What nation does the island of Okinawa belong to?

Okinawa belongs to Japan. More precisely, Okinawa is both the name of Japan’s southernmost prefecture and the name commonly used for Okinawa Island, the largest island in the Okinawa Islands group.

The islands form part of the larger Ryukyu Islands chain, stretching southwest from Japan toward Taiwan. Naha, the prefectural capital, is located on Okinawa Island. The region has a distinctive Ryukyuan history and culture, but it is politically and administratively part of Japan.

Okinawa was once the center of the independent Ryukyu Kingdom, which maintained close relationships with China and Japan. After the kingdom was incorporated into Japan in 1879, Okinawa became a Japanese prefecture. Following World War II, the United States administered the islands until they were returned to Japanese control in 1972.

A common mix-up is confusing Okinawa with a separate country or with Taiwan because of its location and unique history. Okinawa is Japanese territory, although it remains internationally notable for its Ryukyuan heritage and large concentration of U.S. military facilities.