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Urasoe, Okinawa

Urasoe
浦添市
Urashii
City
Urasoe skyline
Urasoe skyline
Flag of Urasoe
Flag
Location of Urasoe in Okinawa Prefecture
Location of Urasoe in Okinawa Prefecture
Urasoe is located in Japan
Urasoe
Urasoe
Location of Urasoe in Okinawa Prefecture
Coordinates: 26°14′45″N 127°43′19″E / 26.24583°N 127.72194°E / 26.24583; 127.72194Coordinates: 26°14′45″N 127°43′19″E / 26.24583°N 127.72194°E / 26.24583; 127.72194
Country Japan
Region Kyushu (Ryukyu)
Prefecture Okinawa Prefecture
Government
 • Mayor Tetsuji Matsumoto
Area
 • Total 19.09 km2 (7.37 sq mi)
Population (September, 2014)
 • Total 113,992
 • Density 5,956.9/km2 (15,428/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree Horutonoki (Elaeocarpus sylvestris var. ellipticus)
- Flower Henderson Allamanda
- Flowering tree Poinciana
Phone number 098-876-1234
Address 1-1-1, Ahacha, Urasoe-shi 901-2501
Website www.city.urasoe.lg.jp

Urasoe (浦添市 Urasoe-shi?, Okinawan: Urashii) 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 November 2012, the city has an estimated population of 113,718 and a population density of 5,956.9 persons per km². The total area is 19.09 km².

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

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

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.

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.


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