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He was soon replaced by [[Nabeshima Naoyoshi]], appointed the first official governor of the prefecture. The second governor, [[Uesugi Mochinori]], was quite harsh on the traditional aristocracy, accusing them of having oppressed and impoverished the Ryukyuan people, and attempting to remove them from power and from elite status. Much of these initiatives were reversed by his successor, the third governor, [[Iwamura Michitoshi]], however, who implemented a series of policies known as ''[[kyukan onzon|kyûkan onzon]]'' ("preserving old customs"). Under these policies, much of the kingdom's legal and administrative structures were left in place for a time, including incorporating many of the kingdom's scholar-bureaucrats into positions of governmental administration. While many former scholar-bureaucrats accepted positions in the new government, many others, such as [[Ota Chofu|Ôta Chôfu]], protested by refusing to work, and refusing to aid the new officials in taking over the administration.<ref>Kerr, 402.</ref> This policy of maintaining old administrative structures was pursued, at least in part, as the result of concerns (perhaps quite valid concerns) by the [[Meiji government]] that abruptly dismantling these political and economic systems all at once could spark widespread popular resistance. Thus, all the way until [[1903]], the kingdom's systems of land divisions (''[[magiri]]''), taxation, and so forth, were left intact to a certain extent. While low-ranking Ryukyuan aristocrats lost their special status entirely, and no Ryukyuans outside of the royal family were incorporated into the ''kazoku'' or ''[[shizoku]]'' systems of gentry, middle- to high-ranking Ryukyuan aristocrats were at least permitted to retain their government stipends until [[1909]]; these were, however, paid out of the prefecture's budget, and not out of any separate additional funds granted to Okinawa by Tokyo. While [[Hokkaido|Hokkaidô]], also annexed by Imperial Japan in the 1870s, received considerable investment for development, Okinawa received very little from the government. All in all, throughout the Meiji period, Okinawa paid higher taxes per capita, and received less national expenditures per capita, than any other prefecture.<ref>[[Gregory Smits]], "Jahana Noboru: Okinawan Activist and Scholar," in [[Anne Walthall]] (ed.), ''The Human Tradition in Modern Japan'', Scholarly Resources Inc. (2002), 102.</ref>  

He was soon replaced by [[Nabeshima Naoyoshi]], appointed the first official governor of the prefecture. The second governor, [[Uesugi Mochinori]], was quite harsh on the traditional aristocracy, accusing them of having oppressed and impoverished the Ryukyuan people, and attempting to remove them from power and from elite status. Much of these initiatives were reversed by his successor, the third governor, [[Iwamura Michitoshi]], however, who implemented a series of policies known as ''[[kyukan onzon|kyûkan onzon]]'' ("preserving old customs"). Under these policies, much of the kingdom's legal and administrative structures were left in place for a time, including incorporating many of the kingdom's scholar-bureaucrats into positions of governmental administration. While many former scholar-bureaucrats accepted positions in the new government, many others, such as [[Ota Chofu|Ôta Chôfu]], protested by refusing to work, and refusing to aid the new officials in taking over the administration.<ref>Kerr, 402.</ref> This policy of maintaining old administrative structures was pursued, at least in part, as the result of concerns (perhaps quite valid concerns) by the [[Meiji government]] that abruptly dismantling these political and economic systems all at once could spark widespread popular resistance. Thus, all the way until [[1903]], the kingdom's systems of land divisions (''[[magiri]]''), taxation, and so forth, were left intact to a certain extent. While low-ranking Ryukyuan aristocrats lost their special status entirely, and no Ryukyuans outside of the royal family were incorporated into the ''kazoku'' or ''[[shizoku]]'' systems of gentry, middle- to high-ranking Ryukyuan aristocrats were at least permitted to retain their government stipends until [[1909]]; these were, however, paid out of the prefecture's budget, and not out of any separate additional funds granted to Okinawa by Tokyo. While [[Hokkaido|Hokkaidô]], also annexed by Imperial Japan in the 1870s, received considerable investment for development, Okinawa received very little from the government. All in all, throughout the Meiji period, Okinawa paid higher taxes per capita, and received less national expenditures per capita, than any other prefecture.<ref>[[Gregory Smits]], "Jahana Noboru: Okinawan Activist and Scholar," in [[Anne Walthall]] (ed.), ''The Human Tradition in Modern Japan'', Scholarly Resources Inc. (2002), 102.</ref>  

Land divisions and the associated tax structure were reorganized in a major undertaking in [[1899]] to 1903 known as the [[Okinawa Prefecture Land Reorganization Project]], bringing practices in Okinawa into line with systems used throughout the rest of the country. This included eliminating the payment of taxes in kind (i.e. in grain or other products), and replacing it with payment in cash.<ref>Plaques on-site at [[Gokoku Shrine]].</ref>

