Climate and nature

The island is largely composed of coral rock, and rainwater filtering through that coral has given the island many caves, which played an important role in the Battle of Okinawa. Gyokusendo, an extensive limestone cave in the southern part of Okinawa Honto, is a popular tourist attraction.

Okinawa is said to have the most beautiful beaches in all of Japan and normally enjoys above 20 degree Celsius weather for most of the year. Many coral reefs are found in this region of Japan and wildlife is abundant. Sea turtles return yearly to the southern islands of Okinawa to lay their eggs. The summer months carry warnings to swimmers regarding poisonous jellyfish and other dangerous Okinawan marine life|dangerous sea creatures. Okinawa is a major producer of sugar cane, pineapples, papayas and other tropical fruits.

Okinawa has a very large proportion of population living to one hundred years of age. It is attributed to their healthy diet rich in vegetables and fish. Okinawa also has the highest life expectancy rate in the world, with native men living on average to 90.1 years and native women living to an average of 93.2 years.

Language and culture

Having historically been a separate nation, Okinawan language and culture differ considerably from that of mainland Japan. There remain numerous ウチナーヤマトグチ (Uchināyamatoguchi "Okinawan Japanese"), which is often misunderstood as Okinawan language proper, folk music, or . There is a radio news program in the language as well.

Okinawa also has its own Ryukyuan religion|religious beliefs.

Due to its location and history, Okinawa is also more ethnically diverse than other parts of Japan. Okinawans are a unique blend of Malay people|Malay from Taiwan|Formosa and the Philippines, Chinese from China, Koreans from Korea, and Japanese (Yamato people|Yamato) from Japan. Perhaps Okinawa's most famous cultural export is karate, probably a product of the close ties with, and influence of China on Okinawan culture. Karate is thought to be a synthesis of Chinese kung fu with traditional Okinawan martial arts. A ban on weapons in Okinawa for two long periods after the invasion and forced annexation by Japan during the Meiji Restoration period also very likely contributed to its development.

Another traditional Okinawan product that owes its existence to Okinawa's trading history is awamori—an Okinawan distilled spirit made from indica rice imported from Thailand.

The people of Okinawa maintain a strong tradition of pottery, textiles and glass making.

Other prominent examples of Okinawan culture include the sanshin, a three-stringed Okinawan instrument, closely related to the Chinese sanxian, and ancestor of the Japanese shamisen, somewhat similar to a banjo. Its body is often bound with snakeskin (from pythons, imported from elsewhere in Asia, rather than from Okinawa's poisonous habu, which are too small for this purpose, but are sometimes used to make habu awamori). Okinawan culture also features the Eisa (dance)|eisa dance, a traditional drumming dance. A traditional craft, the fabric named bingata, is made in workshops on the main island and elsewhere.

Karate

Karate originated on Okinawa. There are several styles, among them being Shotokan, Shorin-Ryu, Wado Ryu, Uechi Ryu, Goju Ryu, Isshin-Ryu, Moto bu Ryu and Shorinjiryu.

In popular culture