This paper presents the process that was used in market planning and the development of commercial districts in Okinawa in the prewar period. The process reconstructed the spatial configuration of major markets and clearly depicted the transformation process of commercial spaces in local cities in Okinawa prefecture. This paper used mainly historical materials derived from chronicles of local history and market research records. The conclusions of this paper are as follows.
1. Market transactions prescribed in Ryukyu society
In 1879, the Meiji Government carried out the so-called Ryukyu annexation to abolish the Ryukyu domain. A market society was formed through the business style of brokers and the attraction of merchants. In market trading, the lower shizoku class wielded power. The collapse of Ohu was supposed to bring commercial freedom; however, it resulted in the reorganization of Ryukyu society. Among others, the old clothing market became a new market against this social backdrop. In other words, Naha’s market society internalized Ryukyu society.
2. Social stratification and commercial space
Kiryu-syonin were merchants from other prefectures who crossed the Okinawa Islands from the 19th century to the early 20th century. They were the pioneers of street commerce, acquiring land to develop residential lots by modifying the existing residential or ocean landfill areas. The townscape of the streets in Naha were renewed, from stone-walled houses to commercial buildings. From the above, it can be seen that Ryukyu society did not form a permanent commercial space. However, the city of Naha formed a commercial area after the Meiji era.
In the 1880–1890s, the urban remodeling of Naha city was rare. The city of Naha was formed from the cities of poor residents. Naha's market was based on urban residents and the surrounding people.
3. Establishment of the retail market facility
In Naha, the city area was actively remodeled after the reform of the district in 1908. Among other events, the Great Fire Restoration arranged land affected by fire, while the Naha Port was renovated in the face of construction delays and a shrinking budget. The result was a retail market facility within the block that was closely tied to the urban structure. The Higashi town market plan was characterized by subdivided compartments based on different goods, and the main market building was constructed along the road with skylights on the roof top.
However, the market development policy of Naha city failed because the market facilities couldn't be evaluated as a “public retail market” aimed at improving the pre-modern distribution system under the policy of the Ministry of the Interior.
4. Reconstruction of conventional markets
The management of conventional markets occurred in Naha and Shuri during the Meiji period. However, local cities under the Okinawa prefecture established market management and facility improvements. The arrangement of existing markets on the road became a problem of relocation of traffic, for example, the relocation from open air markets at the beach to the remains of the village public office (Miyako, Ishigaki), the improvement of roadside markets by the local people (Shuri), and the construction of market facilities by the administration (Naha). The maintenance process of such market facilities meant spatial transformation, renewing the existing city, substituting land use, and rebuilding the street side market.
