Itoman, Okinawa

Geography

Itoman sits on a flat tableland with craggy rolling hills of Ryukyuan Limestone which range between Cape Baron Bryan to the south and the sugar cane fields in front of Yozadake to the north. The south of the town is known for its steep sea cliffs around Cape Kyan and the Mabuni Cliffs.

Administrative divisions

The city includes forty-two wards.

• Ahagon
• Arakaki
• Arakawa
• Fukuji
• Ihara
• Ishiki
• Itosu
• Kakazu
• Kanegusuku
• Kitanamihira
• Kohagura
• Komesu
• Kuniyoshi
• Kyan
• Mabuni
• Machibata
• Maebata
• Maehira
• Maezato
• Makabe
• Minami
• Minaminamihira
• Nashiro
• Niijima
• Nishi
• Nishikawachō
• Nishizaki
• Nishizakichō
• Ōdo
• Ōzato
• Shiohira
• Shiozakichō
• Shin'yashiki
• Taketomi
• Teruya
• Toyohara
• Tsukazato, merger of Tsukahena and Uezato
• Uegusuku
• Uenohira
• Yamagusuku
• Yoza
• Zaha

History

Itoman has a long history as a fishing port. In the pre-modern period, its fisherman ventured as far as the Indian Ocean. Records indicate that the fisherman made contact with Australia and New Guinea. By 1908 the village of Itoman numbered 8,000 residents, almost all involved in the fishing industry. Men of Itoman worked on fishing boats, and women worked at the transport and sale of fish in the prefectural capital of Naha. In 1918 Naha and Itoman were connected by a horse-drawn tram. The line spanned 12 km. The Okinawa Prefectural Railways Itoman Line was established in 1924 and operated until 1945.

Itoman was the final front of the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. The area saw enormous casualties to both military forces and civilians. Itoman is noted for the Himeyuri Butai, a field hospital nursing corps of 221 high-school students who committed suicide at the end of the battle.

Administrative history

Itoman was established as a town in 1908. In 1961 it absorbed the villages of Kanegusuku, Takamine, and Miwa. Itoman was elevated to city status on December 1, 1971.

Government

Itoman is administered from the city hall in Shiozaki. The Itoman Board of Education oversees the preschool, elementary, and middle school, community education centers, and sports facilities of the city. The Itoman City Council consists of 23 members who serve a four-year term and are led by a chairperson (Isao Uehara) and vice-chairperson (Isao Tokuzato) of the council.

Economy

Fishing remains the primary industry of the city of Itoman.

Transportation

Roads

Japan National Route 331, which connects Itoman and Ōgimi along the eastern coast of Okinawa Island, runs through Itoman and connects the city to other municipalities in Okinawa.

Sports

Itoman co-hosted the 2025 U-18 Baseball World Cup with Naha, Okinawa.

Cultural Properties

• Name (Japanese) (Type of registration)

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

• Bell from the Former Ryūshō-ji temple (梵鐘(旧竜翔寺鐘)) (Prefectural)
• Buddhist Sculptures by Dana Sōkei (田名宗経謹刻の仏像) (Municipal)
• Kinjō Masuharu Family’s residence (main house, pig pen latrines, well, stone wall) (金城増治家住宅 主屋・フール・井戸・石垣) (National)
• Kōchibara and Sūyama-Akahigibaru Munchūs’ tomb inscription (幸地腹、惣山・赤比儀腹両門中墓誌) (Municipal)
• Ōshiro Residence (大城家) (Municipal)
• Stone lions of Teruya (照屋の石彫獅子) (Municipal)
• Sunjagā Spring (潮平ガー) (National)

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

• Miikagan googles and crafting tools (ミーカガン及び製作具一式) (Municipal)
• Palanquin of Zaha and Kakazu Villages (字座波・賀数の龕) (Municipal)

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

• Gushikawa Castle Site (具志川城跡) (National)
• Komesu Shell Mound (米須貝塚) (Prefectural)

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

• Kyan Coast and Arasaki Coast (喜屋武海岸及び荒崎海岸) (National)

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

• Kyan Coast and Arasaki Coast (喜屋武海岸及び荒崎海岸) (National)

References

References

1. (2001-03-30). "Okinawago jiten". Zaimushō Insatsukyoku.
2. "沖縄県 糸満市の郵便番号 - 日本郵便".
3. "Meet the Okinawa Prefecture, the host of the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025". World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).
4. "指定・登録文化財一覧".
5. (2013). "Itoman". Shogakukan.
6. (2013). "Himeyuri Butai". Shogakukan.
7. (2012). "糸満（市）". Shogakukan.
8. link. (2013). City of Itowan