Nago

Nago (名護市, Nago-shi, Okinawan: ナグ Nagu[1][2], Kunigami: ナグー Naguu) is a city located in the northern part of Okinawa Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. As of December 2012, the city has an estimated population of 61,659 and a population density of 288 persons per km2.[3] Its total area is 210.30 km2.[3]

For other uses, see Nago (disambiguation).
Nago

名護市

Nagu
City
Nago City
Top left:A resort place in Busena marine park, Top right:Koriya Bridge, between Yagagi and Koriya Island, Middle left:A Hinpun Gajumara tree in Higashie area, Middle right:View of Yagagi Island, from Arashiyama observation deck, Bottom:Panorama View of downtown Nago, from Nago Central Park
Flag
Seal
Location of Nago in Okinawa Prefecture
Nago
Coordinates: 26°35′30″N 127°58′39″E
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu (Okinawa)
PrefectureOkinawa Prefecture
Government
 • MayorSusumu Inamine
Area
 • Total210.37 km2 (81.22 sq mi)
Population
 (December, 2012)
 • Total61,659
 • Density293.10/km2 (759.1/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City symbols 
• TreeBanyan
• FlowerEaster lily
• BirdRyukyu white-eye (Zosterops japonicus loochooensis)
• ButterflyOrange oakleaf
• FishJapanese whiting
• Flowering treeKanhizakura (Prunus campanulata)
• ShellChiragra spider conch (Lambis chiragra)
Phone number0980-53-1212
Address1-1-1 Minato, Nago-shi 905-8540
Websitewww.city.nago.okinawa.jp/index.html
Nago City Hall in the Minato area

History

Nago Castle was built in the 14th century[4] and served as the home of the Aji of Nago Magiri. Nago had always been one of the major settlements in Northern Okinawa, and a major port along with Unten.[5] Nago Magiri became Nago town in 1907. Nago was upgraded to city status on August 1, 1970 with the merger of nine smaller towns and villages.

Nago hosted Expo '75 in a park which utilized a monorail train to move tourists to each exhibit. Its most popular exhibit was the Japanese Floating City; similar to an oil rig, the city floated on large pontoons which allowed it to be moved. If the city was threatened with a typhoon, it would move close to shore, fill the pontoons with sea water and sit on the ocean floor for more stability. The city was self sufficient, and used the ocean floor for cultivating seaweed and other edible plants. Nago also hosted the 26th G8 summit in 2000.

Nago established itself as a tax haven for financial companies in 2002, following the example of Dublin, Ireland.[6] The Nago Multimedia Building was established as the core of this zone, with various subsidies for foreign financial firms to establish offices there.[7]

Nago is the site of Camp Schwab, a United States Marine Corps base established in 1956. It has gained national attention in Japan due to the controversy surrounding the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, as there have been proposals at various times to relocate the base to a new site adjacent to or within Camp Schwab, most recently in April 2013.[8] The January 19, 2014 mayoral election in Nago became a de facto referendum on the April 2013 relocation plan, with incumbent mayor Susumu Inamine opposing the plan and his challenger, former Vice Mayor Bunshin Suematsu, supporting the plan.[9]

Further information: Relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma

Climate

Nago has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and mild winters. Precipitation is abundant throughout the year; the wettest month is August and the driest month is December.

