沖縄国際人権法研究会、IMADR、フランシスカンズ・インターナショナル、Huma Right Now　

などのNGOが　国連人権理事会で声明を発表

 

 

To: Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Japan
Prosecutor – General

Statement to Request the Release of Mr. Yamashiro Hiroji

Mr. Yamashiro Hiroji, one of the leaders of nonviolent peace movement in Okinawa, was arrested for a quasi-flagrant offence on October 17th, 2016 and has been in detention for more than two months. While the repulsion among Okinawan people grew as the Government of Japan promoted the construction of U.S. military base in Okinawa, the police arrested Mr. Yamashiro three times. Each time the prosecutors office requested the presentencing detention, and the court admitted it. This is the infringement of freedom of political expression and due process of law by police administration and criminal justice of Japan, thus violates Article 9. 1 (prohibition of arbitrary arrest and detention), Article 9.3 (exception of presentencing detention), Article 19 (freedom of expression), and Article 21 (right of peaceful assembly) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.

Mr. Yamashiro is the chairman of the Okinawa Peace MovementCentre, established for the protection of peace and democracy in Okinawa. It is a member of “All Okinawa Kaigi to stop the construction of new military base in Henoko”. All Okinawa Kaigi’s demands: withdrawal of Osprey; closing of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma; and abandonment of the plan to relocate it within Okinawa prefecture; which pushed Mr. Onaga Takeshi to become the governor of Okinawa. Backed up by this will of Okinawan people, Mr. Yamashiro has led the protest movement in the forms of sit-in and as such in front of Camp Schwab Marine Corps Base and Camp Gonsalves Okinawa Northern Training Area. He has continued leading the
nonviolent protest in order to protect the forest and the sea of Yanbaru (the northern forest area of Okinawa) and Okinawa’s peace while the Government of Japan sent large-scale riot police to stamp down the people’s resistance.

On 13 October 2015, Governor Onaga revoked the approval of landfill in Henoko, however the Government of Japan enforced the construction. In order to stop the construction, hundreds of civilians gathered to lay concrete bricks in front of the gate of Camp Schwab in late January. Mr. Yamashiro said, “This is one of the protest measures we have. The bricks are the symbol of our resistance.” It was done in front of policemen, but none of them stopped it. However on 29 November 2016, ten months after this event, Mr. Yamashiro was arrested and put in detention together with three other civilians, despite the fact that Mr. Yamashiro was already under custody for another charge. It is believed that this arrest and detention were to suppress their nonviolent protest based on the political insistence.

Regardless of the fact that it is obvious there was no risk of destruction of evidence since the act of laying bricks took place right in front of policemen, the judge admitted such risk without careful consideration in the trial for the disclosure of the grounds for detention. Additionally Mr. Yamashiro suffered from serious illness last year and the detention may cause an irreversible damage on his well-being. The judge did not take appropriate consideration to this risk. The act of Mr. Yamashiro does not amount to a conduct to be denounced as a crime, therefore his detention cannot be justified as having “adequate case” in Article 34 of the Constitution of Japan. Furthermore, such long-term detention amounts to inhuman
treatment prohibited by Article 7 and 10 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

While Mr. Yamahiro was put under detention, the Government of Japan completed the construction of Helipads in Camp Gonsalves Okinawa Northern Training Area and tries to resume the construction of U.S. military base in Henoko. We are deeply concerned the effect on Mr. Yamashiro’s health which long-term detention may cause. We consider the detention of Mr. Yamashiro and other citizens as unfair suppression of freedom of political expression that violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and request to put an end to this human rights abuse in a prompt manner. We request to revoke the prosecution of Mr. Yamahiro and other civilians and release them immediately.

All Okinawa Council for Human Rights
The International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR)
Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information Center (HURIGHTS OSAKA)
Human Rights Now
Franciscans International

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

 

 

I am a Catholic Bishop emeritus, Marcelino Daiji Tani from Japan. I am writing this letter as a citizen of Okinawa Prefecture who participates in sit-down strikes.