Land divisions and the associated tax structure were reorganized in a major undertaking in [[1899]] to 1903 known as the [[Okinawa Prefecture Land Reorganization Project]], bringing practices in Okinawa into line with systems used throughout the rest of the country. This included converting much communal land into private property, and eliminating the payment of taxes in kind (i.e. in grain or other products), and replacing it with payment in cash.<ref>Plaques on-site at [[Gokoku Shrine]].</ref>

Meanwhile, traditional systems of education were also left in place for a while, alongside national public education. However, before the end of the 19th century, assimilation efforts were stepped up. By the turn of the 20th century, nationwide efforts to provide uniform education and create a uniform culture and language were implemented in Okinawa as they were throughout the nation, inspiring the formation in [[1896]] by former royal [[prince Sho En|prince Shô En]] and a number of noble supporters of the [[Kodokai|Kôdôkai]] ("Society for Public Unity"), which worked to strongly oppose assimilation, and to petition for the restoration of rule by Okinawans.<ref>[[George Kerr]], ''Okinawa: the History of an Island People'' (revised ed.), Boston: Tuttle Publishing (2000), 425.; Smits, ''Visions of Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (1999), 148-149.</ref>

Meanwhile, traditional systems of education were also left in place for a while, alongside national public education. However, under the eighth governor of the prefecture, [[Narahara Shigeru]], just before the end of the 19th century, assimilation efforts were stepped up. Narahara is said to have had very little respect for Okinawan customs or heritage, and very little interest in doing anything to defend or ensure continuation of their traditions; he supported not only the ramping up of assimilation efforts, but also pushed for development and modernization. Though supported by [[Prime Minister]]s such as [[Ito Hirobumi|Itô Hirobumi]] and [[Matsukata Masayoshi]], Narahara's administration inspired particularly strong criticism and opposition within Okinawa, including from [[Jahana Noboru]], the [[Freedom and People's Rights Movement]], and the [[Kodokai|Kôdôkai]] anti-assimilation movement, which pushed once again for the restoration of Ryukyuan royal leadership. The formation of the field of Okinawan Studies, pioneered by [[Iha Fuyu|Iha Fuyû]] at this time, was also inspired by Narahara's programs to eliminate [[Okinawan language]], culture, and identity.<ref>"[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%A5%88%E8%89%AF%E5%8E%9F%E7%B9%81 Narahara Shigeru]." ''Asahi Nihon rekishi jinbutsu jiten'' 朝日日本歴史人物事典. Accessed via Kotobank.jp, 27 May 2010.</ref>

 

By the turn of the 20th century, nationwide efforts to provide uniform education and create a uniform culture and language were implemented in Okinawa as they were throughout the nation, inspiring the formation in [[1896]] by former royal [[prince Sho En|prince Shô En]] and a number of noble supporters of the [[Kodokai|Kôdôkai]] ("Society for Public Unity"), which worked to strongly oppose assimilation, and to petition for the restoration of rule by Okinawans.<ref>[[George Kerr]], ''Okinawa: the History of an Island People'' (revised ed.), Boston: Tuttle Publishing (2000), 425.; Smits, ''Visions of Ryukyu'', University of Hawaii Press (1999), 148-149.</ref>

Okinawa saw modernization of its infrastructure and public institutions in the Meiji period as well, though more slowly and to a smaller extent than in much of the rest of the Empire. The first modern theater in the islands, the [[Nakamo Engeijo|Nakamô Engeijô]], opened in [[1891]]. The first public library in Okinawa was opened in [[1906]] in Nago, the [[Okinawa Prefectural Library]] was established in [[1910]] with [[Iha Fuyu|Iha Fuyû]] as its first director, and the first [[Okinawa Electric Railway|electric railway]] was opened in [[1911]].

Okinawa saw modernization of its infrastructure and public institutions in the Meiji period as well, though more slowly and to a smaller extent than in much of the rest of the Empire. The first modern theater in the islands, the [[Nakamo Engeijo|Nakamô Engeijô]], opened in [[1891]]. The first public library in Okinawa was opened in [[1906]] in Nago, the [[Okinawa Prefectural Library]] was established in [[1910]] with [[Iha Fuyu|Iha Fuyû]] as its first director, and the first [[Okinawa Electric Railway|electric railway]] was opened in [[1911]].

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#[[Narahara Shigeru]] ([[1892]]/7-)

#[[Narahara Shigeru]] ([[1892]]/7-[[1908]])

#[[Hibi Kimei]] (1908-)

==References==

==References==