沖縄県 (Okinawa)
Flag
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Flag
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Prefecture
Okinawa (沖縄県, Okinawa-ken) flies a white flag bearing the prefecture’s three-ring emblem: an outer red ring for the surrounding ocean, a middle white ring forming a stylised letter “O” for Okinawa, and an inner red ring for the prefecture’s potential for development. Both emblem and flag date from 1972, the year Okinawa reverted from United States administration to Japanese sovereignty — ninety-three years after the former Ryūkyū Kingdom had been annexed by Japan and reconstituted as Okinawa Prefecture in 1879.
| Prefecture | Okinawa (沖縄県, Okinawa-ken) |
|---|---|
| Type | Ken (県) — ordinary prefecture |
| Region | Ryūkyū Islands — Japan’s southernmost and westernmost prefecture, made up entirely of islands |
| Capital | Naha |
| Established | 1879 as Okinawa Prefecture (former Ryūkyū Kingdom/Domain); under US administration 1945–1972; reverted to Japanese sovereignty 15 May 1972 |
| Emblem (県章) | Three concentric rings — red (ocean), white (letter “O”/unity), red (development); adopted 15 May 1972 |
| Flag | White field bearing the emblem; adopted 13 October 1972 |
| Official flower | Deigo (Erythrina variegata) |
| Official tree | Ryukyu pine (Pinus luchuensis, ryūkyūmatsu) |
| Official bird | Okinawa woodpecker (noguchigera, Sapheopipo noguchii) |
Flag of Okinawa — White field, three-ring red–white–red emblem, adopted 1972
The emblem (県章, kenshō) of Okinawa Prefecture consists of three concentric rings, the two inner rings set slightly upward within the outer one. According to the prefectural government’s own description, the outer red ring represents the ocean surrounding Okinawa; the middle white ring forms a stylised Roman letter “O” for Okinawa and also stands for a circle of people united together; and the inner red ring represents the prefecture’s potential for development. Taken as a whole, the prefecture describes the emblem as a symbol of “the ocean, peace, and development.” The flag simply places this emblem at the centre of a plain white field.
Some informal accounts describe the design as evoking the historical Ryūkyū Kingdom. This is not part of the prefectural government’s official explanation, which speaks only of the ocean, the letter O, and development — the Ryūkyū Kingdom link, however evocative, appears to be a later embellishment rather than an officially stated meaning.
Until 1879 — the Ryūkyū Kingdom. The islands that now form Okinawa Prefecture were an independent kingdom, later reorganised by Japan as the Ryūkyū Domain in 1872. On 27 March 1879, Japan abolished the domain and established Okinawa Prefecture in its place, ending the Ryūkyūan monarchy.
1945–1972 — United States administration. Following the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, the islands came under United States military government, later reorganised as the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands. This administration lasted until 15 May 1972.
15 May 1972 — Reversion and the new emblem. On the day sovereignty over Okinawa reverted to Japan, the reconstituted prefecture adopted its emblem by Prefectural Notification No. 3. The design had been chosen through a public competition that drew 186 entries; the winning monochrome design was submitted by a resident of Kyoto Prefecture, with the final colour scheme decided separately by a selection committee.
13 October 1972 — The flag. A prefectural flag placing the emblem on a plain white field followed some five months later, adopted by Prefectural Notification No. 135.
Three concentric rings: an outer red ring for the Pacific Ocean surrounding the prefecture, a middle white ring forming a stylised letter “O” for Okinawa and symbolising the unity of its people, and an inner red ring for the prefecture’s potential for development.
Not officially. The Okinawa prefectural government’s own explanation refers only to the ocean, the letter O, and development. A link to the historical Ryūkyū Kingdom is sometimes suggested informally, but it is not part of the government’s stated design meaning.
The emblem was adopted on 15 May 1972, the same day Okinawa reverted from United States administration to Japanese sovereignty. The flag bearing the emblem on a white field followed on 13 October 1972.
The independent Ryūkyū Kingdom was annexed by Japan and became Okinawa Prefecture in 1879. After the 1945 Battle of Okinawa, the islands were placed under United States administration, which lasted until reversion to Japanese sovereignty on 15 May 1972.
Last reviewed by the Emblema Mundi editorial team on 2026-07-04.