Ginowan, Okinawa

History

Ginowan was heavily damaged during World War II. After the war, half of the area of the city was allocated for use by the United States military. A refugee camp was built in the Nodake area of Ginowan. The population of the refugee camp increased exponentially, and the area was renamed Nodake City. The American occupation forces abolished Nodake City in 1946, and renamed the area Ginowan Village. Subsequently, the occupation authorities confiscated the main areas of Ginowan to build military bases. The area became a base town with military bases centered in Nodaka and Futenma.

Around 33% of Ginowan has been leased by the Japanese Ministry of Defense for use as a US military base under the Japanese and American mutual defense agreement. and hosts Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and part of the Marine Corps' Camp Foster. Ginowan was elevated to city status on July 1, 1962.

Geography

Ginowan is located in the south of Okinawa, and sits on the western coast of the island along the East China Sea. The city sits on gently-sloping coastal terrace composed of Ryukyuan limestone. 38% of the city is occupied by military bases used by the United States.

Administrative divisions

The city includes seventeen wards.

• Aichi
• Aragusuku
• Futenma
• Ganeko
• Ginowan
• Isa
• Kakazu
• Kiyuna
• Maehara
• Mashiki
• Nagata
• Nakahara
• Nodake
• Ōjana
• Ōyama
• Samashita
• Ujidomari

Neighboring municipalities

Clockwise, starting north, Ginowan borders on the following municipalities in Okinawa Prefecture:

• Chatan
• Kitanakagusuku
• Nakagusuku
• Nishihara
• Urasoe

Its tourist attractions include two castle ruins.

Environmental investigation

Japanese officials found dozens of abandoned metal drums in October 2013 when they entered the base with US permission to look for buried cultural property, The officials did not report this to the Ginowan city's mayor until March 2014. "No unusual odor or color change in soil" was detected and no health problems have been actively "reported by residents living around the base". Ginowan city government called the Japanese defense ministry to investigate for "possible environmental impacts". The Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said: "We will take appropriate measures in cooperation with the United States and the city of Ginowan" as they plan environmental studies on soil in the week of March 18, 2014. The United States rarely allow environmental inspections on U.S. bases not planned for return to Japan.

Economy

Ginowan has been economically dependent on the United States military. The city is home to taro, specifically the taimo (田芋) used in Okinawa cuisine. While the taimo remains the chief product of Ginowan, agriculture greatly declined in the city in the postwar period. Like other municipalities on Okinawa Island, the city produces cut flowers for sale on the home islands of Japan.

Arts and culture

The Okinawa Convention Center was constructed in Ginowan, and has hosted numerous international conferences. The city is also home to the Okinawa Prefectural Ginowan Marina, the Ginowan Municipal Museum, and the Sakima Art Museum.

Historic sites

In the recent decades, several turtleback tombs in Ginowan City were studied academically and some were designated cultural assets of Ginowan City, such as the Motobu Udun Tomb in Ganeko, Ginowan. The Motobu Udun Tomb is considered valuable for research on the relationship between the royal family and the Ginowan District of the time, the construction of ancient turtleback tombs, and their transformations. On February 25, 2021, the Motobu Udun Tomb was designated a cultural property historical site by Ginowan City in recognition of its high value as a material that unravels the relationship between Ginowan District and royal descendants at that time.

Education

Ginowan was home to the former Okinawa International University Junior College.

Government

Ginowan is run by a city assembly of 28 elected members.

Transportation

Roads

Ginowan is crossed by Japan National Route 58, which stretches across segments of Kyūshū, Tanegashima, Amami Ōshima, and Okinawa, and Japan National Route 330, which connects the city of Okinawa and the prefectural capital of Naha. Both highways are routed around the U.S. military bases. The Okinawa Expressway, which connects Nago to Naha, runs along the eastern border of the Ginowan.

Cultural properties

• Name (Japanese) (Type of registration)

[[Cultural Property (Japan)|Cultural properties]]

• Chunnā-gā spring () (National)
• Mashiki Sakima family documents () (Municipal)
• Mayā-gama cave site in Ōyama () (Municipal)
• Meiji land registry map () (Municipal)
• Motobu Udun tomb () (Municipal)
• Oroku-baka tomb () (Prefectural)
• Oroku-baka tomb stone incense burner () (Municipal)
• Oroku-baka tomb stone lions () (Municipal)
• Oroku-baka tomb stone zushi () (Prefectural)

[[Cultural Property (Japan)#Folk Cultural Properties|Folk cultural properties]]

• Hījā-gā spring in Ganeko () (Municipal)
• Nūru-gā spring of Kamiyama / Aichi () (Municipal)
• Stone lions of Kiyuna () (Municipal)

[[Monuments of Japan#Designated monuments of Japan|Historic sites]]

• Iri-mui inscription () (Municipal)
• Kushi-nu-kā spring in Nodake () (Municipal)
• Mē-nu-kā spring in Ōjana () (Municipal)
• Ōyama Shell Mound () (National)
• Ōyama Utaki sacred site stele () (Municipal)
• Paved road in Nodake () (Municipal)
• Saaten-bashi Bridge construction stele in Isahama () (Municipal)
• Survey stone of Isa, marked "WA Taketaubaru" () (Municipal)

[[Monuments of Japan#Designated monuments of Japan|Places of scenic beauty]]

• Futenma-gū cave () (Municipal)
• Ginowan City Mori-no-kawa spring () (Prefectural)

[[Monuments of Japan#Designated monuments of Japan|Natural monuments]]

• Ōjana Mē-nu-kā fresh water red algae () (Municipal)

References

References

1. (2001-03-30). "Okinawago jiten". Zaimushō Insatsukyoku.
2. "沖縄県 > 宜野湾市の郵便番号一覧 – 日本郵便株式会社".
3. (14 March 2014). "Japan to inspect soil at U.S. base in Okinawa for contamination". Kyodo News International.
4. "宜野湾市の文化財一覧{{!}}宜野湾市".
5. (2013). "Ginowan". Shogakukan.
6. (2013). "宜野湾（市）". Shogakukan.
7. link. (2012). City of Ginowan