Okinawa Prefecture, Japan's southwesternmost prefecture, consists of 50 inhabited and 110 uninhabited islands scattered over an area 1,000 from east to west and 400km from north to south. The islands are divided into three major groups : the Okinawa island group, the Miyako island group, and the Yaeyama island group.

Okinawa Prefecture is located between Kyusyu and Taiwan. Major Asian cities such as Taipei, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul, Manila and Tokyo are all located within a 1,500km radius of Okinawa. Because of its close proximity to the major Asian cities, Okinawa represents the southern gate to China, Southeast Asia and Oceania.