 

I moved to Okinawa from Saitama Prefecture, the Japanese mainland, to join in activities for opposing the new US base construction of Henoko and Takae helicopter （Ospreys）　landing pads in the U.S. military’s Northern Training Area, Okinawa. For the last four years, I have been participating in sit-down strikes to carry on principle of nonviolent resistance Mr. Mahatma Gandhi and Mr. Shoko A-ha-gon. Seventy to eighty percent of the people of Okinawa are opposed to the construction of new military facilities on their island. The public opinion of the people of Okinawa is clear. Sit-down strikes take place every day, showing the will of the Okinawan people. I write this letter as both a participant of these strikes and a resident of Okinawa,

 

 

 

＜The Violation of Human Rights and Discrimination Against People of Okinawa＞

 

Over seventy percent of the U.S. military facilities in Japan are concentrated in Okinawa, and what is more, the governments of Japan and U.S. are in the process of building other new U.S. bases in Okinawa.  This is nothing but discrimination against Okinawa.

 

The Japanese government dispatched 500 riot police from Osaka to the small village of Takae to remove sit-down demonstrators by force. And. Mr. Hiroji Yamashiro, a leader of the Okinawa Peace Movements, was oppressed through his long-time confinement.

 

The mass media of Japan mainland has also been intimidated by Japanese governmental pressure. The reports on Okinawa are obstructed by the government, thus correct information is not fully reported to the public. Not only that, but Okinawa has been slandered by malicious internet and certain media information.

 

When I took part in the Osprey anti-deployment protest in Tokyo, I was shouted at with vicious taunts from fellow Japanese saying, “If you don’t like the Ospreys, get out of Japan! You, Betrayer!” Another incident of racist slurs occurred when we were participating in a daily sit-down strike. This time, from a riot police officer shouted at citizens, using a derogatory term refer to indigenous people, “You, Dojin.”

 

 

 

＜Japan's Human Rights Violation and Discrimination are Caused by its Colonial Rule over Okinawa＞

 

Okinawa was once an independent country, the Ryukyu Kingdom and was not considered a part of Japan.  From 1872 to 1879, Japan successfully annexed the Ryukyu Kingdom (the Disposition of Ryukyu) and colonized it as the Okinawa Prefecture.  In 1879, the Ryukyu Kingdom, which had continued for 450 years was abolished.

 

Japan has a textbook screening system where school textbooks must be approved by the Ministry of Education.  In March 2017, a book publishing company submitted a textbook to the Ministry of Education for screening named the “Disposition of Ryukyu.” The “Disposition of Ryukyu” was deleted and was changed to the “Annexation of Ryukyu” （as “Japan’s Annexation of Korea“）. The name “Annexation of Ryukyu” was deemed an accurate expression of historical facts by scholars of Okinawan studies. Building on the Japanese government’s　assertion　that Ryukyu has been a part of Japan since ancient time, this action was taken to conceal the fact that Okinawa was colonialized by the government of Japan.

 

In 1945, near the end of the World War II, Okinawa became a battlefield and was used as a holding position for the defense of the homeland Japan. With that, many Okinawans were caught in the middle of the war against the United States and one fourth of the civilian population was killed.  When Japan became an independent country through the Treaty of San Francisco in 1952, the Japanese government gave up control of Okinawa, Okinawa was ruled under a de facto government administered by the U.S. Forces until the U.S. returned Okinawa to Japan in 1972. In 1972, Okinawa was returned to Japan. Under Article 9 of Constitution, the citizens of Okinawa expected to live under the same conditions as mainland Japan. However, here too, the agreement for the reversion of Okinawa to Japan took place between the U.S. and Japan without any consideration of the voices of the Okinawa people. As a result, the U.S. military bases remained, and even more, the burden of the U.S. military bases on the Okinawan people increased. In 1996, with the memory of the 1995 Okinawa Rape Case still strong, the governments of Japan and the United States established SACO (Special Actions Committee of Okinawa). Through SACO, the governments of Japan and the United States mutually agreed upon the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, new base construction in Henoko and the construction of helicopter landing pads in the U.S. military’s Northern Training Area in Takae. Here too, the will of the Okinawans was never considered.  Looking at these incidents from a historical lens, there is colonial discrimination and the will of the Okinawa people has been consistently denied.

