<Tamaki, Governor of Okinawa> <Application Form>
Denny Tamaki, Governor of Okinawa Prefecture submitted an application for member status to the NEAR Secretariat on 11 May.
Okinawa Prefecture’s application marks the 12th application, following the membership of Aomori Prefecture, Yamagata Prefecture, Niigata Prefecture, Toyama Prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture, Fukui Prefecture, Kyoto Prefecture, Hyogo Prefecture, Tottori Prefecture, Shimane Prefecture in 1996, the year of NEAR's foundation, and Akita Prefecture in 2018.
Following its participation in the member government workshop held in May 2024, Okinawa Prefecture joined NEAR as an Observer in September of the same year. Since then, it has actively participated in various NEAR activities, including the High-Level Working Committee and General Assembly held in Liaoning Province, as well as a range of Subcommittee meetings and member government workshops organized by the NEAR Secretariat.
The Prefecture’s application for membership will undergo prior written consent from member governments in May and is scheduled to be formally voted at the「NEAR High-Level Working Committee Meeting」
Okinawa Prefecture is located at the southwesternmost part of Japan, with a population of approximately 1.46 million and an area of 2,282 square kilometers. The prefectural capital is Naha, which offers excellent accessibility through a wide range of air routes connecting it to major cities across Asia. Thanks to its numerous resort facilities and abundant tourism resources, the prefecture attracts a large number of visitors throughout the year.
From the 15th century, Okinawa prospered for about 450 years as the Ryukyu Kingdom, engaging in trade with China, Japan, Korea, and various Southeast Asian countries. Through active exchanges with many foreign nations, it flourished as the “Island of Bankoku Shinryo (萬國津梁),” meaning “a bridge connecting nations around the world,” where diverse cultures and civilizations intersected. Even today, Okinawa is known as the “Island of Peace,” promoting a regional diplomacy philosophy that emphasizes regional cooperation and peace to ensure that the tragedy the prefecture experienced during the Pacific War is never repeated.