Spatial patterns in Okinawa - Essay Example

Spatial patterns in Okinawa, Japan Okinawa is the largest island in Japan, which was originally occupied by the Archipelagos who used to make the region prosperous in trade during the fourteenth and sixteenth century, this is because, and it was used as an avenue for exchange between Japan and the South Eastern Asia. The island is located between the Kyusyu and Taiwan, including the major cities of Asia such as Taipei, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul, Manila and Tokyo that are said to be occupying part of the Okinawa Island. The island population had engaged in exclusive cultural activities such as textiles, arts and customs performance and potteries which basically contributed in the overseas trade.1 The geographical composition of this island include; the coral rocks, through which the rain water filter through and creating many caves on the island, this caves are said to have played a major role in the war of Okinawa where most people were using them as there areas for hiding from their enemies. The southern part of the island consists of, limestone that is popularly known as Gyokusendo which acts as a tourist attraction site in the region. Okinawa has the most stunning beaches with weather conditions that are normally above 20 degrees Celsius during the year. Okinawa Island is said to be made of a large population, whereby it is ranked in the world as the region with the highest life expectancy, it includes people living up to the age of one hundred years, this comes as a result of them having a healthy diet that is always rich in vegetables and fish. These people carry out agricultural activities that enable them to sustain their lives in the island. The agricultural activities that they engage in are; the production of sugar cane, pineapples and other fruits. The region has an aim of attaining self-regulating development, as it continues to contribute in the economic expansion in the Asia Pacific region, the Okinawa region has brought up special zones to promote the industrial growth in the area which is therefore used to bring a distinction from the other parts of Japan. Under this, we find that the following programs have been applied in the development of these region; a Free Trade Zone under which different measures have set including: law, tax inducements and the low interest loans and an income reduction of thirty five percent that is applied on the corporation tax, this action always proved to be a benefit to most business people engaged in the processing and manufacturing industries in the society of Okinawa who are allowed to utilize the implied tax incentives in Japan.2 Okinawa is ranked to be the only island that is blessed with an attractive natural scenery and other cultural treasures, therefore, it acts as an international tourism attraction site, that allows the use of sight seeing incomes and the tax incentives implied on the tourists to bring up other industrial enterprises that usually work hand in hand with the tourism industry, this includes sports, recreations and cultural activities and infrastructure. This has made the region to engage in various activities, which act as an avenue in the growth of the economy of the island, this includes: an improved communication system and transport and distribution networks, in East Asia. Under the communication industry, we find that there is a high concentration on the development on information technology, since there has been an establishment of Naha Airport, which is used serve the southern entrance to Japan, through this there has been an establishment of a 3,000m runway, and four international routes, including other routes to the mainland and within the island. Also, we see that there is a marine port which has thirty regular routes to the main ports and the other four global container routes which has proved to be supporting the economic development of the other islands. The region is said to be having a cheap labor that includes both men and women and by them various infrastructures has been put in place including electrification, land supply, education where we find that many institution and research centers have been put in place and other services.3 In the past few years the Japanese came up with a development plan that was termed as: Okinawa Fukko Kaihatsu Keikaku that was divided into three segments of years that is, the first one was held from the year 1972 to the year 1981, While the second one, was held as from 1982-1991 and the third one was put into operation from the year 1992 to the year 2001 but it is still under operation. The objective of this plan was to adjust the independent development that was being practiced in Okinawa thus enhancing the cultural and economic expansion. With the highest concentration on economic development, the island is always supported by various activities that the people engage in, this means that most financial funds come from the income generated through tourism industry whereby, we find that according to history in the year 1971 the number of tourists who visited the region was 200,000 but it increased gradually up to 1,558,000 as a record of 1975 which came up as a result of the ocean exhibition, and this has proved to be increasing yearly. The traditional culture of the people in Okinawa is also viewed as a tourist attraction activity, and in this case, we find that these people have various festivals. These festivals include; the Muchi a word in Japanese that means the devil rice cake, this activity is usually practiced at the end of the month of January every year where, many parents engage in praying for the health of their children, the parents are said to be praying carrying the rice cakes enfolded in leaves believed to be the leaves of Kube since they believe that the rice cake plays an important