Wikipedia (as of Dec. 31, 2020) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
