Urasoe, Okinawa



Urasoe (浦添市) is a city located in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The neighboring municipalities are Naha to the south, Ginowan to the north, and Nishihara to the east. As of February 2024, the city has an estimated population of 115,518 and a population density of 6,051.2 persons per km2. The total area is 19.09 km2.

United States Marine Corps base Camp Kinser is located on the city's coast.

Etymology
The name "Urasoe" is made up of two kanji characters. The first,, means "a coastal area", and the second, , means "ruling" or "uniting". The name is a reference to "ruling over many areas".

Geography
Urasoe sits to the south of Okinawa Island. Urasoe is rugged and hilly to the east, and the city slopes gently to the East China Sea in the west. Urasoe, while formerly agricultural, has become heavily urbanized due to its proximity to the prefectural capital of Naha.

Neighboring municipalities

 * Naha
 * Ginowan
 * Nishihara

Transportation
The city is served by Naha Airport and the Okinawa Expressway. Also it has three stations of Okinawa Urban Monorail (Yui Rail): Kyozuka, Urasoe-Maeda and Tedako-Uranishi.

History
Urasoe was the original capital of the Okinawan kingdom of Chūzan for several centuries until it was supplanted by Shuri in the late 14th or early 15th century. Shunten (1166–1237), the first known king of the Chuzan Kingdom, located in the central region of the island of Okinawa, ruled from Urasoe, as did his son and grandson. For much of the 14th century, Urasoe Castle was the largest on the island of Okinawa. The castle now contains the remains of several kings of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Urasoe was completely razed during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 at the end of World War II. 45% of the population, 4,117 residents, died during the battle. The village office of Urasoe was re-established in 1946 to conduct basic administrative functions, settle refugees returning to the village, and restore agricultural land. The village saw a significant increase in U.S. military presence in 1950 in the western coast of the village, which eventually became Camp Kinser. The population of Urasoe rapidly from 1956, and the city became a bedroom community of Naha in this period. Urasoe was elevated to city status on July 1, 1970.

Economy
The beer company Orion Breweries has its headquarters in Urasoe.

Diplomatic missions
The U.S. Consulate General for Naha is in Urasoe.

Education
Urasoe city operates public elementary schools and junior high schools, while the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education operates public high schools.

Prefectural high schools:


 * Naha Technical High School
 * Urasoe High School
 * Urasoe Commercial High School
 * Urasoe Technical High School
 * Youmei High School

Municipal junior high schools include:


 * Kamimori Junior High School (神森中学校)
 * Minatogawa Junior High School (港川中学校)
 * Nakanishi Junior High School (仲西中学校)
 * Uranishi Junior High School (浦西中学校)
 * Urasoe Junior High School (浦添中学校)

Municipal elementary schools include:


 * Kamimori Elementary School (神森小学校)
 * Maeda Elementary School (前田小学校)
 * Makiminato Elementary School (牧港小学校)
 * Miyagi Elementary School (宮城小学校)
 * Nakanishi Elementary School (仲西小学校)
 * Takushi Elementary School (沢岻小学校)
 * Toyama Elementary School (当山小学校)
 * Uchima Elementary School (内間小学校)
 * Urashiro Elementary School (浦城小学校)
 * Urasoe Elementary School (浦添小学校)

Private schools:
 * Junior and Senior High School Affiliated to Showa Pharmaceutical University Showa Pharmaceutical University

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) of the United States federal government operates Kinser Elementary School at Camp Kinser.

Notable residents
Urasoe is the hometown of Japanese actress, musician and former idol Yukie Nakama.