Urasoe, Okinawa

Coordinates: 26°14′45″N 127°43′19″E / 26.24583°N 127.72194°E / 26.24583; 127.72194
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Urasoe
浦添市
Urashii
City
Urasoe City Hall
Urasoe City Hall
Flag of Urasoe
Flag
Official seal of Urasoe
Seal
Map
Location of Urasoe in Okinawa Prefecture
Location of Urasoe in Okinawa Prefecture
Urasoe is located in Japan
Urasoe
Urasoe
Coordinates: 26°14′45″N 127°43′19″E / 26.24583°N 127.72194°E / 26.24583; 127.72194
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu (Ryukyu)
PrefectureOkinawa Prefecture
Government
 • MayorTetsuji Matsumoto
Area
 • Total19.09 km2 (7.37 sq mi)
Population
 (February, 2024)
 • Total115,518
 • Density6,051.2/km2 (15,673/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeHorutonoki (Elaeocarpus sylvestris var. ellipticus)
- FlowerHenderson Allamanda
- Flowering treePoinciana
Phone number098-876-1234
Address1-1-1, Ahacha, Urasoe-shi 901-2501
Websitewww.city.urasoe.lg.jp
National Theatre Okinawa

Urasoe (浦添市, Urasoe-shi, Okinawan: Urashii) is a city located in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The neighboring municipalities are Naha to the south, Ginowan to the north, and Nishihara to the east. As of February 2024, the city has an estimated population of 115,518 and a population density of 6,051.2 persons per km2. The total area is 19.09 km2.[1]

United States Marine Corps base Camp Kinser is located on the city's coast.

Etymology[edit]

The name "Urasoe" is made up of two kanji characters. The first, 浦, means "a coastal area", and the second, 添, means "ruling" or "uniting". The name is a reference to "ruling over many areas".[2][3]

Geography[edit]

Urasoe sits to the south of Okinawa Island. Urasoe is rugged and hilly to the east, and the city slopes gently to the East China Sea in the west.[3] Urasoe, while formerly agricultural, has become heavily urbanized due to its proximity to the prefectural capital of Naha.[2][3]

Neighboring municipalities[edit]

Transportation[edit]

The city is served by Naha Airport and the Okinawa Expressway. Also it has three stations of Okinawa Urban Monorail (Yui Rail): Kyozuka, Urasoe-Maeda and Tedako-Uranishi.

History[edit]

Urasoe was the original capital of the Okinawan kingdom of Chūzan for several centuries until it was supplanted by Shuri in the late 14th or early 15th century. Shunten (1166–1237), the first known king of the Chuzan Kingdom, located in the central region of the island of Okinawa, ruled from Urasoe, as did his son and grandson.[4][5] For much of the 14th century, Urasoe Castle was the largest on the island of Okinawa. The castle now contains the remains of several kings of the Ryukyu Kingdom.[5][6]

Urasoe was completely razed during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 at the end of World War II. 45% of the population, 4,117 residents, died during the battle. The village office of Urasoe was re-established in 1946 to conduct basic administrative functions, settle refugees returning to the village, and restore agricultural land.[3] The village saw a significant increase in U.S. military presence in 1950 in the western coast of the village, which eventually became Camp Kinser. The population of Urasoe rapidly from 1956, and the city became a bedroom community of Naha in this period.[2][3][5] Urasoe was elevated to city status on July 1, 1970.[2]

Economy[edit]

The beer company Orion Breweries has its headquarters in Urasoe.[7]

Diplomatic missions[edit]

The U.S. Consulate General for Naha is in Urasoe.[8]

Education[edit]

Urasoe city operates public elementary schools and junior high schools, while the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education operates public high schools.

Prefectural high schools:

Municipal junior high schools include:[9]

Municipal elementary schools include:[9]

  • Kamimori Elementary School (神森小学校)
  • Maeda Elementary School (前田小学校)
  • Makiminato Elementary School (牧港小学校)
  • Miyagi Elementary School (宮城小学校)
  • Nakanishi Elementary School (仲西小学校)
  • Takushi Elementary School (沢岻小学校)
  • Toyama Elementary School (当山小学校)
  • Uchima Elementary School (内間小学校)
  • Urashiro Elementary School (浦城小学校)
  • Urasoe Elementary School (浦添小学校)

Private schools:

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) of the United States federal government operates Kinser Elementary School at Camp Kinser.[10]

Notable residents[edit]

Urasoe is the hometown of Japanese actress, musician and former idol Yukie Nakama.[11]

References[edit]

  1. ^ 浦添市の人口 [Population of Urasoe] (in Japanese). Urasoe, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: City of Urasoe. 2012. Retrieved Jan 2, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d "Urasoe City Guide". Urasoe, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: City of Urasoe. c. 2012. Retrieved Jan 2, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "浦添" [Uraose]. Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 153301537. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  4. ^ "浦添" [Urasoe]. Dijitaru Daijisen (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  5. ^ a b c "Urasoe". Encyclopedia of Japan. Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  6. ^ Pearson, Richard. "Archaeological Perspectives on the Rise of the Okinawan State." Journal of Archaeological Research, 9:3. 2001. p270.
  7. ^ "会社概要 - オリオンビール." Orion Breweries. Retrieved on November 30, 2009.
  8. ^ "Contact Us". Embassy of the United States in Japan. Retrieved 2024-01-09. U.S. Consulate General, Naha 2-1-1 Toyama, Urasoe City, Okinawa, Japan 901-2104 - Japanese address: "郵便番号901-2104 沖縄県浦添市当山２−１−１"
  9. ^ a b "小学校通学区域" (PDF). City of Urasoe. Retrieved 2024-01-09. - Linked from here
  10. ^ "Contact Us". Kinser Elementary School. Retrieved 2024-01-09. Unit 35037 Camp Kinser FPO, AP 96373-5037 United States
  11. ^ "仲間 由紀恵" [Yukie Nakama]. JK Who's Who (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2013. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2013-01-02.

External links[edit]

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