Three years ago, in 2022, Okinawa found itself at a crossroads. As Tokyo and the prefectural governments prepared to mark the 50th anniversary of Okinawa’s “return,” a grassroots NGO of aboriginal women issued a powerful statement.
"While the lives, pride and dignity of the Ryukyu and Okinawa people are still neglected and the military colonization continues, now is not the time for Okinawa to celebrate its ‘return,’" they wrote.
Their words were heartfelt but went largely unheard. The official ceremony proceeded, and the burden of military presence and cultural marginalization remained.
But to understand today’s debates, we must travel back centuries. Since the late 14th century, the Ryukyu Kingdom thrived as an independent tributary state under the Ming and Qing dynasties of the Chinese mainland. Emperors dispatched fleets, fostering vibrant trade networks, while Confucian culture, astronomy, and new production techniques shaped Ryukyu society.
That era of autonomy ended in 1879, when the Meiji Restoration’s expanding power absorbed the Ryukyu Islands into modern Japan as Okinawa Prefecture. Over the following decades, Okinawa became entwined in Imperial Japan’s East Asia ambitions.
By 1945, the Battle of Okinawa—one of World War II’s bloodiest Pacific conflicts—claimed the lives of roughly a quarter of the island’s residents, marking a devastating chapter in Okinawa’s history.
After Japan’s surrender, the Potsdam Declaration—issued by the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Chinese mainland—restricted Japanese sovereignty to the main home islands. Yet, instead of immediate reintegration, the United States assumed a trusteeship over Okinawa until 1971, when a secret agreement returned administration to Japan.
Today, Okinawa’s story sparks conversations on cultural resilience, military strategy, and Indigenous voices in shaping their future. As global citizens, young leaders, and travelers, understanding this complex history helps us appreciate Okinawa’s unique identity and ongoing challenges.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
