Motobu Peninsula
The Motobu Peninsula (本部半島, Motobu hantō, Okinawan: Mutubu) is a peninsula in the Yanbaru region of Okinawa Island. It is surrounded by to the south, the to the north, and the East China Sea to the west.[1][2] It is mostly mountainous, with a few plains. The peninsula's northeasternmost point is .[3] Its highest point is Mount Yae, whose summit is 593 metres (1,946 ft).[4] Due to a US military communications tower, the summit is off-limits.[5][6] The peninsula was the center of power for the kingdom of Hokuzan in medieval times, and was the site of fierce fighting during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.
Transportation[]
The Okinawa Expressway connects Naha to Nago. Japan National Route 58 crosses the bottom of the Motobu Peninsula. Japan National Route 505 connects Motobu Town to , as Japan National Route 449 connects Motobu to Nago. Both Route 404 and Route 449 run around the edge of the Motobu Peninsula.
Sites[]
In the area are Nago Castle and Nakijin Castle. The is also there. Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium features the world's third largest aquarium tank.[7]
Rivers[]
- (a national natural treasure, the shortest river in Japan, and has salt water.[8])
Beaches[]
- (inside Ocean Expo Park)
Geology[]
The east side of the Motobu Peninsula is truncated by the , bounding the northwestern coast of Okinawa Island. This area is of zone of Paleozoic metamorphic and igneous rocks.[9] The comprises the northern part of the peninsula.[10]
Municipalities on the Motobu Peninsula[]
Events which took place on the Motobu Peninsula[]
- Invasion of Hokuzan (1416)
- Initial Japanese landing during the Invasion of Ryukyu (1609)
- Fighting on Mount Yae during the Battle of Okinawa (1945)
- Expo '75
- Miss International 1975.
People from the Motobu Peninsula[]
Kanbun Uechi, the founder of Uechi-ryū, one of the primary karate styles of Okinawa, was from the Motobu Peninsula.
Nearby islands[]
- Iejima (also "Ie Shima") is near the Motobu Peninsula. Notably, Ernie Pyle died, on Iejima
- , which is connects to Yagaji Island by a bridge
- Minnajima
- Sesokojima, which is connected to Motobu Peninsula by a bridge
- , which is connected to Motobu Peninsula by a bridge
United States military operations on Motobu Peninsula[]
During the Battle of Okinawa, by April 10, 1945 the Motobu Peninsula had been mostly secured.[11]
Motobu Airfield was located on Motobu Peninsula, but was decommissioned after 1945.
Other peninsulas on Okinawa[]
See also[]
- Eisa, a form of Okinawan dance
- Uechi-ryū, a style of karate founded by Kanbun Uechi
References[]
- ^ Okinawa Island Guide " Nago City / Motobu Town / Nakijin Village: Okinawa Island Guide » Nago City / Motobu Town / Nakijin Village, accessdate: April 4, 2017
- ^ Google Maps: Google Maps, accessdate: April 3, 2017
- ^ Figure 5 of 6: terminal point , accessdate: April 3, 2017
- ^ Stripes Okinawa: Japan's cherry blossom season starts here | Stripes Okinawa Archived May 21, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, accessdate: April 3, 2017
- ^ Map It! Okinawa: January 2017: Map It! Okinawa: January 2017, accessdate: April 5, 2017
- ^ Map It! Okinawa: Cherry Blossoms on Yaedake (Mt. Yae): Map It! Okinawa: Cherry Blossoms on Yaedake (Mt. Yae), accessdate: April 5, 2017
- ^ Lonely Planet: which features the world's largest aquarium tank., accessdate: April 2, 2017
- ^ 1972 (Showa 47) 15 May Ministry of Education Notification No. 58 "Specifying a monument as a historic site etc."
- ^ http://ir.library.tohoku.ac.jp/re/bitstream/10097/44970/1/AA0045945073324.pdf: [1], accessdate: April 4, 2017
- ^ Stratigraphy of the Ryukyu Group on northern Motobu Peninsula, Okinawa-jima, Ryukyu Islands, Japan.: Stratigraphy of the Ryukyu Group on northern Motobu Peninsula, Okinawa-jima, Ryukyu Islands, Japan., accessdate: April 4, 2017
- ^ Feifer, George (1992). Tennozan: The Battle of Okinawa and the Atomic Bomb (1st ed.). New York City: Houghton Mifflin. p. 247. ISBN 978-0-395-59924-2.
External links and references[]
- Okinawa Prefecture
- Tourist attractions in Okinawa Prefecture
- Geography of Okinawa Prefecture