 

 Japanese Prime Minster Shinzo Abe gave a speech marking the 70^th anniversary of the end of World War II.  When discussing Japan’s colonial rule, he stated:

 

We shall abandon colonial rule forever and respect the right of self-determination of all peoples throughout the world. （August 14, 2015　Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan）

 

Prime Minister Abe is failing to acknowledge the historical fact that Japan colonized Okinawa and that Okinawans are the indigenous people of Ryukyu.

 

 

 

＜Indigenous People of Ryukyu＞

 

The Japanese government does not recognize the existence of the Indigenous People of Ryukyu.

 

One of the reasons for the Japanese government’s statement is that there are similar Jinja (shrine) in both Japan and Okinawa.  However, that fact is wrong. From the Meiji period onwards, Japan created State Shinto to worship the Emperor as god. The fact is through the assimilation policy after the annexation of Ryukyu, the Japanese government built shrine gateways in front of Okinawa’s original religious sacred places and called them Japanese Shrines.  The same type of incident can be seen in other Japan’s colonialized countries, such as Korea.

 

In Okinawa, a religious tradition of rites and festivals led by priestesses, women only, still exist. From this example alone, we can see the differences between the indigenous religious forms of Okinawa and the Japanese Shinto religion. Okinawa religious traditions never included the enshrinement of Amaterasu Omi Kami (a goddess) and Emperor prior to its colonialization and is a different religion from the general practice of Japanese Shintoism.

 

In February 2017, the skeletal remains of Ryukyuan’s were found at Kyoto University. This is the exact same type of “anthropological research” used to justify the preservation of Ainu skeletons at the Hokkaido University.  Removal of human skeletons for research purposes is unlawful and discrimination against the Indigenous people. This research is meaningless and used only to show that the Japanese and Ryukyuan are the same people. Just as in the Ainu related research, the Ryukyuan’s right to self-determination has been deprived.

 

An ethnic group or indigenous group of people share a cultural identity.  The Okinawan people have their own culture; their own language, and their own cultural festivals, such as Eisa, which are integral to their daily life. Just as there are people who speak various Romance language, such as Spanish, Italian, and French, there are also languages based upon the Chinese writing system, such as Japanese, Chinese, and the Ryukyu languages. Although these languages have similarities, they are distinct languages.

 

To resolve the problems surrounding the construction of new U.S. bases and discriminations against the people of Okinawa, the Japanese government must acknowledge that they are still colonizing Okinawa, and furthermore, that the Ryukyuan are an indigenous people of the Ryukyu Islands.

 

 

 

Finally, I wish to request the United Nations Human Rights Council admonish Japan regarding the following points:

 

1.      The Japanese government should acknowledge the historical fact of its colonial rule over Okinawa.

 

2.      The People of Ryukyu are the indigenous people of the Ryukyu Islands, and the Japanese government should acknowledge the autonomy of indigenous people.

 

3.      The Japanese government should abide by Prime Minster Shinzo Abe’s message marking the 70^th anniversary of the World War II, “We shall abandon colonial rule forever and respect the right of self-determination of all peoples throughout the world,” in good faith.

 

4.      A whole range of Okinawa issues should be discussed by not only the governments of Japan and the U.S., but should also include members of the Okinawa communities in the form of a consultative body.

 

 

 

2017, June 

Marcelono　Tani　Daiji  

 

 

兄弟姉妹の皆様へ

 

私はカトリック教会名誉司教（Bishop emeritus）Marcelino谷　大二です。

 

辺野古、高江の米軍新基地建設反対のために本土から沖縄に移住し、今年で4年目になります。そして、私は非暴力による抵抗運動の指導者インドのマハトマ・ガンディ、沖縄の阿波根昌鴻氏らの精神を受け継いだ座り込みに参加しています。沖縄県民の70～80％は新基地に反対しています。沖縄の民意は明らかでです。こうした民意に支えられて一般の市民による座り込みは、毎日続いています。座り込みは沖縄の民意の表現です。私は座り込みに参加する一人の沖縄県民として手紙を書きます。

