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The political factor and its role in forming The political factor and its role in forming the Identity of the Okinawa’s people in 1945 the Identity of the Okinawa’s people in 1945

and aftermathand aftermath

Ahmed Amir IsmailAhmed Amir IsmailPreliminary for Internship & FR II Preliminary for Internship & FR II –– Feb 21, 2012Feb 21, 2012

OulineOuline

•• IntroductionIntroduction•• The research questionThe research question•• Aim of this research paperAim of this research paper•• The Battle of Okinawa in 1945The Battle of Okinawa in 1945e att e o O a a 9 5e att e o O a a 9 5•• Himeyuri studentsHimeyuri students•• Kumejima MassacresKumejima Massacres•• Issue of the U.S. Military BasisIssue of the U.S. Military Basis•• School girl rape accident of 1995School girl rape accident of 1995•• Peace Building in OkinawaPeace Building in Okinawa•• ConclusionConclusion

IntroductionIntroduction

The diversity of cultures in the community of Okinawa Island (which The diversity of cultures in the community of Okinawa Island (which contains some other Islands beside the main one) through different contains some other Islands beside the main one) through different Historical periods, like the Chinese culture which influenced this Historical periods, like the Chinese culture which influenced this Island during the Ryukyu Kingdom of the fourteenth to the Island during the Ryukyu Kingdom of the fourteenth to the nineteenth centuries and during Meiji period (1868nineteenth centuries and during Meiji period (1868 1912) the1912) thenineteenth centuries, and during Meiji period (1868nineteenth centuries, and during Meiji period (1868--1912) the 1912) the Japanese Government, through military incursions officially annexed Japanese Government, through military incursions officially annexed the kingdom and renamed it Ryukyu Han, later it's became Okinawa the kingdom and renamed it Ryukyu Han, later it's became Okinawa Prefecture of Japan in 1879. Also the results of the WWII after the Prefecture of Japan in 1879. Also the results of the WWII after the battle of Okinawa, which resulted in the victory of U.S. forces and battle of Okinawa, which resulted in the victory of U.S. forces and their occupation of this island for 27 years (1945their occupation of this island for 27 years (1945--1972), when the 1972), when the Island was reIsland was re--officially to Japan while keeping the number of U.S. officially to Japan while keeping the number of U.S. military bases. military bases.

The Research QuestionThe Research Question

What are the factors that influenced the formulation of What are the factors that influenced the formulation of the Okinawan people Identity politically during 1945 and the Okinawan people Identity politically during 1945 and aftermath?aftermath?

Aim of this research paperAim of this research paper

This research paper aims to focus on the This research paper aims to focus on the political factor and its role in forming the political factor and its role in forming the Identity of the Okinawa’s people in 1945 and Identity of the Okinawa’s people in 1945 and ft thft thaftermath. aftermath.

The Battle of Okinawa in 1945The Battle of Okinawa in 1945

Okinawa was the only Japanese territory on Okinawa was the only Japanese territory on which a ground battle was fought between which a ground battle was fought between American and Japanese troops during the American and Japanese troops during the Pacific War. That battle, the fiercest of the Pacific War. That battle, the fiercest of the war, lasted from 26 March to 23 June 1945, war, lasted from 26 March to 23 June 1945, and it took the lives of more than oneand it took the lives of more than one--quarter of Okinawa's population. The quarter of Okinawa's population. The damage inflicted on both the environmentdamage inflicted on both the environmentdamage inflicted on both the environment damage inflicted on both the environment and people was so massive that it deprived and people was so massive that it deprived virtually the entire surviving population of all virtually the entire surviving population of all means of livelihood: homes, property, tools, means of livelihood: homes, property, tools, even food. Nearly all of the survivors, even food. Nearly all of the survivors, whether military or civilian, were captured whether military or civilian, were captured and detained in camps, many for up to two and detained in camps, many for up to two years. In the postwar period, the United years. In the postwar period, the United States turned Okinawa into a military colony States turned Okinawa into a military colony and built military facilities, and later in 1972 and built military facilities, and later in 1972 the United States ended direct military rule the United States ended direct military rule of Okinawa and "reverted" to Japan.of Okinawa and "reverted" to Japan.

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Himeyuri studentsHimeyuri students

The story of the group of The story of the group of female high school students female high school students and teachers formed into a and teachers formed into a nursing unit for the Japanese nursing unit for the Japanese A d i th B ttl fA d i th B ttl fArmy during the Battle of Army during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, who had Okinawa in 1945, who had been killed by the American been killed by the American soldiers at the end of the soldiers at the end of the Battle, which is in the minds of Battle, which is in the minds of most Japanese, the Himeyuri most Japanese, the Himeyuri have come to embody an idea have come to embody an idea of Okinawa as sacrificial victim. of Okinawa as sacrificial victim.

Kumejima MassacresKumejima Massacres

Note that the U.S. occupation and the Note that the U.S. occupation and the crimes committed against civilians are not crimes committed against civilians are not the only that changed the National the only that changed the National Identity of the people of Okinawa, where Identity of the people of Okinawa, where the Japanese Army committed crimes the Japanese Army committed crimes against civilians which known as the against civilians which known as the Kumejima Massacres. Kumejima Massacres.

