Protests against the US military presence in Okinawa

Okinawa was originally the heartland of the independent Ryukyu Kingdom with its capital at Shuri. While being a tributary state to China, Ryukyu found itself under a state of dual subordination after losing a war to Satsuma Domain of Japan. Satsuma directed Ryukyu to increase trade with China in order to circumnavigate the Tokugawa shogunate's policy of enforced isolationism. Following multiple visits to Ryukyu by Europeans and the Meiji Restoration, Japan increased control over Ryukyu until 1879 when, following several incidents of Ryukyuan resistance or refusals, the kingdom was forcefully annexed. Okinawa then became an official prefecture. This was followed by a period of cultural assimilation in order to make the Ryukyuans Japanese. During World War II, Okinawa was the battlefield for an intense clash between American forces and the Imperial Japanese Army during the Battle of Okinawa. More than a quarter of the civilian population died, and the battle resulted in the American occupation of the Ryukyu Islands. == Protests ==

In 1955, there was a rape and murder of a 6-year-old girl by an American soldier near the Kadena base which was then followed by another rape of a child by a soldier one week later. This led to the first Okinawan Citizens' Rally in protest of military occupation. In response to these actions, members of the Okinawan Parliament threatened to quit, and 16 political organizations combined to form the All-Okinawa Coalition for Land Protection. Upwards of 200,000 Okinawans participated in protests across the island. Kadena Air Base In June 1959, an F-100 fighter jet from Kadena Air Base crashed into an elementary school in Uruma, killing 17 and injuring 210. The residential area surrounding the Kadena Air Base has been subject to dangerously loud noise exposure from aircraft. During the Vietnam War, sound levels were dangerous enough to cause hearing loss for residents. Studies from noise recordings over the decades have allowed for the conclusion of risk of hearing loss among Okinawans in the area. Koza riot In December 1970, tensions in Koza, now Okinawa City, erupted in a clash between over 3,000 Okinawan citizens and U.S. military police. Clashes began when an American driver hit an Okinawan resulting in minor injuries. When military police arrived to see a crowd, warning shots were fired, which then caused the crowds to grow. 1995 rape incident In September 1995, three U.S. servicemen from the Navy and Marines serving at Camp Hansen kidnapped, beat, and raped a 12-year-old Okinawan girl. The incident resulted in large protests in Okinawa calling for the men to be charged by Japanese authorities rather than American, where they were then charged and sentenced by the Naha District Court. Protests spread across the island, 80,000 Okinawans protested the rape at the Ginowan City Convention Center. Several demonstrations would be held in response, with organizers estimating the amount of attendants at one rally to be 65,000. On December 1st, 2017, Shinzato was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. == Relocation of military bases ==

Following the rape incident, the U.S. was pushed to agree to close the Futenma Air Station and relocate it away from downtown Ginowan in response to large protests surrounding the issue. Futenma remained open for years while its relocation was debated and contested by Okinawans. On August 11, 2018, about 70,000 individuals gathered in Naha in opposition to the moving of the Futenma Air Station to the Henoko Bay, a less populated fishing village compared to Ginowan. The citizens of Okinawa wanted the base moved entirely off the island rather than to another area. Environmental groups oppose the relocation to the bay because of potential harm to coral and dugongs in the bay. In February 2019, in a referendum for the citizens of Okinawa, over 70% of voters – about 434,000 people – voted against the construction of the new Henoko base. Following the results of the referendum, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pushed for an understanding by Okinawan citizens for the relocation of the base. Some Okinawan voters claimed their voices were not heard in Tokyo as the central government still pushes for the move of the base to stay committed to the security alliance between the US and Japan. In April 2012, Japan and the U.S. reached an agreement that 9,000 Marines stationed on Okinawa would soon leave. The Marines will be moved to Guam, Hawaii, or Australia to other military bases. The realignment is speculated to take place in 2024. == References ==