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[[Image:Japan okinawa map small.png|right|thumb|300px]]

[[Image:Japan okinawa map small.png|right|thumb|300px]]

'''Okinawa''' is a part of a collection of islands south of the Japanese Home Islands that have been Japanese possessions since the seventeenth century.

'''Okinawa''' is a part of a collection of islands south of the [[Japanese]] Home Islands that have been Japanese possessions since the seventeenth century.

It was the site of the bloodiest battle between the United States and Japan of [[World War II]], beginning on April 1, 1945. A total of 60,000 U.S. troops landed on Okinawa in the largest amphibious attack of the War in the Pacific.  A total of 12,000 Americans died and 36,000 were wounded.  The Japanese sunk or damaged 400 American ships.<ref>http://www.amerisearch.net/index.php?date=2004-04-01&view=View</ref> The battle inflicted casualties of over 100,000 on the Japanese, many of them civilians<ref>http://www.peace-museum.pref.okinawa.jp/english/index.html</ref>.   

It was the site of the bloodiest battle between the [[United States]] and Japan of [[World War II]], beginning on April 1, 1945. A total of 60,000 U.S. troops landed on Okinawa in the largest amphibious attack of the [[War in the Pacific]].  A total of 12,000 Americans died and 36,000 were wounded.  The Japanese sunk or damaged 400 American ships.<ref>http://www.amerisearch.net/index.php?date=2004-04-01&view=View</ref> The battle inflicted casualties of over 100,000 on the Japanese, many of them civilians<ref>http://www.peace-museum.pref.okinawa.jp/english/index.html</ref>.   

Modern Okinawa Prefecture now is a popular Japanese tourist destination.

Modern Okinawa Prefecture now is a popular Japanese tourist destination.

Okinawa is the home of [[karate]] which was developed by the islanders from ancient Chinese [[martial arts]] when they were forbidden to carry weapons by their Japanese overlords.

Okinawa is the home of [[karate]] which was developed by the islanders from ancient [[Chinese]] [[martial arts]] when they were forbidden to carry weapons by their Japanese overlords.

== References ==

== References ==