OCCUPIED OKINAWA: The United States of America and Japan's Desecration of Okinawa's Democracy and Environment

By Robert Kajiwara and Leon K. Siu

The U.S. and Japan are building an unnecessary, unaffordable, and unworkable military base at Henoko, Okinawa, which will destroy a precious coral reef filled with hundreds of rare and endangered species. This is happening in spite of overwhelming opposition from local Okinawans. The Japan central government, long prejudice against indigenous Ok

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kaji Books
• Release date: Mar 12, 2019
• ISBN: 9781732471924

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Terms to Know

There are many different names and spellings for the Ryukyu Islands and Okinawa, all of which are considered correct.

While many Americans today are more familiar with the name Okinawa than they are with Ryukyu, Okinawa is simply the name of one of the many islands in the Ryukyu Island chain. Okinawa Island is the largest island in Ryukyu both in terms of population and land. There are over 100 islands in the Ryukyu chain, around 40 of which are currently inhabited.

The Japan government, in an attempt to Japanize Ryukyu, abolished the name Ryukyu from all official government material, and today refers to the former Ryukyu as Okinawa Prefecture. In fact, Japan went so far as to separate the Amami Islands (the northern Ryukyu Islands) from the rest of Ryukyu, and today they are part of Kagoshima Prefecture.

Lewchew / Loochoo / Luuchuu / Liuqiu:

The romanization of the name for Ryukyu as pronounced in the native Ryukyu languages.

Okinawa: The name for Okinawa Island in Japanese and English.

Ryukyu Islands: Island chain comprising of 100+ islands stretching from southern Japan to Taiwan.

Uchinaa, (sometimes Uchina): The name for Okinawa Island in the Okinawan language.

Uchinaaguchi (sometimes Uchinaguchi): The Okinawan language.

Uchinaanchu (sometimes Uchinanchu): The Okinawan people.

About Ryukyu / Okinawa

Asia_world_map_copy.jpgRyukyu_map_copy.jpg

The Ryukyu Islands are an island chain that stretches from just below the south of Japan (Kyushu) all the way to Taiwan. The climate is warm and sub-tropical, very similar to Hawaii. In fact, Ryukyu and Hawaii share a great many similarities in terms of geography, history, culture, and current issues. The largest island in Ryukyu, both in terms of land and population, is Okinawa.

Indigenous Ryukyuans have lived in the Ryukyu Islands since time immemorial. Recent archeological evidence suggests Ryukyuans have lived there for at least 40,000 years. Ancient Ryukyuans showed little interest in agriculture, since much of their food came from combing the beaches and eating the plentiful bounty provided by the sea. Beach combing is still a popular practice in Ryukyu to this day, though the beaches are under attack by Japanese and American destruction. Beach combing is so popular that it has been immortalized in many works of Ryukyu culture, such as song, poetry, and dance.

The earliest known written mention of the Ryukyu Islands occurred around 200 B.C. in China. Ryukyuans have always been famous for their happiness and longevity, so much so that many throughout history have believed that Ryukyuans posses an elixir of immortality. The Han Emperor sent out a search party eastward to Ryukyu in search of this mythical elixir, referring to Ryukyu as the Islands of Happy Immortals. Many other Chinese Emperors over time would do the same, but all would come up empty, for the Ryukyu secret to happiness and longevity lies not in any elixir, but in respect for God and ones ancestors, a close-knit community that works together, a healthy diet, an active lifestyle, an easy-going demeanor, a lack of interest in philosophy, staying neutral in foreign conflicts, and an emphasis on family.

Indigenous Ryukyu stone masonry. Nakagusuku Castle, Okinawa. Photo by Rob Kajiwara.

Around the year 900, Ryukyuans began building walled structures made out of limestone, known as Gushiku (sometimes spelled gusuku). Gushiku were usually built on hills or

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mountains, and served a multitude of purposes. They were built to protect villages from wild animals and bandits, or anyone who might wish to harm them. They also served as centers for government administration, finance, trade, culture, and community. Overtime gushiku became quite elaborate, so much so that when the first Americans came to Ryukyu, they were amazed at the quality of the architecture, particularly in Ryukyu's ability to create stone arches in a unique manner different from European-style arches.

Ryukyuans have long been a peaceful, friendly people that have shied away from warfare and violence. The Three Kingdoms Period, lasting around a hundred years from 1322-1429 and is often called Ryukyu's warring age, however this may be a misconception. Recent archaeological evidence suggests that the warfare of the age may have been a significant exaggeration as there is little evidence of intense fighting. As with many things in Ryukyu, it is relative. Intense fighting to Ryukyuans might be considered nothing more than modest conflict in other societies, due to Ryukyu's relatively peaceful history.

During this time, three rival kingdoms arose on Okinawa Island, each vying for control over the entire island. All three would send emissaries to China to form diplomatic, cultural, and trade relations, as well as to try gain a blessing for the Chinese emperor as a way of trying to gain a symbolic advantage over the others. After a century of this, one of the three (Chuzan) emerged as victorious in uniting the entire island under the leadership of Sho Hashi, who became the founding father of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Sho Hashi strengthened Ryukyu's relationship with China, as well as with other nations, importing iron tools into Ryukyu for the first time. This transformed Ryukyu's agriculture, allowing them to produce a significantly higher amount of food at less effort, which resulted in a surplus and a subsequent population boom. For the next two hundred years, Ryukyu experienced its First Golden Age, which saw an expansion of indigenous architecture, music, dance, and literature. Ryukyu began a student exchange program with China, opened a permanent embassy and trade center in China, and China did the same in Ryukyu.

Ryukyu was a tributary state of China, however, China's version of tribute was one of reciprocity – China expected other nations to give it tribute, but in return, China also gave tribute (in the form of riches) to other nations. Ryukyu gave China sulfur, horses, limestone, lacquerware, and black sugar, among other things, and in return China gave Ryukyu silk, porcelain, tea, and many other items that Ryukyuans valued highly. The tribute relationship was so lucrative for Ryukyu that they began sending tribute to China more and more regularly. In fact, one of the most popular Ryukyu songs of all time, Tooshindooi, is a celebratory song about this relationship, literally meaning the Chinese ship is coming! To this day this song is played at many Ryukyu events worldwide.

In addition to material trade, Ryukyu also received a wealth of other imports from China. Ryukyu imported concepts of Chinese kung fu, which Ryukyuans adapted into their own unique martial art, becoming known as Ti, in the Okinawan language (simply meaning hand), and is popularly