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Kadena, Okinawa

Kadena
嘉手納町
Town
Kadena Town Hall
Kadena Town Hall
Flag of Kadena
Flag
Official seal of Kadena
Seal
Location of Kadena in Okinawa Prefecture
Location of Kadena in Okinawa Prefecture
Kadena is located in Japan
Kadena
Kadena
 
Coordinates: 26°21′42″N 127°45′19″E / 26.36167°N 127.75528°E / 26.36167; 127.75528Coordinates: 26°21′42″N 127°45′19″E / 26.36167°N 127.75528°E / 26.36167; 127.75528
Country Japan
Region Kyushu
Prefecture Okinawa Prefecture
District Nakagami
Government
 • Mayor Hiroshi Toyama
Area
 • Total 15.04 km2 (5.81 sq mi)
Dimensions
 • Length 8 km (5 mi)
 • Width 5 km (3 mi)
Population (January 2013)
 • Total 13,823
 • Density 920/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Tree Kuroki Ebenales
Flower Hibiscus
Address 588 Kadena, Kadena-chō, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa
904-0293
Website www.town.kadena.okinawa.jp

Kadena (嘉手納町 Kadena-chō?, Okinawan: Kadina) is a town located in Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2013, the town had an estimated population of 13,823 and a density of 920 persons per km². The total area is 15.04 square kilometres (5.81 sq mi). Approximately 85% of the town is controlled by the US Government including Kadena Air Base, the second-largest base in the United States Air Force.

Kadena faces the East China Sea to the west.

Kadena borders three other municipalities in Okinawa Prefecture.

The Kadena area has some of the oldest settlement remains, in the form of shell mounds, on Okinawa Island. The Hija River, the modern border between Yomitan and Kadena, was the focus of these early settlements. A number of ruins of minor gusuku (castles and forts) can be found in the area.Amawari, an infamous warlord, was born in the Kadena area while it was still part of Chatan. Japan annexed the island in 1879, and Chatan became a village in 1908. During the Pacific War, Japan built an airstrip in the Kadena area. During the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, the United States landed on the banks of the Hija River and captured the airstrip. The airstrip became Kadena Air Force Base. On December 4th, 1948, the American military government separated Kadena from Chatan and established Kadena village. The United States built Kadena Circle outside the base. On January 1st, 1976, four years after Okinawa reverted to Japanese control, Kadena was elevated to town status.


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