Changes

As early as 1951, as the Treaty of San Francisco was being negotiated, Okinawan groups pushed for a variety of different ends. Several major political parties pushed for immediate reversion to Japanese sovereignty, something supported by nearly 200,000 signatures on an appeal, accounting for over 70% of the eligible voters in Okinawa. Meanwhile, the Socialist Party in Okinawa pushed for Okinawa to become a trustee under the United States, while the Republican Party in Okinawa angled for full independence.<ref name=siddle135/>

As early as 1951, as the Treaty of San Francisco was being negotiated, Okinawan groups pushed for a variety of different ends. Several major political parties pushed for immediate reversion to Japanese sovereignty, something supported by nearly 200,000 signatures on an appeal, accounting for over 70% of the eligible voters in Okinawa. Meanwhile, the Socialist Party in Okinawa pushed for Okinawa to become a trustee under the United States, while the Republican Party in Okinawa angled for full independence.<ref name=siddle135/>

In 1952, mainland Japan was restored to Japanese sovereignty. The Allied military Occupation, and martial law, continued for another twenty years in Okinawa, under USCAR - the United States Civil Administration of Ryukyu. At that time, the occupation of Ryukyu had no set end-date, and the 1950s-1960s saw considerable protest and agitation. The US military removed people from their land by force in order to build or expand military bases, in a move known as "bayonets and bulldozers," and offered monetary compensation as a means of resolving all land problems. This only spurred further protest, however. Some 200,000 people participated in rallies against the base construction in 1956, and demonstrations calling for reversion, the end of US "colonial" rule, and the removal of all nuclear weapons from Okinawa, continued through the next decade. Due to the strategic value of Okinawa as the US continued to fight the Vietnam War, the US delayed and sought ways of retaining control of the islands. In the end, however, finally in 1969 President Nixon and Prime Minister Satô Eisaku came to an agreement about reversion.

In 1952, mainland Japan was restored to Japanese sovereignty. However, under Article 3 of Chapter 2 (Territory) of the Treaty of San Francisco, Japan was obliged to agree to any proposal the US made to place any portion of the Ryûkyû Islands and/or the [[Ogasawara Islands]] under trusteeship; further, until such a proposal was made, the United States was to continue to "exercise all and any powers of administration, legislation, and jurisdiction over the territory and inhabitants of these islands, including their territorial waters."<ref>"[https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Treaty_of_San_Francisco#Article_3 Treaty of San Francisco]," Wikisource.</ref> Thus, the Allied military Occupation, and martial law, continued for another twenty years in Okinawa, under USCAR - the United States Civil Administration of Ryukyu. At that time, the occupation of Ryukyu had no set end-date, and the 1950s-1960s saw considerable protest and agitation. The US military removed people from their land by force in order to build or expand military bases, in a move known as "bayonets and bulldozers," and offered monetary compensation as a means of resolving all land problems. This only spurred further protest, however. Some 200,000 people participated in rallies against the base construction in 1956, and demonstrations calling for reversion, the end of US "colonial" rule, and the removal of all nuclear weapons from Okinawa, continued through the next decade. Due to the strategic value of Okinawa as the US continued to fight the Vietnam War, the US delayed and sought ways of retaining control of the islands. In the end, however, finally in 1969 President Nixon and Prime Minister Satô Eisaku came to an agreement about reversion.

The Koza Riots which broke out in the city of Koza (today, Okinawa City) in 1970 were the most violent of the Okinawan protests during the Occupation. A public referendum was held among residents of Okinawa, asking whether they would prefer independence or to return to Japanese sovereignty, and overwhelmingly they chose the latter. Many Okinawans at that time railed against "rule by a foreign people" (''iminzoku shihai''), referring to the Americans, but are said to have done so while identifying themselves as ''Japanese'', and not as a separate Okinawan or Ryukyuan identity. Okinawan protesters employed [[Japanese flag]]s as a symbol of their Japanese (and non-American, or anti-American) identity so frequently and prominently that the US Occupation authorities attempted to ban it; the Okinawans flew the flag anyway. Many in mainland Japan supported their push for reversion to Japanese sovereignty as well. Reversion finally took place on May 15, 1972.<ref name=siddle136>Siddle, 136.</ref>

The Koza Riots which broke out in the city of Koza (today, Okinawa City) in 1970 were the most violent of the Okinawan protests during the Occupation. A public referendum was held among residents of Okinawa, asking whether they would prefer independence or to return to Japanese sovereignty, and overwhelmingly they chose the latter. Many Okinawans at that time railed against "rule by a foreign people" (''iminzoku shihai''), referring to the Americans, but are said to have done so while identifying themselves as ''Japanese'', and not as a separate Okinawan or Ryukyuan identity. Okinawan protesters employed [[Japanese flag]]s as a symbol of their Japanese (and non-American, or anti-American) identity so frequently and prominently that the US Occupation authorities attempted to ban it; the Okinawans flew the flag anyway. Many in mainland Japan supported their push for reversion to Japanese sovereignty as well. Reversion finally took place on May 15, 1972.<ref name=siddle136>Siddle, 136.</ref>