Itoman (糸満市, Itoman-shi, Okinawan: いちゅまん ʔIcuman[1]) is a city located in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The city occupies the southern tip of Okinawa Island. As of April 2013, the city has an estimated population of 59,605 and a population density of 1,335.53 persons per km².[2] The total area is 46.63 km².[3][4]

Itoman 糸満市 ʔIcuman
City
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 Seal
Location of Itoman in Okinawa Prefecture
Itoman
Coordinates: 26°7′25″N 127°39′57″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu
Prefecture	Okinawa Prefecture
Government
• Mayor	Akira Uehara
Area
• Total	46.63 km2 (18.00 sq mi)
Population  (April, 2013)
• Total	59,605
• Density	1,300/km2 (3,300/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Banyan tree
- Flower	Madagascar Periwinkle
- Flowering tree	Bougainvillea
- Fish	Spangled emperor
Phone number	098-840-8111
Address	1-1 Shiozaki-cho, Itoman-shi, Okinawa Prefecture 901-0392
Website	www.city.itoman.lg.jp(in Japanese)

Geography

Itoman sits on a flat tableland with craggy rolling hills of Ryukyuan limestone which range between Cape Kyan 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

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 capitol of Naha. In 1918 Naha and Itoman were connected by a horse-drawn tram. The line spanned 12 kilometres (7.5 mi). The Okinawa Prefectural Railways Itoman Line was established in 1924, and operated until 1945.[3][4]

Itoman was a 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.[3][5]

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.[4]

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.[3]

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.[4]

See also

• Cornerstone of Peace

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Itoman, Okinawa.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Itoman.

• Itoman City official website (in Japanese)
• Itoman City official website
• News of Okinawa in WEB RADIO (in Portuguese)
• Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum
• Himeyuri Monument（Monument for high school girls who died in WWII）
• Cornerstone of Peace
• Mabuni Hill

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