Issue of the U.S. Military BasisIssue of the U.S. Military Basis

The grievance the Okinawan The grievance the Okinawan people against both of the people against both of the Japanese and the U.S. Japanese and the U.S. Governments is the disruptive Governments is the disruptive presence of the 32 U.S. presence of the 32 U.S. military bases on the main military bases on the main I l d f Oki d 6I l d f Oki d 6Island of Okinawa and 6 more Island of Okinawa and 6 more on smaller Islands within the on smaller Islands within the prefecture. These bases prefecture. These bases occupy 20 percent of the main occupy 20 percent of the main Island of Okinawa, Island of Okinawa, concentrated in the most concentrated in the most densely populated southern densely populated southern areas, and that led to the areas, and that led to the escalation of the Antiescalation of the Anti--American American Military Bases.Military Bases.

School girl rape accident of 1995School girl rape accident of 1995

The issue of schoolgirl rape (12 The issue of schoolgirl rape (12 years) by three marines in years) by three marines in 1995 had raised a sensation in 1995 had raised a sensation in the Okinawa community, the Okinawa community, knowing that it was not the knowing that it was not the first incident since a lot offirst incident since a lot offirst incident, since a lot of first incident, since a lot of accidents occurred before and accidents occurred before and after this year, several after this year, several accidents of a similar approach, accidents of a similar approach, this accident had affected of this accident had affected of the girl’s personal Identity the girl’s personal Identity (through the loss of childhood (through the loss of childhood innocence. innocence.

Peace Building in OkinawaPeace Building in Okinawa

From the experiences of From the experiences of wartime devastation and wartime devastation and occupation came the Okinawan occupation came the Okinawan people’s especially strong people’s especially strong desire for spread the culture of desire for spread the culture of peace through organizing peace through organizing

f l d t tif l d t tipeaceful demonstrations, peaceful demonstrations, construction of “Himeyuri construction of “Himeyuri Monument” and the Prefectural Monument” and the Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum, the Peace Memorial Museum, the establishment of regular establishment of regular classes on peace in the schools, classes on peace in the schools, and the regular scheduling of and the regular scheduling of such events appealing for such events appealing for peace as local peace festivals.peace as local peace festivals.

ConclusionConclusion

The previous experiences of the Okinawan people had played an The previous experiences of the Okinawan people had played an important role during the War with the United States in 1945, and important role during the War with the United States in 1945, and what followed from the U.S. occupation, as well as the daily what followed from the U.S. occupation, as well as the daily suffering by the presence of the U.S. Military Bases, and violations suffering by the presence of the U.S. Military Bases, and violations committed against the people that are in some cases under the committed against the people that are in some cases under the knowledge of the Japanese Government that turns a blind eye in knowledge of the Japanese Government that turns a blind eye in

ti i d t th ti it f l ti hi dti i d t th ti it f l ti hi dsometimes in order to preserve the continuity of relationships and sometimes in order to preserve the continuity of relationships and interests between Japan and USA, and the discrimination that interests between Japan and USA, and the discrimination that practiced against the people of Okinawa, all these and more has practiced against the people of Okinawa, all these and more has made the people more adherent to the politics, cultural, and social made the people more adherent to the politics, cultural, and social Identity, which was enhanced by the privacy of this Island, which Identity, which was enhanced by the privacy of this Island, which does not look like another place in Japan .does not look like another place in Japan .

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ReferencesReferences

-- Postwar U.S. Military Crimes Against Women in OkinawaPostwar U.S. Military Crimes Against Women in Okinawa

-- Linda Isako Angst, the rape of a Schoolgirl discourses of power and Gendered National Identity in Okinawa. Linda Isako Angst, the rape of a Schoolgirl discourses of power and Gendered National Identity in Okinawa.

-- Asato Eilco, Okinawan Identity and resistance to Militarization and MaldevelopmentAsato Eilco, Okinawan Identity and resistance to Militarization and Maldevelopment

-- Matthew Allen, Wolves at the Back Door: remembering the Kumejima MassacresMatthew Allen, Wolves at the Back Door: remembering the Kumejima Massacres

-- Laura Hein and Mark Selden, culture, power, and Identity in contemporary OkinawaLaura Hein and Mark Selden, culture, power, and Identity in contemporary Okinawa

-- Laura E. Hein, The Territory of Identity and Remembrance in OkinawaLaura E. Hein, The Territory of Identity and Remembrance in Okinawa

-- Linda Isako Angst, The Sacrifice Of A Schoolgirl: The 1995 Rape Case; Discourses of Power and Women's Lives in OkinawaLinda Isako Angst, The Sacrifice Of A Schoolgirl: The 1995 Rape Case; Discourses of Power and Women's Lives in Okinawa

-- PostPost--Conflict Reconstruction of Education and Peace Building: Lessons from Okinawa's Experience, Japan International CooperationConflict Reconstruction of Education and Peace Building: Lessons from Okinawa's Experience, Japan International CooperationAgency (JICA), Okinawa International Center, March 2006Agency (JICA), Okinawa International Center, March 2006

-- Interviews:Interviews:

-- A personal Interview with Mrs. Annette M. EddieA personal Interview with Mrs. Annette M. Eddie--Callagain (a former American Judge Advocate General) in Feb 16, 2012Callagain (a former American Judge Advocate General) in Feb 16, 2012

-- A personal Interview with Mr. Reiji Fumoto, the previous governor of Okinawa in Feb 16, 2012A personal Interview with Mr. Reiji Fumoto, the previous governor of Okinawa in Feb 16, 2012