Climate data for Nago, Okinawa
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 19.3
(66.7)		 19.5
(67.1)		 21.3
(70.3)		 23.9
(75.0)		 26.5
(79.7)		 29.2
(84.6)		 31.8
(89.2)		 31.6
(88.9)		 30.5
(86.9)		 27.8
(82.0)		 24.4
(75.9)		 21.0
(69.8)		 25.6
(78.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 16.3
(61.3)		 16.5
(61.7)		 18.4
(65.1)		 21.0
(69.8)		 23.5
(74.3)		 26.7
(80.1)		 28.8
(83.8)		 28.6
(83.5)		 27.3
(81.1)		 24.8
(76.6)		 21.4
(70.5)		 18.0
(64.4)		 22.6
(72.7)
Average low °C (°F) 13.5
(56.3)		 13.5
(56.3)		 15.5
(59.9)		 17.9
(64.2)		 20.8
(69.4)		 24.6
(76.3)		 26.5
(79.7)		 26.2
(79.2)		 24.8
(76.6)		 22.3
(72.1)		 18.8
(65.8)		 15.1
(59.2)		 20.0
(67.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 111.4
(4.39)		 126.3
(4.97)		 153.1
(6.03)		 171.5
(6.75)		 222.4
(8.76)		 244.1
(9.61)		 151.3
(5.96)		 248.2
(9.77)		 220.9
(8.70)		 150.7
(5.93)		 122.9
(4.84)		 96.2
(3.79)		 2,019
(79.5)
Average relative humidity (%) 69 71 74 75 78 82 78 79 77 73 71 68 75
Mean monthly sunshine hours 95.3 86.2 105.0 119.1 139.7 156.9 245.7 211.2 195.6 169.4 121.9 118.1 1,764.1
Source: JMA (1981-2010) [10]

Tourism

Nago is a tourist town. The many beaches draw Okinawans, mainland Japanese, Americans and other tourists to the northern part of the island. The main beach, known as Nago beach, is located on highway 58 in 21st Century Park. The facilities have showers, washrooms, and vending machines, and sites can be rented for picnics or barbecues. There is a lifeguard on duty and a net in the water to prevent harmful sea creatures from entering the swimming area.

A popular tourist destination is the Pineapple Park which is located on route 84. Right beside the Pineapple Park is Okinawa Fruits land. Pineapple Park is an interactive museum where visitors can see how pineapple is grown, and how pineapple wine is made. There is also a collection of thousands of seashells.

Okinawa Fruits Land is a conservatory with many plants, birds and fruits. A map is provided and tourists can wander through the park as they wish. There are many types of tropical birds.

The corals and seagrass beds of the east coast of Nago are home to the last remaining population of dugong in Japan.

Nago also hosts the international bicycle race known as the Tour de Okinawa, which is usually held in November.

Since 1959, Nago has hosted the Nago 1/2 marathon race in February.

Because of Nago's sub tropical environment, cherry blossoms bloom early in the year. Nago is always one of the first cities to host the cherry blossom festival every year in January.

Economy

Orion Breweries has its factory in Nago.[11] The city is also noted for the production of cement, rice, sugarcane, and pineapples.[12]

Education

Founded as a private university, the now public Meio University is located in Nago.[13]

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References
  1. 滝原康盛 Takihara Yasumori. 沖縄語会話集 日本語・沖縄語・ローマ字付き Okinawago Kaiwashū: Nihongo, Okinawago, Rōmaji-tsuki. (Okinawan Conversation Collection: Japanese, Okinawan, Romaji.) 那覇:沖縄芸能出版 Naha: Okinawa Geinō Shuppan. Heisei 6 (1994). p. 109. (in Japanese)
  2. "Shuri-Naha Dialect Dictionary 首里・那覇方言データベース コーレーグス". Okinawan Center of Language Study, University of the Ryukyus 琉球大学 沖縄言語研究センター. Retrieved 2016-07-10. (in Japanese)
  3. 名護市基本情報 [Basic Information on the City of Nago] (in Japanese). Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: City of Nago. 2012. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  4. http://www.okinawa-information.com/content/nago-castle-ruins
  5. Kerr, George. Okinawa: History of an Island People. 1959.
  6. "A tax haven for Japan: In Nago's fair city". The Economist. 6 June 2002. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  7. Negishi, Mayumi (13 September 2002). "Okinawa's free-trade zones failing to attract companies". The Japan Times. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  8. "Consolidation Plan for Facilities and Areas in Okinawa" (PDF). Department of Defense. April 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  9. "Henoko prep work to start in Jan". Yomiuri Shimbun. 28 December 2013. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  10. "Nago Climate Normals 1981-2010". Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  11. "会社概要 - オリオンビール." Orion Breweries. Retrieved on November 30, 2009.
  12. "Nago". Encyclopedia of Japan. Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2013. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
  13. "名桜大学" [Meiō Daigaku]. Nihon Kokugo Daijiten (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2013. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
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