Naha

Naha (Japanese: 那覇市, Hepburn: Naha-shi; Japanese: [naꜜ.ha, na.haꜜ.ɕi]; Okinawan: Naafa or Nafa) is the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture, the southernmost prefecture of Japan. As of 1 June 2019, the city has an estimated population of 317,405 and a population density of 7,939 people per km2 (20,562 persons per sq. mi.). The total area is 39.98 km2 (15.44 sq mi). Naha is located on the East China Sea coast of the southern part of Okinawa Island, the largest island of Okinawa Prefecture. The modern city was officially founded on May 20, 1921. Before that, Naha had for centuries been one of the most important and populous sites in Okinawa. Naha is the political, economic and educational center of Okinawa Prefecture. In the medieval and early modern periods, it was the commercial center of the Ryukyu Kingdom.