沖縄英字マガジン OkinaWanderer

琉球ヒストリー第９弾は、戦後のアメリカ統治下から日本への復帰、そして基地問題についてです。

未だ解決されていないすごく複雑な問題ですが、解決に向けて何かを変えていければ、いや、変えていかねばならないですよね。

ただ、変えていくにももっと多角的に強かに進めていく必要性もあるのではないかな、と個人的には思います。


In 1879 Japan illegally destroyed and abolished the Ryukyu Kingdom by invading the King’s Shuri Castle, which was suddenly surrounded by the Japanese military forces, arresting King Sho Tai who had refused to give up his independent Kingdom. Instead of using the kingdom’s name “Ryukyu,” Japan started using “Okinawa,” the name of the largest island of the Ryukyus, as the new name of the 47th prefecture.

After Japan lost the war against the U.S. and its allied powers, the U.S. military government stopped using the name “Okinawa”. Instead, the name of the former kingdom, “Ryukyu,” was reinstated as in the “United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands” (USCAR) and the Government of the Ryukyu Islands (GRI) until the return of the islands to Japan in 1972, when Japan again returned the use of “Okinawa” to cover the entire prefecture.

Before the Satsuma invasion in 1609, the island people had been totally independent. However, three major foreign invasions brought misfortune to the island people. These foreign invasions became the causes of never-ending suffering to this day. These incidents were Satsuma Invasion in 1609, Meiji Government Invasion in 1879, and the U.S.-Allied Invasion in 1945.

Immediately, independent movements surfaced after 1879, which were suppressed. The reversion of the Ryukyus to Japan took place, and had the support of local people, for several reasons. First, to get out of an ambiguous international political situation by making the islands again a part of Japan.

Second, to get rid of American control and the heavy concentration of U.S. military bases. Third, to become free from U.S.-military-related crimes, accidents, environmental pollutions, and other problems. And fourth, to increase monthly wages for higher standard of living under the Japanese ‘mighty’ yen economy.

Including the author of “Okinawa, A History of an Island People,” George H. Kerr, many American intellectuals and political leaders thought that the Okinawans had basically been peace-loving people, and that they would follow and obey their oppressors. This theory and beliefs was totally reversed when 3,000 Okinawans joined the anti-U.S. Koza Riot, setting fire on over 80 U.S.-plated cars and injuring more than 60 Americans.

In September 1995 three U.S. sailors raped a 12-year-old school girl on her way back from shopping in the northern part of Okinawa. 85,000 Okinawans and 3,000 off-islanders gathered to demonstrate against the U.S. military operations in Okinawa. The rally was held at Ginowan Seaside Park on Oct. 21, 1995.

A U.S. military helicopter from MCAS Futenma crashed on Okinawa International University campus next to the base in 2004. Twenty years ago, the total return of the base was agreed between Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and the U.S. Ambassador Walter Mondale on Apr. 12th, 1996, but the agreement has yet to be enforced 20 years later.

Both U.S. and Japanese governments claim that Henoko is the only option to relocate the MCAS Futenma. Okinawans strongly oppose this option because, first, the dangers of the base still remain on Okinawa, Second, the military-related crimes, accidents, pollution and other problems will simply be transferred to Henoko, and third, Okinawa is still a military target for an “enemy” attack, if a war breaks.

The U.S.-Japan idea that “Henoko is the only option” is naïve and unrealistic, as far as the island people are concerned. Even the former U.S. ambassador to Japan, Michael Armacost, denied the idea of “Henoko’s the only option.” Armacost believes there are other options, according his interview with the Okinawa Times on Apr. 12th, 2016. It’s not normal for the islanders whose land area is only 0.6% of Japan, to have 74% of all U.S. military base facilities in Japan.

Peaceful diplomacy will bring about a healthier and more sustainable world. It has proven that the U.S. military engagements in China (1949), in Korea (1950~’53), in Vietnam, (1967~1975) and Western Asia (1991~ today) could not bring about “Peace and Stability” in the region as the U.S. and Japan have been advocating for many years. Instead, they have created a great deal of side effects, chaos and instability in the regions involved.

In order to bring about lasting peace and stability in East Asia the following proposals have been made: 1) The U.S.-Japan-Korea Security Treaty be changed into the U.S.-Japan-Korea Peace and Friendship Treaty, 2) The U.S.-North Korea Armistice Treaty be changed into the U.S.-North Korea Peace and Friendship Treaty, so that the sea and air ports will be open for international commercial trade, and that science and technology can be exchanged, and that diplomats, students, scholars, athletes, artists, musicians, and more can mutually be exchanged.

If we do not make the effort and fail to prevent another major war, the whole world will have to suffer WWIII in the near future. The time has come now for us human beings to come closer in order to establish international rules and agreement in keeping all types of nuclear devices in order and in control.
For more information call NPO OLC at 098-943-1852 or e-mail OLC@ okilc.org







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