Okinawa Prefecture is located on the most southern and western extremity of Japan, and is a warm chain of 160 islands . These islands occupy Japan's only subtropical zone. About 129 million people live there, and the prefecture, which includes the islands and their surrounding sea, extends 400 km north to south, and 1,000 km east to west. Sea and beach Credit: Okinawa Prefectural Government Okinawa is blessed by natural beauty and a good climate, so about 387 million tourists come to see its emerald sea and white beaches every year. The island called "Ryukyu" was once the Ryukyu Kingdom. In ancient times, it loved peace and was free of weapons. The Ryukyu Kingdom was united by Hasshi Shoh in 1429, and the kingdom's center of politics was Shuri castle. Inhabitants in Ryukyu were known to be peaceful, and they treated visitors with the utmost courtesy.   Shudun Credit: Okinawa Prefectural Government For many years, Ryukyu's culture developed through cultural exchange with other countries, primarily with South Asia.Ryukyu culture survives today in Okinawa in the following examples: Shudun, Eisah, Bingata, lacquerware, pottery, shamisen. Okinawa has become an island of air bases. 11% of Okinawa is occupied by airbases, and one of those bases is the largest in the Far East. The inhabitants of Okinawa call themselves "Uchinanchu", and refer to other Japanese as "yamatonchu"; so the people of Okinawa think of themselves as a distinct people. We visited Okinawa with the intention of meeting inhabitants of Okinawa and listening to their thoughts about the U.S. Military Bases. However, the status quo wasn't as hardened as we had thought. There was a gloomy atmosphere around the bases, and the people there thought about peace as much as we. How did the peaceful kingdom of Ryukyu become the militarized area that Okinawa is today? In Blue Peace!, we'll explain this matter in detail. Please explore this site and learn about Okinawa and our thoughts. And please think about what changed Okinawa, a once a peaceful land? What is the best way to solve U.S. Military Base problem?. After that, please think about what peace is again. We are providing "Data",to help you learn and to think about Okinawa, and "Discuss",to help you share your thoughts on it. We recommand that you start with Data, so that you can contribute more to Discuss. Finally, we hope making this site will be useful to approach the subject of Okinawa and peace and to give you the chance to think about peace afresh. Now, if you want to learn, go to data, if you want to post your thoughts, go to discuss.