Makiminato

• Japanese/Okinawan: 牧港 (Makiminato / Machinato)

Makiminato is a neighborhood of Urasoe City, Okinawa prefecture. It is among the nearest harbors to the north of Naha and Tomari on the main island of Okinawa.

According to legend, this was where Minamoto no Tametomo's wife waited loyally and longingly for his return, thus giving the harbor its name (machi minato, "harbor of waiting"). Alternative theories suggest that the port is named more simply for its proximity to historical farms or grazing meadows (maki, 牧), and it being the chief port (minato, 港) from which Ryukyuan horses were shipped to Naha to then be shipped overseas.

References

• Umezaki Harumitsu 梅崎晴光, Kieta Ryûkyû keiba 消えた琉球競馬, Naha: Borderink (2012), 82.