 

 

 

＜沖縄に対する人権侵害、差別＞

 

沖縄には日本の７０％以上の米軍基地があります。そのうえ、高江、辺野古の新基地を造ろうとしているのです。これは沖縄に対する差別以外の何物でもありません。

 

政府は県外から５００人以上の機動隊を小さな高江の集落に派遣し、座り込みで反対する人々を圧倒的暴力で排除し、そのリーダーである山城博治さんを長期拘束するという弾圧まで行っています。

 

本土のマスコミは政府の圧力で委縮し、沖縄で起こっている政府による弾圧についての十分に報道していません。インターネットや一部のマスコミでは、沖縄に対する誹謗中傷が後を絶ちません。

 

私は、東京でオスプレイ配備反対のデモに参加した時に「そんなにオスプレイがいやなら日本から出ていけ、この売国奴」というヤジを日本人から浴びせられた。また、機動隊員が座り込みの市民に対して「この、土人が」という差別語を浴びせました。

 

あからさまな民族差別、植民地差別です。

 

 

 

＜日本政府の人権侵害、差別は植民地支配に起因する＞

 

沖縄はかつて琉球王国であり、日本ではありませんでした。

 

日本は1872～79年の琉球併合（琉球処分）によって琉球を沖縄県と命名し、植民地化しました。それまで続いていた琉球王国は1979年に終焉しました。

 

日本には学校で使用する教科書の検定があります。2017年3月、ある出版社が「琉球処分Disposition of Ryukyu」を「琉球併合Annexation of Ryukyu」と表記する教科書を検定に提出しましたが、削除されました。琉球併合は沖縄の研究者たちが事実を正確に表現するものとしています。この削除は琉球が古来日本であったと主張する政府の意を汲み、日本が沖縄を植民地支配した事実を国民におおい隠すための行為です。

 

第２次世界大戦の末期、1945年、本土防衛のために沖縄を戦場とし、持久戦に持ち込みました。それによって多くの住民が戦争に巻き込まれ、住民の4人に一人が死亡しました。日本がサンフランシスコ講和条約（1952）によって独立を果たした時、日本政府は沖縄を米国に譲り渡し、沖縄は米軍施政権下に置かれました。1972年、沖縄は本土に復帰しました。沖縄県民は「憲法9条の下に」、「本土並みに」という期待を持ちました。しかし、ここでも沖縄の民意は問われることなく、米国と日本の政府の間で返還が決定されました。その結果、沖縄に米軍軍事基地は残り、さらに基地の負担は増えていったのです。1996年、米軍の女性強姦事件をきっかけに、SACO（Special Actions Committee Of Okinawa）が開催され、普天間移設、高江、辺野古新基地建設が合意されました。しかし、そこでも日米両政府の合意だけで、沖縄の民意は顧みられることはありませんでした。

 

これら一連の歴史をみても植民地差別があり、沖縄の民意は全く問われることはありませんでした。植民地差別の中で、沖縄の声、民意は一度も顧みられることは無かったのです。

 

日本政府は2015年に“Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s August 14 Statement on the 70th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War”を発表しました。その中で安倍首相は植民地支配について次のように述べています。We shall abandon colonial rule forever and respect the right of self-determination of all peoples throughout the world. （August 14, 2015　Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan）
（植民地支配から永遠に訣別し、すべての民族の自決の権利が尊重される世界にしなければならない。）安倍首相は沖縄を植民地とした歴史、沖縄が琉球民族であることを全く認識していないか、否定しようとしています。

 

 

 

＜琉球民族＞

 

日本政府は琉球民族の存在を否定し、琉球人は日本人であるという考え方を取り続けています。

 

その根拠の一つに、政府は琉球にも日本と同じ神社があると説明しています。しかし、事実は違います。明治以降、日本は天皇を神とする国家神道を作り、琉球併合以降の同化政策によって、沖縄独自の宗教的聖地に鳥居を建設して日本の神社としたのです。同じことは韓国など植民地化した国でも行われていました。

 

