The main island of Okinawa accounts for 0.6% of Japan's land mass, though about 75% of United States forces in Japan are stationed in the Okinawa prefecture, encompassing about 18% of the main island of Okinawa. Following the ratification of the revised U.S.-Japan Security Treaty in 1960, massive protests of US military presence in Okinawa followed across Japan with an estimated 30 million Japanese citizens participating, known in Japan as the Anpo protest movement. With such a strong focus of United States Forces Japan in Okinawa, residents face economic problems of the highest unemployment in Japan as well as struggle for investment from outside businesses. Immense public opposition in Okinawa is still met with difficulty to create change for Okinawan citizens, while 25,000 American troops remain in Okinawa.
Background
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. While the Amami Islands were returned to Japanese control and military occupation ended in Japan in 1952, Okinawa remained under American control. Okinawa was returned to Japan in 1972, though U.S. forces retain bases on Okinawa to this day.
There has been continued civil unrest from Okinawans for the removal of the condensed military presence on the island. Accidents and crimes against Okinawans by Americans for years are the main factors for the Okinawan opposition. The U.S. has been continuously unwilling to remove troops from Okinawa because of its strategic location for surveillance and deployment for Pacific-Asian foreign affairs.
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. Following this in 1956, the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands (USCAR) recommended keeping U.S. forces in Okinawa, with no plans to leave in exchange for rental payments, and pursuit of acquiring more land for military use in a price report. 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.
Okinawans argued for land and private property rights, as farmers were limited by military presence. They also made antiwar arguments, arguing that they did not want their island used as an instrument to prepare for war and result in the death of more people. The U.S. argued that the military presence in Okinawa is helpful for economic stimulus to the citizens. During the Vietnam War Okinawans echoed even more antiwar sentiment and protested nuclear weapons being stationed in Okinawa.
In 1965, a six-ton trailer was parachute-dropped outside of the Yomitan Air Base and resulted in the death of a young girl. This incident was followed by a protest of 10,000 Okinawans calling to stop all military activities on the island. In June 2016, estimates of 65,000 Okinawans protested the rape and murder of a 20-year-old woman by a former U.S. Marine. Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga vouched for the removal of U.S. forces as a result of the incident.