Amerika-yu and the Return to Japan

Labels: Factdocumented　Likelysupported by most sources　Legendoral tradition　Urban legendlocal lore and rumour

A postwar that began in the camps

FactWhen the fighting ended, most of the surviving residents were living in camps set up by the US military. Much of their home land was fenced off and turned directly into bases. Okinawa's postwar period began with people having neither homes nor fields to return to.

FactOn 28 April 1952, the San Francisco Peace Treaty came into force and Japan regained its independence, but Okinawa, Amami and the Ogasawara Islands remained under American rule. In Okinawa, this day has also been called the "Day of Humiliation." That same year, the Government of the Ryukyu Islands was set up as a government for the residents, but above it sat the American governing authority (later the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands), and the final say rested with the Americans.

When people shopped in dollars

FactFor some time after the war, Okinawa used US military scrip known as B-yen, and from 1958 the US dollar became the currency. Supermarket price tags were in cents, and wages were paid in dollars. Travelling to mainland Japan required a travel certificate issued by the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands.

FactIn the 1950s, the US military forcibly seized residents' land to expand its bases. In response to these methods, described as "bayonets and bulldozers," an island-wide protest movement (the Shimagurumi Toso, or "all-island struggle") arose in 1956.

The streets of Koza

FactThe town of Koza (today's Okinawa City), which spread out in front of the gates of Kadena Air Base, grew into a base town lined with restaurants and bars catering to American servicemen. Establishments that met US military hygiene and other standards were granted an "A-sign" licence, and a distinctive culture awash with dollars was born. During the Vietnam War, the streets overflowed with soldiers heading to the front, and it was here that Okinawan rock took shape.

FactIn the early hours of 20 December 1970, the handling of a traffic accident caused by an American serviceman sparked an outburst of anger among the residents who had gathered, and more than 80 American vehicles were set on fire (the Koza Riot, also called the Koza Uprising). Behind it lay years of frustration that incidents and accidents involving US servicemen went unpunished.

15 May 1972

FactAmong the residents, a movement calling for reversion to Japan spread. On 15 May 1972, administrative authority over Okinawa was returned from the United States to Japan, and Okinawa Prefecture was born again. The currency switched to the yen, at an exchange rate of 1 dollar = 305 yen.

FactEven after reversion, however, many of the US military bases remained. According to Okinawa Prefecture, about 70 percent of the land area of facilities for the exclusive use of US forces in Japan is concentrated in Okinawa Prefecture, which makes up only about 0.6 percent of Japan's land area. Issues surrounding the bases remain a major challenge for Okinawa today.

30 July 1978: "Nana-san-maru"

FactUnder American rule, cars in Okinawa drove on the right. Six years after reversion, at 6 a.m. on 30 July 1978, traffic across the prefecture switched all at once to driving on the left. For this change, known from its date as "730" (Nana-san-maru), road signs and traffic lights were changed over from the night before, and large numbers of buses with their doors on the right had to be replaced.

Main sources: Okinawa Prefectural Archives / Okinawa Prefecture, "US Military Bases in Okinawa" / Okinawa City, "History of Koza" / Okinawa Prefectural Police, materials on "730"