role in the protection of their children from the devil.4 Immediately after the Muchi festival, there follows another festival known as the Sixteen Day festival, under which the people of Okinawa gather with their families for a full day so that they can celebrate the remembrance of and entertaining the souls of their ancestors, they are seen carrying lots foods, singing and dancing to the folk songs, this is normally done in the beginning of February. There is also another festival that is usually practiced in the month of June referred to as Harii, meaning the dragon boat opening in Okinawa, this is meant for the people who are in need of a good fishing activity, under this, they pray to the sea god. Tourism is considered as the only economic activity, that is meant to boost the economy of the island, though the industry is undergoing various problems which seem to be dragging the attraction of the beaches at the island down, these problems are mainly the presence pollution resulting from mud and sewerage flowing into the beaches from the developing industries, this pollution has led to the collapse of the great coral reefs. In this case, we find that environmental pollution has brought up this destruction of the reefs though these effects are foreseeable, incases where a great damage has been done. But the Okinawa government has never given up despite the drop in the business, we find that there are many roads and ports, being constructed though these was delayed by the United States control over the island, that made the islands industrialization insufficient. This is better explained by the use of the records that indicated industrial development of the region, whereby: the agricultural sector is stated to be the leading industry while the manufacturing industry in Okinawa is ranked as the second industry and the service industry is termed as the third industry in the development of the island, though many argue that it would not be easy for the economy of the region to grow.5 The island also has various parks that are used as tourist attraction sites, they include: Studio Park that is popularly known as Ryukyu-no-Kaze in the Japanese, it usually served as a stage for historical drama stage back in the year 1993 we find that many visitors enjoy the presentation of culture and also the pleasures of the golden age, this park is located on a 4.7 hectare land in the island. There is also, the Okinawa Commemorative National Government Park situated in Motobu town, it is regarded as the largest sub-tropical park in the region, it came up as a result of the 1975 Okinawa International Ocean Exposition carrying a number of activities including; aquariums, museums and amusement parks which are covered by the tropical plants and a bright green sea. The west coast region of the island has beach resorts, where many tourists enjoy the marine sports, golf and even fishing activities. The Peace Memorial Museum that is situated in the southern potion of the island at the Itoman city is usually occupied by students, who are always on a mission of learning the history and the environments of the Okinawa island, through which they are able to be brought to the understanding of various exhibitions basing on the battle of Okinawa with its effects to the islands’ development. 6 According to research conducted, it is said that more than 200, 000 people lost their lives; this number included more residents than the military who died during the catastrophic battle of Okinawa. In this case, we find that those who were involved in this battle are always invited in schools to give lectures giving the experiences they faced while fighting in the war. It is in this war that we find that Okinawa was taken control over by the United States military, as from the year 1945 to the year 1972 where the Japanese laws were never allowed to be applied in any operation by the Japanese, this was happening because, the American military bases were given the first priority to influence the Japanese people to indulge in war activities that resulted in the underdevelopment of the island. The education system in the island is usually the Peace Education that is normally meant to help the children to understand the war, by carrying out various ceremonies, that are normally practiced in the month of June, this is basically termed as a memorial month under which various activities are conducted, involving the memorial services that are meant for victims and the related events of the Okinawa battle. Most schools are said to be conducting these activities in a form of peace assemblies, homeroom presentations and other peace classes. These activities are meant to highlight the characteristics and values of teaching peace in the region, by the use of lecturers from those who experienced the war, photographs explaining the events of the war and having more lessons on the United States military that operated in Okinawa. Finally the Okinawa island has been put into consideration by the Japanese government whereby, we find that, the region is to be put under a high Administrative Management, where various principles are to be applied these include the self reliance principle, through which the people are given an opportunity to collaborate both nationally and internationally in the development of the Okinawa Island. There are also plans to allow the industrial growth through the enhancement of employment opportunities for the people, health care provision to the people and the discovery of high quality technological advancement and the new ways of managing human resources that will always contribute in the economic growth of the region.7 References Nansei, S. (2003): Okinawa’s local histories, its results & significance; Okinawa, Japan. 78, Industrial Advancement Center Publication project for: Nansei Shoto Industrial Advancement Center. Read More