| Kadena | |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Pushpin Map: | Japan |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | |
| Coordinates: | 26.3617°N 127.7553°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Japan |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Kyushu |
| Subdivision Type2: | Prefecture |
| Subdivision Name2: | Okinawa Prefecture |
| Subdivision Type3: | District |
| Subdivision Name3: | Nakagami |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Hiroshi Toyama |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Total Km2: | 15.04 |
| Length Km: | 8 |
| Width Km: | 5 |
| Population Total: | 13,671 |
| Population As Of: | October 2016 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | Japan Standard Time |
| Utc Offset1: | +9 |
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | Tree |
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | Kuroki Ebenales |
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | Flower |
| Blank2 Info Sec1: | Hibiscus |
| Blank Name Sec2: | Address |
| Blank Info Sec2: | 588 Kadena, Kadena-chō, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa 904-0293 |
is a town located in Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.
As of October 2016, the town had an estimated population of 13,671 and a density of 910 persons per km2. The total area is 15.04km2. Approximately 85% of the town is controlled by the US Government including Kadena Air Base, the second-largest base in the United States Air Force.
Kadena faces the East China Sea to the west.
Kadena borders three other municipalities in Okinawa Prefecture.
The Kadena area has some of the oldest settlement remains, in the form of shell mounds, on Okinawa Island.[1] The Hija River, the modern border between Yomitan and Kadena, was the focus of these early settlements. A number of ruins of minor gusuku (castles and forts) can be found in the area. Amawari, an infamous warlord, was born in the Kadena area while it was still part of Chatan. Japan annexed the island in 1879, and Chatan became a village in 1908. During the Pacific War, Japan built an airstrip in the Kadena area. During the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, the United States landed on the banks of the Hija River and captured the airstrip. The airstrip became Kadena Air Force Base. On December 4, 1948, the American military government separated Kadena from Chatan and established Kadena village. The United States built Kadena Circle outside the base. On January 1, 1976, four years after Okinawa reverted to Japanese control, Kadena was elevated to town status.
The economy of Kadena is largely dependent on the presence of Kadena Air Force Base. The town otherwise produces a small amount of pineapples and sugarcane.
Municipal schools include:[2]
The Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education operates .
The DoDEA operates schools on Kadena AFB for dependents of American employees, although several schools are not in Kadena Town.