For additional information, see the official USMC website for US Marines in Japan:
http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/
Not all overseas locations are considered “deployments.” For example, Okinawa is officially considered a PDS (Permanent Duty Station). The terms “deployed” and “deployment” are applicable to those locations in which the U.S. conducts combat operations. There are no combat operations conducted on Okinawa. Marines assigned to Okinawa will likely have access to many of the same amenities as found at stateside bases and living conditions are comparable to those on bases within the borders of the U.S. Your Marine will have ample access to internet and phones, as well as a wide variety of shopping venues both on and off base. If you’d like to send a little touch of home, you can send care packages whenever you like.
If you have an emergency at home, such as serious injury or illness or a death in the family, your first calls should be to the Red Cross and to your FRO. It is important to notify both. The Red Cross has worked with the military for decades in such matters and they will be able to get the needed information to your Marine.
Some basic information about the country follows:
Okinawa, Japan - Eastern Asia
Capital - Naha
Bordered by – Island surrounded by Pacific Ocean and East China Sea
Language - Japanese
Climate - Subtropical summer 72.3F, winter 60.8F
National Disasters - Typhoons and monsoons
Religion - Shinto, Buddhism, Taoism, and Christian
Population - 127.63 million (2008)
Government - Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government (May 3, 1947)
Prime Minister Head of Government- Taro Aso
Sovereignty, previously embodied in the emperor, is vested in the Japanese people, and the Emperor is defined as the symbol of the state. Japan's Government is a parliamentary democracy, with a House of Representatives (also known as the Lower House) and a House of Councilors (sometimes called the Upper House). Executive power is vested in a cabinet composed of a prime minister and ministers of state, all of whom must be civilians. The prime minister must be a member of the Diet and is designated by his colleagues. The prime minister has the power to appoint and remove ministers, a majority of whom must be Diet members.
Natural resources - Fish and few mineral resources
Agriculture - Products--rice, vegetables, fruit, milk, meat, silk, fish
Currency - Yen
