Tourism has become the backbone of Okinawa's economy.
The visitor count to the prefecture, with its subtropical climate and rich natural environment, grew nearly tenfold from 560,000 in fiscal 1972 to 5.52 million last year. This is thanks in large part to promotional campaigns run by airlines as well as the floodlights cast by television dramas trained on the island paradise.
But while on the surface it may look like tourism has been steadily expanding, Okinawa is now at a critical juncture.