沖縄には女性のみを祭事の司祭とする宗教的伝統があります。そのことをとっても日本の神道とは異なっています。また、古来の沖縄ではアマミキヨという女性神をまつるところが多いのですが、決して、植民地以前に日本の国家神道が祭っていた天照大神（アマテラスオオミカミ）や天皇を崇拝するものではありませんでした。沖縄独自の宗教は日本の一般の神道とも性質を異にしています。

 

　2017年2月、琉球人の人骨が京都大学に保管されていることが分かりました。これは北海道大学でアイヌ民族の人骨が保管されていたのと同様で、研究目的でした。研究目的で人骨を収奪すること自体が民族差別です。この研究は日本人と琉球人は同じ民族であるという主張に利用されたにすぎません。琉球民族はアイヌ民族と同様に歴史のなかで民族の自決権が奪い取られてきたのです。

 

民族は文化の同一性である。沖縄にはエイサーや生活の中に独自の文化が生きています。また、言語の面でも、独自のものです。ラテン系の言葉、スペイン語、イタリア語、フランス語が違った言語であるように、漢字文化圏の日本語、中国語、琉球語もそれぞれ独自の言語でなのです。

 

 

 

日本政府が沖縄をいまも植民地支配していること、琉球民族を先住民族であることを認めることが、今の新基地建設の問題、沖縄差別、沖縄に対する人権侵害の問題を解決するために重要なことです。

 

 

 

国連人権理事会に次のことを日本政府に勧告するように要望します。

 

1.      沖縄を植民地支配した歴史的事実を認めること

 

2.      琉球民族が先住民族であること、そして先住民の自治権を認めること

 

3.      日本政府が安倍首相の戦後70年談話の「植民地支配から永遠に訣別し、すべての民族の自決の権利が尊重される世界にしなければならない」という宣言を誠実に実行すること

 

4.      沖縄の基地問題について、日本とアメリカだけでなく沖縄の共同体からのメンバーも加わった協議機関を作ること

 

 

 

２０１７年６月

谷　大二

 

 

 

 

 

Liberation from Colonial Rule in Okinawa

 

 

 

1.   The Sanctity of Human Life and Human Rights are being Trampled in Okinawa

 

In May of 2016, an incident occurred in which a 20 year old woman was assaulted, raped, and murdered while taking a walk by an American who is a former Marine employed as a civilian contractor at the Kadena Military Base. After she was killed her body was abandoned in a deserted area. This so-called “Girl Assault Body Abandonment Incident” is a truly horrendous, heartbreaking incident.    

 

  Such tragic incidents have happened repeatedly in Okinawa. This incident follows another incident which just occurred in March of 2016 where a woman was raped while on a trip to Okinawa.

 

  Murders, rapes and violent assaults of woman have happened continuously since 1945 when World War II ended. In a terribly tragic incident even a nine month old baby was raped. Until 1955, the punishment given to criminals for these types of violent crimes is unknown.

 

  In 1955, an incident occurred in which a six year old girl was abducted, raped and murdered. Six days after this incident a nine year old little girl was raped. In 1995, three Marines abducted and raped a 12 year old little girl, causing the people of Okinawa to erupt in anger with a protest rally that attracted 100,000 participants.

 

In the wake of this incident SACO (Joint Japan-American Commission), was established. However, it was this commission which announced that the Futenma Base would be returned to Japan in five years, a new base would be constructed at Henoko, and a helipad would be built in Takae.

 

  In 1972, Okinawa was returned to Japan, and the American Military Administration of Okinawa was ended, but the incidents of murder, rape and violent assaults of women have not ended.  From 1972 until 2015 American Military personnel and civilian employees of the bases have been responsible for 574 violent crimes with 741 people arrested. Among these crimes, there were 26 incidents of murder, with 34 people arrested, and 129 cases of rape with 147 people arrested.

 

  It must be said that if there were no American Military Bases, these incidents would never have occurred. Until now, when incidents of this type have occurred, the Japanese and American Governments have each time responded by saying, “they will strengthen enforcement the law and try to prevent reoccurrences.” So far none of these efforts has been effective, and now we have the occurrence of this latest incident.

