Historical background Ryukyu independence movement

the ryukyuan people ethnically, culturally , linguistically indigenous people live on ryukyu islands. before unification in mid-15th century, during sanzan period okinawa divided 3 polities hokuzan, chūzan , nanzan. in 1429, chūzan s chieftain shō hashi unified them , founded autonomous ryukyu kingdom (1429–1879), later unarmed, capital @ shuri castle. kingdom continued have tributary relations ming dynasty , qing dynasty china, custom begun chūzan in 1372–1374 , lasted until downfall of kingdom in late 19th century. tributary relationship of prosperity kingdom, kings received political legitimacy, while whole economical, cultural , political opportunity in southeast asia, without involvement china in ryukyu s internal political autonomy.

in addition korea (1392), thailand (1409) , other southeast asian polities, kingdom maintained trade relations japan (1403), , during period emerged unique political , cultural identity. however, in 1609 feudal domain of satsuma invaded kingdom on behalf of first shogun tokugawa ieyasu , tokugawa shogunate (1603–1867) because ryukyu king shō nei rejected submit shogunate. kingdom forced send tribute satsuma, intermediary monopolized trade shogunate, allowed retain , continue independence and, exclusive, relations , trade china because japan prohibited trade china. resulted kingdom s dual vassalage status until mid-19th century.

during meiji period (1868–1912), meiji government of empire of japan (1868–1947) began process later called ryukyu shobun ( ryukyu disposition ) - formally annex kingdom modern japan. firstly established ryukyu domain (1872–1879), in 1879 kingdom-domain abolished, established okinawa prefecture, while last ryukyu king shō tai forcibly exiled tokyo. in 1875, kingdom forced terminate tribute relations china against own wish status of dual subordination, while u.s. 18th president ulysses s. grant proposed sovereign okinawa , division of other islands between china , japan. actually, japan offered china miyako , yaeyama islands in exchange trading rights china equal granted western states - japan de facto abandoned , divided island chain monetary profit. treaty rejected chinese court @ last minute decided not ratify agreement. ryukyu s aristocratic class resisted annexation 2 decades, after first sino-japanese war (1894–1895), china , ryukyus sovereignty interests faded china renounced claims in same year. in meiji period government continuously , formally suppressed ryukyuan people ethnic identity, culture, tradition , language, assimilating them ethnic japanese (yamato).

since formation of prefecture, relationship japanese nation-state contested , changed. there have been significant movements okinawan independence following annexation, in period prior , during world war ii. during ww ii battle of okinawa (1945), have been or @ least maximum casualties avoided without involvement of emperor hirohito, died approximately 150,000 civilian people, 1/3 of population. many civilians dead due mass suicide forced japanese military, many women raped both japanese , united states military soldiers. after world war ii, ryukyu islands occupied united states military government of ryukyu islands (1945–1950), u.s. maintained control after 1951 treaty of san francisco, went effect on april 28, 1952, replaced uscar (1950–1972) government. during period u.s. military forcibly requisitioned private land building of many military facilities, private owners put refugee camps, , personnel statistically committed thousands of crimes against civilians.

only twenty years later, on 15 may 1972, okinawa , near islands returned japan. japanese had post-war political freedom , economical prosperity, facilities had negative economical impact , people felt cheated, used purpose of japanese , regional security against communist threat. however, although okinawa returned japan, both japan , united states, against , protests local ryukyuan population, continued make agreements keep , expansion of u.s. military bases, , today although okinawa comprises 0.6% of japan s total land mass, 75% of u.s. military installations stationed in japan assigned bases in okinawa.

japanese colonialism

many scholars in post-war period, , recently, began consider annexation of ryukyu islands colonial forerunner of colonization led japanese colonial empire. taira katsuyasu consider establishment of okinawa prefecture colonialism outright. nomura koya in research aruged in mainland developed unconsciousness colonialism in japanese people not aware how continue colonize okinawa, seen in mainland s inclination leave vast majority of u.s. military presence , burden okinawa. in 2007, described them democratic colonizers . eiji oguma noted typical practice of othering used in colonial domination produced backward okinawa , okinawans . tomiyama ichiro suggest ryukyuans being member of modern japan nation-state nothing other start of being on receiving end of colonial domination .

in 1957, kiyoshi inoue started debate when emphasized ryukyu shobun annexation of independent country people opposed, aggressive , not natural ethnic unification . gregory smits noted many other works in japanese come close characterizing ryukyu/okinawa japan s first colony, never explicitly . alan christy emphasized okinawa must included in studies of japanese colonialism, continuously excluded japanese state history colony several reasons , arguments mainland japanese scholars attacked inoue:

that after invasion in 1609 ryukyu kingdom became part of tokugawa shogunate s bakuhan system, autonomy temporary aberration, , when established okinawa prefecture in 1879 islands part of japanese political influence , administrative extension i.e. traced annexation 1609 , not 1879.
the establishment of okinawa prefecture part of japanese nation-state integration, reassertion of authority , sovereignty on own territory, , japan s colonial empire, dated 1895, happened after state integration , can not considered colonial imposition.
with creation of unified racial society (nihonjinron) of yamato people created idea ryukyuan racial incorporation natural , inevitable. scholars jun yonaha begun see idea of unification functions mean of legitimizing ryukyu shobun.

the reluctance label okinawa colony maintained pre-war okinawans did not want consider experience colonial. consideration originates in prewar period when meiji suppression of identity, culture , language resulted anxious self-criticism , inferiority complex , other people s prejudice them being backward, primitive, ethnically , racially inferior, , not being japanese enough.

they did not want identified japanese colonies, when protested being included along 6 other less developed colonial people in hall of peoples in 1903 osaka expo. okinawan historian higashionna kanjun in 1909 warned them if forget historical , cultural heritage native place no different country built on desert or new colony . shimabukuro genichiro in 1930s described okinawa s pre-war position colonial-esque , , in movement begun in 1920s supported alteration of personal name readings spare them ethnic discrimination. anxiety issue of okinawa being part of japan limits attempts of discussion discredited , attacked mainland , okinawan community itself, failure of being national subjects.

eugen weber s theoretization colonies, according tze may loo, suggests whether or not consider okinawa colony false choice ignores complexity of okinawa s incorporation in used colonial practices establish japanese nation-state. causes okinawa both colony , not, part of japan , not, in basis of okinawa s subordination still persists. nevertheless, of incorporation prefecture , not colony, there used colonial processes of un-forming , re-forming of ryukyuan communities, , okinawan s proximity japanese colonialism not unjustified due persistent mainland discrimination , exploitation reminded them of unequal status within japanese nation-state. had no choice consider inclusion natural in hope of better legitimacy , treatment. in turn aggravated resist mainland demands , exploitation, seen in sacrifice of okinawa in battle of okinawa invasion of mainland, , later prefecture s exploitation mainland s economical, ideological , political gain. according loo, okinawa in vicious circle japan not admit discrimination against okinawa, while okinawans forced accept unfair conditions membership in japan, being internal colony without end.

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