politics

Okinawa marks 50 years of end to U.S. rule amid protests

28 Comments
By MARI YAMAGUCHI

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But the tiny islands group

Okinawa has 160 islands and i wouldn't call that a tiny group.

Whatever happens with the main island of Okinawa affects all the Okinawa islands groups.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Ceremonies marking the anniversary were held simultaneously in two locations - one in the Okinawan city of Giowan, home to a disputed U.S. air station, and the other in Tokyo. 

Only by chance, as the Okinawa Convention Center is there, and for no other reason!

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

Today, Okinawa's average household income is the lowest and its unemployment is the highest of Japan's 47 prefectures.

Where is the writer getting their information from? This statement is misleading at best!

Source: 2020 Basic Survey on Wage Structure,

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/itiran/roudou/chingin/kouzou/z2020/dl/10.pdf

If land taken by the U.S. military is returned to the prefecture for other use, it would produce three times more income for Okinawa than the island now makes from bases, Tamaki said recently.

Like any Japanese politician, they say one thing, only to get attention, then apologize afterwards when it's found out to be false!

Denny is basing his estimates on perfect alignment of circumstances, but as everyone knows, that rarely if ever happens, particularly here!

-3 ( +8 / -11 )

Okinawan authorities regularly face denials by the U.S side in criminal and environmental investigations.

Criminal and environmental investigations are carried out by the Japanese government agencies. THe "denials" in criminal investigations are due to the SOFA, AND that the US doesnt hand over alleged suspects until they are officially charged! That is also a part of the SOFA.

Everyone knows how Japanese cops get their confessions, and the SOFA gives the US military protections against it!

And it's not so "regularly" either!

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

If land taken by the U.S. military is returned to the prefecture for other use, it would produce three times more income for Okinawa than the island now makes from bases, Tamaki said recently.

He's right. The US military far from contributing to the economy, which it was in 1950, is holding it down. Kadena is a total waste of space. They could accomplish the same thing in one tenth of the space they occupy. Okinawa is not a dumping ground.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

With all due respect, China has claimed Okinawa more than once.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/15/china-okinawa-dispute-japan-ryukyu

5 ( +6 / -1 )

They could accomplish the same thing in one tenth of the space they occupy. Okinawa is not a dumping ground.

Only said by someone who knows absolutely nothing about they are talking about. Just posting nonsense.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Some people live in a fantasy world.

Here is the reality, the instant there are more USA military on the Okinawa islands, that is when China will move to occupy it.

The USA agreement to "defend" Japan is one thing going to war with China is another things.

China will never even try taking the islands if USA troops are there because that guarantees war with the USA.

But no USA troops no fighting with USA troops, then it becomes the USA firing first on Chinese troops trying to take back the islands.

So do we really think the USA would be willing to attack and retake Okinawa?

Or would it be more likely " let's try and resolve this peacefully" or like we are seeing with Ukraine " sanctions against China".

As long as USA troops are present China will not risk all out war with the USA, it is willing to fight Japanese troops only!

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

I believe genuinely that the Government of China would celebrate the removal of US military support in Japan.

The Government of China behaviour in Hong Kong its smothering of any form of democracy is proof enough, before the genocide of its own people.

How long before the Senkaku Islands, its waters came unter threat?

Before the Russians in the north!

Think carefully!

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Too many people died to take those islands in WW2, so the US should stay.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

They will be glad the marines are there when the Chinese show up.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

It’s true that the base is not needed on Okinawa. The only reason it’s there is to avoid the inevitable winter on the mainland. Absolutely no difference against China or anyone else if they move it all to Kyushu.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

How much is the going rate now for one hour of "Protesting".

A neighbor of mine READ me an AD once.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

China is not as vulnerable to sanctions as Russia is so they are taking notes.

Au contraire, China is probably more vulnerable to the kinds of sanctions imposed on Russia than Russia is. China is a large net energy importer, and has to import all its raw materials. China's industries rely heavily on the ability to export. Take away their markets, banish them from SWIFT and from the Dollar economy, restrict their resource inputs (no more Australian iron ore for example) and the Chinese economy collapses.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Kadena is a total waste of space. They could accomplish the same thing in one tenth of the space they occupy.

