(1) Location & Access
- It is known as the gateway to the resorts located in various parts of Okinawa. It is roughly 2 hours and 10 minutes by air from Tokyo. Fukuoka, Pusan, Shanghai and Taipei are within 1,000 km.
(2) Overview
Okinawa used to be known as the Ryuku Kingdom. It had its own dialect and nurtured the unique cultures of its own music and cuisine. It prospered from sea commerce with Asian countries. In 1872, it was annexed by Japan. After the Pacific War, it was returned to Japan after going through a period of being governed by the U.S. military in 1972.
Okinawa Prefecture is comprised of 160 islands covering the southern half of the Nansei Islands, sprawling from south of Kyushu to Taiwan. Located in the subtropical region, the prefecture is blessed with a genial climate throughout the year and is popular as a tourist destination and a health resort. Shuri Castle, which was a royal palace during the time of the Ryuku Kingdom, is located in Naha, the central city of Okinawa and attracts many tourists. Although it was badly damaged during the war, its major facilities were rebuilt in 1992. It has been designated as a world heritage site by UNESCO.
Naha is the youngest city in Japan, where the population is rapidly aging. The population growth rate was a relatively high 3.8% from 2000 to 2005 and the ratio of the juvenile population (younger than 15 years of age) is 20.5%, which is the highest among all the municipalities in the country. According to the 2005 Census results, the unemployment rate in Naha City is 12.1%, which is rather high. With the average income in Okinawa being roughly 67% of the national average (in 2004), job creation and the fostering of industries have been major issues in the region. Cities in Okinawa, including Naha, have been trying to invite IT industry companies such as call centers, in addition to companies in the travel industry, which is its major industry.
Shuri Castle
Business and commercial functions are concentrated on Kokusai-dori Street, where the Okinawa Prefectural Government Office and the Naha City Office are situated. A former housing site for U.S. military personnel stationed in Japan, which is located in the northern part of Naha City, was completely returned to Okinawa in 1987. It is now undergoing large-scale development as the "Naha Shin-Toshin (Naha New City Center) Omoromachi" district. Following the opening of DFS Galleria Okinawa in 2005, a hotel and the Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum are already in operation on the site. The Bank of Japan Naha branch and NHK Okinawa Broadcasting Station have also relocated to the area and high-rise apartment buildings are under construction. The plot of land, which was the planned construction site for the new Naha City Hall, was sold to the civil sector and plans to develop it as a multi-purpose site offering business, commercial and housing facilities continue.
With no railway in the city and surface transportation entirely relying on roads, there has been a problem with traffic congestion, mainly around Kokusai-dori Street. In order to avoid this and for other purposes, the Okinawa City Monorail, "Yui Rail," was opened in August 2003, connecting Naha Airport and Shuri and running through the center of the city.
(3) Profile Data
1. Major office buildings: year completed, major owner
JPR Naha Building: 1991, Japan Prime Realty Investment Corporation
2. Major companies headquartered in Naha City
Bank of The Ryukyus, Bank of Okinawa, Kokuba-Gumi
