what type of grid reference system or other mapping/coordinate system
is in use to map the Island of Okinawa?  For example, how does one
find, read and locate the address of a business, home or other
location?

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 18 Aug 2004 06:31 PDT

ratzelda-ga,

Okinawa is a fairly large island with a few sizable population
centers, and a lot of small towns, ports and US military bases.

What is it, exactly, that you are looking for?  A map of Okinawa (or
of a particular city on the island, such as Naha?).  A listing of
addresses in Okinawa, such as would be found in a phone book?

As for their "grid", I imagine they use the same sort of
latitude/longitude set-up as one would find in most atlases.

Let us know in a bit more detail how we can be of service to you.  Thanks.

pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by ratzelda-ga on 18 Aug 2004 16:06 PDT

pafalafa-ga

Hello.  I acutally live in Okinawa right now and am in the midst of
developing a road map of the Island.  I'm having trouble determining
how the address system of Okinawa is laid out.  They don't use the
grid-coordinate system like in the U.S. due to the post-war
construction as well as other reasons.  I am trying to figure out how
the street address system works.

http://www.biodic.go.jp/english/kiso/col_mesh.html

Gives some clues about how the Japanese have created a grid system,
but it appears that it is only for topographical data.  I'm really
trying to figure out how an Okinawan address of 2-21-223 can be
translated on a street map.  Hopefully this helps clarify what I'm
looking for.  If not, please let me know and I'll see what I can do. 
Thank you for your help.

Addresses in Japan start with the Prefecture, then city, then area
name, then number. So, having just the numbers 2-21-223, would be like
just having a street number, without the street or city or state.
Let's say you live in place called Kubota. The 2 would indicate the
2nd section of Kubota. The 21 would indicate the 21st section of the
2nd section. And the 223 would indicate the 223rd section of the 21st
section of the 2nd section of Kubota. However, Kubota is not a city,
just part of a city, or an area name. Not everyone would know that
Kubota is in Okinawa City. There are really no 'street' names, just
area names.