Ginowan

• Name — Ginowan • Other Name — Jinōn • Type — City • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — Japan • Subdivision Type1 — Region • Subdivision Name1 — Kyushu • Subdivision Type2 — Prefecture • Subdivision Name2 — Okinawa Prefecture • Leader Title — Mayor • Leader Name — Atsushi Sakima (since February 2012) • Unit Pref — Metric • Area Total Km2 — 19.51 • Population Total — 100,319 • Population As Of — February 2024 • Population Density Km2 — 5,142 • Time Zone1 — Japan Standard Time • Utc Offset1 — +9 • Custom Label1 Sec1 — Tree • Custom Data1 Sec1 — Thurs ebony • Custom Label2 Sec1 — Flower • Custom Data2 Sec1 — Chrysanthemum, Santanka • Custom Label Sec2 — Phone number • Custom Data Sec2 — 098-893-4411 • Custom Label1 Sec2 — Address • Custom Data1 Sec2 — 1-1-1 Nodake, Ginowan-shi, Okinawa-ken 901–2710 • Website — www.city.ginowan.okinawa.jp

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.

• Illustration — A tropical beach in Ginowan 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.

The city includes seventeen wards. • Aichi • Aragusuku • Futenma • Ganeko • Ginowan • Isa • Kakazu • Kiyuna • Maehara • Mashiki • Nagata • Nakahara • Nodake • Ōjana • Ōyama • Samashita • Ujidomari

Clockwise, starting north, Ginowan borders on the following municipalities in Okinawa Prefecture: • Chatan • Kitanakagusuku • Nakagusuku • Nishihara • Urasoe Its tourist attractions include two castle ruins.

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.

• Illustration — Taimo taro fields in Ginowan 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.

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.

• Illustration — Motobu Udun Tomb Inner Yard 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.

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

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

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.

• Name (Japanese) (Type of registration)

• 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)

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

• 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)

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

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