Jump to content

Itoman, Okinawa

Coordinates:26°7′25″N127°39′57″E/ 26.12361°N 127.66583°E/26.12361; 127.66583
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Itoman
Mịch mãn thị
ʔIcuman
Clockwise from top left:Cenotaph of Himeyuri, Okinawa Peace Memorial Square, Itoman Central Market, Aerial in Itoman City, View of Akasaki from Cape Kyan
Clockwise from top left:Cenotaph of Himeyuri, Okinawa Peace Memorial Square, Itoman Central Market, Aerial in Itoman City, View of Akasaki from Cape Kyan
Flag of Itoman
Official seal of Itoman
Location of Itoman in Okinawa Prefecture
Location of Itoman inOkinawa Prefecture
Itoman is located in Japan
Itoman
Itoman
Coordinates:26°7′25″N127°39′57″E/ 26.12361°N 127.66583°E/26.12361; 127.66583
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu
PrefectureOkinawa Prefecture
Government
• MayorAkira Uehara
Area
• Total46.63 km2(18.00 sq mi)
Population
(October 1, 2020)
• Total61,007
• Density1,300/km2(3,400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9(Japan Standard Time)
- TreeBanyan tree
- FlowerMadagascar Periwinkle
- Flowering treeBougainvillea
- FishSpangled emperor
Phone number098-840-8111
Address1-1 Shiozaki-cho, Itoman-shi, Okinawa Prefecture
901-0392
Websitewww.city.itoman.lg.jp(in Japanese)
A view from a plane

Itoman(Mịch mãn thị,Itoman-shi,Okinawan:いちゅまんʔIcuman[1])is acitylocated inOkinawa Prefecture,Japan.The city occupies the southern tip ofOkinawa Island.As of 1 October 2020, the city has an estimatedpopulationof 61,007 and apopulation densityof 1,308.32 persons per km2.[2]The total area is 46.63 km2.[3][4]

Geography[edit]

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.[4]

History[edit]

Itoman has a long history as a fishing port. In the pre-modern period, its fisherman ventured as far as theIndian Ocean.Records indicate that the fisherman made contact withAustraliaandNew 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 ahorse-drawn tram.The line spanned 12 kilometres (7.5 mi). TheOkinawa Prefectural RailwaysItoman Linewas established in 1924 and operated until 1945.[3][4]

Itoman was the final front of theBattle of OkinawainWorld 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 of221 high-school studentswho committed suicide at the end of the battle.[3][5]

Administrative history[edit]

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.[4]

Government[edit]

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[edit]

Fishing remains the primary industry of the city of Itoman.[3]

Transportation[edit]

Roads[edit]

Japan National Route 331,which connects Itoman andŌgimialong the eastern coast of Okinawa Island, runs through Itoman and connects the city to other municipalities in Okinawa.[4]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Okinawago jiten(in Japanese). Kokuritsu Kokugo Kenkyūjo, quốc lập quốc ngữ nghiên cứu sở. Tōkyō: Zaimushō Insatsukyoku. 2001-03-30. p. 549.ISBN4-17-149000-6.OCLC47773506.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ^Thống kế tình báo[Statistical Information] (in Japanese). Itoman, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: City of Itowan. 2013.Retrieved2013-06-25.
  3. ^abcd"Itoman".Encyclopedia of Japan.Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2013.OCLC56431036.Archived fromthe originalon 2007-08-25.Retrieved2013-06-25.
  4. ^abcde"Mịch mãn ( thị )"[Itoman].Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika)(in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012.OCLC153301537.Archived fromthe originalon 2007-08-25.Retrieved2012-12-14.
  5. ^"Himeyuri Butai".Encyclopedia of Japan.Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2013.OCLC56431036.Archived fromthe originalon 2007-08-25.Retrieved2013-06-25.

External links[edit]