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==History==
==History==
===Meiji Period===
===Meiji Period===
The prefecture was established in [[1879]], as the last stage in the ''[[Ryukyu shobun|Ryûkyû shobun]]'', or "disposal" of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. The Kingdom had been replaced by ''[[Ryukyu han|Ryûkyû han]]'' in [[1872]], with the king being made a ''han'ô'', basically equivalent to the position of ''[[daimyo|daimyô]]'' which had just been [[abolition of the han|abolished]] in mainland Japan. Now, the king was made a Marquis in the new European-style ''[[kazoku]]'' peerage system, and was obliged to relocate to [[Tokyo]]. Governors, chiefly from [[Kagoshima prefecture]] ([[Satsuma han|Satsuma]]) but all of them from mainland Japan, were appointed to head the governance of Okinawa all the way up through 1945. It was only after the end of the US Occupation in Ryûkyû, and the reversion of Okinawa to Japanese sovereignty in 1972 that Okinawans were able to democratically elect their own Okinawan leadership.
The prefecture was established in [[1879]], as the last stage in the ''[[Ryukyu shobun|Ryûkyû shobun]]'', or "disposal" of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. The Kingdom had been replaced by ''[[Ryukyu han|Ryûkyû han]]'' in [[1872]], with the king being made a ''han'ô'', basically equivalent to the position of ''[[daimyo|daimyô]]'' which had just been [[abolition of the han|abolished]] in mainland Japan. Now, the king was made a Marquis in the new European-style ''[[kazoku]]'' peerage system, and was obliged to relocate to [[Tokyo]]. The royal family maintained Ryukyuan royal customs for a time, but after the end of the mourning period following the death of [[Sho Tai|Shô Tai]], the last king, in [[1901]], they abandoned the trappings of royalty and more fully adopted those of modern Japanese aristocracy.<ref>Kerr, 452-453.</ref> Governors, chiefly from [[Kagoshima prefecture]] ([[Satsuma han|Satsuma]]) but all of them from mainland Japan, were appointed to head the governance of Okinawa all the way up through 1945. It was only after the end of the US Occupation in Ryûkyû, and the reversion of Okinawa to Japanese sovereignty in 1972 that Okinawans were able to democratically elect their own Okinawan leadership.
[[Matsuda Michiyuki]] arrived in Naha on 1879/1/25, and the following day presented to [[Prince Nakijin]] a missive from the [[Prime Minister]] reproaching Ryûkyû for breaking the prohibition imposed by Japan on sending [[Ryukyuan tribute missions to China|diplomatic missions to China]], and for obstructing the implementation of Japanese law enforcement and criminal administration in the islands. The following month, Beijing sent formal communications urging Tokyo to not annex Ryûkyû as a prefecture. [[Kinashi Seiichiro|Kinashi Seiichirô]] was named Acting Governor of the not yet established Okinawa Prefecture on 3/3.
[[Matsuda Michiyuki]] arrived in Naha on 1879/1/25, and the following day presented to [[Prince Nakijin]] a missive from the [[Prime Minister]] reproaching Ryûkyû for breaking the prohibition imposed by Japan on sending [[Ryukyuan tribute missions to China|diplomatic missions to China]], and for obstructing the implementation of Japanese law enforcement and criminal administration in the islands. The following month, Beijing sent formal communications urging Tokyo to not annex Ryûkyû as a prefecture. [[Kinashi Seiichiro|Kinashi Seiichirô]] was named Acting Governor of the not yet established Okinawa Prefecture on 3/3.
[[File:Okinawa-battlemap.jpg|right|thumb|380px|Map of the Battle of Okinawa at Punchbowl Cemetery in Honolulu]]
[[File:Okinawa-battlemap.jpg|right|thumb|380px|Map of the Battle of Okinawa at Punchbowl Cemetery in Honolulu]]
A number of major sites associated with the Ryûkyû Kingdom were named [[National Treasures]] in the 1920s-30s, including [[Shuri castle]], the Buddhist temples [[Engaku-ji (Okinawa)]] and [[Sogen-ji|Sôgen-ji]], and [[Oki Shrine]], thus appropriating them into narratives of Japanese national greatness. Shuri castle, made the site of a [[Kumamoto Garrison|military garrison]] from [[1879]] until [[1896]], and then public space beginning in [[1909]], was made into a Shinto shrine in [[1925]]. At some point in the 1930s, it became home to a major underground military headquarters, thus unfortunately inviting its destruction in 1945, and along with it the destruction of numerous irreplaceable artifacts and documents of Ryukyuan cultural and historical significance.
A number of major sites associated with the Ryûkyû Kingdom were named [[National Treasures]] in the 1920s-30s, including [[Shuri castle]], the Buddhist temples [[Engaku-ji (Okinawa)]] and [[Sogen-ji|Sôgen-ji]], and [[Oki Shrine]], thus appropriating them into narratives of Japanese national greatness. Shuri castle, made the site of a [[Kumamoto Garrison|military garrison]] from [[1879]] until [[1896]], and then public space beginning in [[1909]], was made into a Shinto shrine in 1925. At some point in the 1930s, it became home to a major underground military headquarters, thus unfortunately inviting its destruction in 1945, and along with it the destruction of numerous irreplaceable artifacts and documents of Ryukyuan cultural and historical significance.
The Battle of Okinawa brought the destruction of much of the island, decimating homes and thousands of lives, along with most of the significant cultural, religious, and historical sites. Countless priceless artifacts and documents were lost.
The Battle of Okinawa brought the destruction of much of the island, decimating homes and thousands of lives, along with most of the significant cultural, religious, and historical sites. Countless priceless artifacts and documents were lost.