Okinawa

[ oh-kuh-nou-wuh, -nah-wuh; Japanese aw-kee-nah-wah ]

noun

1. the largest of the Ryukyu Islands, in the N Pacific, SW of Japan: taken by U.S. forces April–June 1945 in the last major amphibious campaign of World War II. 544 sq. mi. (1,409 sq. km).

Okinawa

/ ˌəʊkɪˈnɑːwə /

noun

1. a coral island of SW Japan, the largest of the Ryukyu Islands in the N Pacific: scene of heavy fighting in World War II; administered by the US (1945–72); agricultural. Chief town: Naha. Pop: 1 318 218 (2000). Area: 1176 sq km (454 sq miles)

Okinawa

1. Island in the western Pacific Ocean ; part of Japan .

Notes

During World War II , American forces seized the island from Japan in a particularly bloody campaign. It was returned to Japan in 1972.

Other Words From

• Oki·nawan adjective noun

Example Sentences

Once an independent kingdom, Okinawa was taken over by Japan in 1879.

From Washington Post

After the war, the United States occupied Okinawa for 27 years, forcing thousands of Okinawans from their land to build sprawling military facilities.

From Washington Post

Then, her parents moved her to the United States, and she didn’t think about Okinawa for three decades.

From Washington Post

Brina also explores Okinawa as an overlooked piece of the American story in need of hard scrutiny.

From Washington Post

In 2005, the US signed an agreement with Japan to relocate thousands of Marines from Okinawa to Guam, due to public health and environmental concerns voiced by Okinawans.

From Vox

Instead, they were deployed more than 3,000 miles away, in Okinawa, Japan.

From The Daily Beast

On ships, and on overseas bases like Okinawa, the options are even more limited.

From The Daily Beast

Not only is Paleo flipping evolution upside down, but a second retro diet for future health, the Okinawa, comes in at number six.

From The Daily Beast

About the only thing they had in common was being in the same U.S. Marine unit during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II.

From The Daily Beast

Diamond reckons the latter as 0.14 percent of the Dani population—more than at Okinawa.

From The Daily Beast

The unit which was stationed at Atsugi spent four to six weeks in Okinawa late in 1957.

From Project Gutenberg

Generally speaking, they have held true of Americans in times past from Lexington to Okinawa.

From Project Gutenberg