 

 

 

2.   Context and Causes of these Repeated Incidents

 

  This most recent incident is not a one-time only occurrence. This type of incident has happened repeatedly. If there were no American Bases, these incidents would never have occurred. The cause of these repeated incidents is clearly found in the existence of American Military Bases in Okinawa.

 

  The root cause of these incidents is the fact that today, seventy one years after the war ended, the American Government is still using Okinawa as a military colony. 

 

  SOFA, Status of Forces Agreement, (formally named: Agreement under Article VI of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and the United States of America, regarding Facilities and Areas and the Status of United States Armed Forces in Japan.  Article XVII of this Agreement has determined two items.

 

①     No matter what crimes are committed by military personnel or the civilian component of the military in the course of their official duties, Japan does not have jurisdiction. 

 

②     Even when not in the course of their official duties, if a person escapes to the base before they are arrested by the Japanese police, the person will not be handed over to the Japanese authorities but will remain in the custody of the American military until they are formally prosecuted. 

 

      The Japanese judiciary is not able to conduct a hearing with the suspect. The Status of Forces Agreement should be called part of an unequal treaty that gives a special right of “Extraterritoriality” within Japan, to the American military for their personnel and their civilian employees.   This Status of Forces Agreement is the context in which repeated incidents have occurred.

 

 

 

3.   Okinawa is Subjected to a Double Form of Colonialism

 

  Okinawa has been placed under American military colonial rule. It can be said that, “Okinawa itself is in the middle of an American Base.”

 

  While on the one hand there is American colonial rule, there is also colonial rule in Okinawa by Japan as well.

 

  Since the Meiji Era, Japan has treated Hokkaido, Okinawa, Taiwan and Korea to as colonies. Taiwan and Korea have achieved their independence, but Okinawa even now is being subjected to colonial rule. 

 

  Discrimination against Okinawa by Japan is colonial discrimination, and ethnic discrimination. A great number of incidents of discrimination again native Okinawan have occurred.  The following cases can be said to be emblematic of this discrimination.

 

①    In 1879 Japan abolishes the Ryukyu Kingdom in a show of military force, changes the name to Okinawa Prefecture, and makes it a colony.  “Ryukyu Disposition”.

 

②    In 1945 during World War II, Okinawa was the site of a three month battle that completely engulfed the civilian population in a land war. In order to buy time for the protection of the mainland, Okinawa became “Discard Stone” suteishi (an expendable stone thrown at the enemy as a delaying tactic). Through this tactic more than 200,000 human lives were lost. 

 

③    In 1952 through the San Francisco Peace Treaty, Japan regained sovereignty but Okinawa was disconnected from the mainland, and until reversion to Japan in 1972 was placed under United States military administration. 

 

④    American military bases were concentrated in Okinawa. Japanese governments have continued to leave it this way. And now, in addition the government is promoting the construction of a new base in Henoko, and the construction of a helipad in Takae

 

 

 

According to a new poll taken after the recent incident where a woman was assaulted, raped, murdered and her body abandoned, (Ryukyu Shimpo June 3, 2016) 40% of Okinawa residents want “all the bases removed,” 53% want “the marines withdrawn from Okinawa,” and 84% opposes the construction of a new base at Henoko.

 

The government is ignoring the will of the people of Okinawa and using force to get its way. This is nothing other than colonial discrimination and ethnic discrimination. 

 

There is no doubt that Okinawa has been placed under a double form of colonial rule by the United States and Japan.

 

 

 

4.   Seeking Liberation from Colonial Rule

 

Prime Minister Abe during a speech in 2015 marking 70 years since the end of the war stated, “We must have a world where we forever part from colonial rule, and we must respect the right of all people to self-determination.”

 

Prime Minister Abe seems to be completely incognizant of the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom, and the history of colonization caused by the “Ryukyu Disposition.”  Prime Minister Abe should become cognizant of the history of colonial rule in Okinawa and take action in accord with the words he uttered during his speech in 2015.  