You have zero knowledge of aviation to know what it takes to operate and airfield safely. You could not have even one of Kadena's runways with adequate safety areas on 10% of the current airfield. At best you would have a short runway unable to handle heavy transport aircraft, no ramp or hanger space, no ammunition storage and no base facilities whatever. Sort of a glorified municipal airport unusable by the military. But people here persist with making these thoughtless comments absent any knowledge of the subject.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Terrible headline. The US does not "rule" Okinawa. US bases are still there, but they do not make the decisions for the islands government with exception to the presence of the base.

It China under the CCP for some reason did occupy Okinawa... then Okinawans would understand what being RULED is like.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

HonestDictatorToday  04:03 am JST

Terrible headline. The US does not "rule" Okinawa. US bases are still there, but they do not make the decisions for the islands government with exception to the presence of the base

The headline is fine. It’s about the end of US rule 50 years ago.

DPOTI.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

HonestDictatorToday  04:03 am JST

Terrible headline. The US does not "rule" Okinawa. US bases are still there, but they do not make the decisions for the islands government with exception to the presence of the base.

If I recall, if an American Marine commits a crime on Okinawa, he/she is subject to Japanese law, amiright? US military law for sure but as a foreigner in a Japanese prefect, you're subject to their laws.

I knew one Gyrene who was stationed there who bragged about attending cockfights there. I can't believe or imagine cockfighting being legal in Japan. If he were caught (he wasn't), his ass would've been grass. By the Japanese and US authorities.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

In 1965, the ratio of Okinawa's burden of hosting U.S. bases vis-a-vis mainland Japan was 60%; today, it's increased to 73%. Why this increase? It's because many U.S. bases in mainland Japan had to be closed due to vehement protests by local residents against them. But where did these closed bases go? To California, Guam or Hawaii? No, they were transferred to Okinawa.

The return of Okinawa to Japan had been a long-time wish of Okinawans. They suffered too much under the harsh, colonial rule by the U.S. military. Okinawans naively thought that if Okinawa was returned to Japan all their suffering would go away in no time and that they could live peaceful and dignified life under Japan's pacifist constitution.  Of course, that was an illusion.

Even after the reversion the bases remained as rock-solid as ever before; in some cases, functions were more strengthened and streamlined. The pollution of various kinds kept endangering people's life the same as ever before.

Chobyo Yara, the last Chief Executive of the Ryukyu Islands and the long-time voice of the reversion since before he became Chief Executive, went to Tokyo to appeal to the general assembly of the Diet that the reversion must be without U.S. bases, but the general assembly led by LDP steamrolled a resolution in line with the U.S. government's wish before he arrived at the Diet building..

At the ceremony Gov. Denny Tamaki read an appeal, which was the replication of Yara's of 50 years ago. That means Okinawa's base issue hasn't changed at all for the past 50 years.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Because of the US. bases, Okinawa faces burdens including noise, pollution, accidents and crime related to American troops, Okinawan officials and residents say.

There would still be noise, pollution, accidents and crime related to locals.

In fact, the crime rate related to American troops is lower than the crime rate committed by local Okinawans.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

No, it’s is in addition to.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

painkiller : Today  07:32 am JST,

In fact, the crime rate related to American troops is lower than the crime rate committed by local Okinawans.

Can you boast by saying that the crime rate related to law enforcement officers in the U.S. is lower than society at large? LOL. 

American troops are here supposedly to protect locals and their neighborhoods; they are here as sorts of diplomats and law enforcement officers mandated by the U.S. government

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A deja vu image, this photo.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Jexan

Asia nations at risk (mainly Taiwan)

Taiwan isnt officially recognized as its own nation.

There's 193 countries/ Nations in the UN and Taiwan isn't one of them.

Taiwan is a self governing province of China .

Of the 195 Nations in the world only 2 aren't members of the UN - thats Palestine and The Holy See /Vatican

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@ voiceofokinawa

Cant compare crime rates in Japan/ Okinawa to crime rates in the USA .

That's ridiculous comparison.

Apples and oranges !

1 ( +1 / -0 )

#FYI, the crime index or crime rates of the United States and Japan for 2022 are 48.16% and 22.12% (Tokyo: 23.59%; Okinawa: 21.39%)respectively, according to NUMBEO (https://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_by_country.jsp?title=2022&region=021).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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