View source for .okinawa

{{TLD|
|logo   =
|status = Delegated
|manager  = [[BusinessRalliart]]
|country   = Japan, International
|language = 
|stringcontention = Possible
|registryprovider   = 
|registrations   =
|date  = 02 March 2014
|type   = [[GeoTLD]]
|priority = 294
|community  =
|keypeople  =
}}
'''.okinawa''' is a delegated gTLD [[ICANN]]'s [[New gTLD Program|new gTLD program]]. Two entities, [[BusinessRalliart]] Inc. and [[GMO Registry]], both originally announced intentions to apply for the extension. Both entities also declared intentions to apply for [[.ryukyu]] as well.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/japan-gets-two-new-geo-tld-projects/ Japan Gets Two new geo TLD projects, DomainIncite.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.gmo.jp/en/news/article/?id=502 News Article, GMO.jp]</ref> Furthermore, both companies are included in a list of 4 Japanese companies that received approval from the Government of Osaka to apply and run [[.osaka]].<ref>[http://domainincite.com/four-companies-given-ok-for-osaka/ Four Companies Given Ok for Osaka, DomainIncite.com]</ref> 

'''In the end, only [[BusinessRalliart]] applied for .okinawa'''. The proposed application succeeded and was delegated to the [[Root Zone]] on 2 March 2014.<ref name="delegation">[http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/delegated-strings Delegated Strings, ICANN.org] Retrieved 5 March 2014</ref>

Business Railliart had announced that investors in its bid for .okinawa and [[.ryukyu]] include a well-known Okinawan and Japanese rental car service and a  restaurant chain.<ref>[http://urbanbrain.posterous.com/japans-first-geotld-announcement-ryukyu-okina Japans First GeoTLD Announcement Ryukyu Okina, UrbanBrain.Posterous.com]</ref>

Okinawa is a southern Prefecture in Japan, and it is a major part of the Ryukyu chain of islands.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinawa_Prefecture Okinawa Prefecture, en.Wikipedia.org]</ref>

==Contract Signed==
On December 5, 2013 [[BusinessRalliart]] received a [[Registry Agreement]] signed by [[ICANN]] for .okinawa after passing all the required processes needed to become a [[Registry Operator]] for the string.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/15245-donuts-portfolio-swells-as-icann-signs-31-new-gtld-contracts Donuts Portfolio Swells as ICANN Signs 31 New gTLD Contracts, DomainIncite] Retrieved 06 Dec 2013</ref>

==Delegation and Availability==
.okinawa was delegated to the [[Root Zone]] of the [[DNS]] on 2 March, 2014, completing the successful application for the string.<ref name="delegation"></ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:TLD]]
[[Category:TLDs with Registry Agreements|okinawa]]