 

We are not advocating that Okinawa become independent of Japan. We are advocating liberation from the colonial rule and discrimination that still remains today and for respect for ethnic self-determination. To be specific, we desire a society where multi-ethnic and multinational people can offer each other mutual recognition and mutual respect.  In addition, we want an Okinawa that has peace, and people can live without fear of violence and rapes committed by military personnel and civilian employees; we seek an Okinawa where there is respect for life and for basic human rights.   

 

 

 

June 2016

 

Catholic Naha Diocese

 

Bishop Oshikawa Toshio

 

Bishop Tani Daiji

 

 

 

 

 

For reference here is a brief summary of the history of Okinawa

 

It is desirable that at least this amount of Okinawan history be known.

 

 

 

Era of the Ryukyu Kingdom

 

1429  King Sho Hashi unites three separate kingdoms (Sanzan Era) into one, and a united Ryukyu Kingdom is established.

 

1609  Satsuma Clan dispatches troops to Okinawa, Ryukyu Kingdom placed under their ru

 

le. Satsuma Clan takes tribute from Ryukyu Kingdom, and seizes control of trade with China. With the interest from trade in their hands, they compensate the deficits of the clan.

 

1853  Commodore Perry arrives in Okinawa and concludes the Ryukyu-United States Amity Treaty, then he moves on to Japan and concludes the Japan-United States Friendship Treaty the following year. 

 

 

 

    Japan Dominance (Rule by Japan)

 

    1879  By the “Ryukyu Disposition” the Ryukyu Kingdom is abolished, Okinawa becomes a colony, with the name changed to Okinawa Prefecture.

 

   1895  As a result of victory in a war with China (Quing Dynasty) Japan confirms that Okinawa is its territory and Taiwan is ceded to Japan.

 

   1903  As an example of discrimination against Okinawa, there is the “Human Race Museum Incident” at the Osaka Industrial Expo. (so-called lesser human beings were exhibited including demining representations of Okinawans).    

 

   1941  Imperial Subjects Movement became popular, (Okinawan names changed to Japanese names, Okinawan dialect prohibited, military education etc.).

 

   1945  War in Okinawa, as a defense for the mainland Okinawa becomes a “Discard      

 

          Stone” suteishi,, one in four people in the prefecture becomes a victim of the war.

 

 

 

American Dominance (Rule by America)

 

  1945  Okinawa placed under American Military Administration

 

  1952  On April 28, in accord with the San Francisco Peace Treaty, Japan regains sovereignty, but Okinawa is cut off and remains under American Military

 

         Administration. In Okinawa, this day is called, “Humiliation Day.

 

  1953  Amami Oshima Archipelago reverts to Japan. In Okinawa, with bayonets and bulldozers, land is forcibly seized for bases. Camp Schwab in Henoko is built and from this time on America Military Bases are gradually moved from the

 

         Mainland to Okinawa.

 

  1955  Yumiko-chan Incident (murder and rape of a small child by military personnel)

 

  1957  Marines are moved from their Kakamigahara base in Gifu Prefecture to Futenma. 

 

  1964-72  Vietnam War: Bombing of the North is done by Okinawa based planes and troops are dispatched from Okinawa to Vietnam

 

 

 

Japan Dominance (Rule by Japan)

 

   1972  Okinawa reverts to Japan

 

   1995  Cornerstone of Peace Memorial Dedication, girl raped by American Marines, Massive Okinawan Peace Rally

 

   1996  SACO (Joint Japan-America Commission) agreement and announcement of plans to return the land used for Futenma Base, and plans for the building of

 

         a new base at Henoko, and a heliport at Takae

 

   2004  Beginning of protest sit-ins at Henoko

 

   2007  Beginning of protest sit-ins at Takae

 

   2012  Osprey (military planes) deployment to Okinawa

 

   2013  “All Okinawa” petition movement, Governor Nakaima approves landfill for Henoko Base construction

 

   2014  Governor Onaga elected under the banner of “Opposition to Henoko Relocation” of the Futenma Base

 

   2015  Governor Onaga withdraws approval for landfill at Henoko

 

   2016  Former marine assaults, rapes and murders a girl. “Girl Assault Body Abandonment Incident” 　 Massive Okinawan Peace Rally (65,000 people gathering at Naha on 19^th June)