Special Report LAST UPDATE August 17, 2010
site design imagesparkle.com
June 24, 2010 Okinawa – Living Under the Shadow of the US Military
image

A play was held to signify how disastrous the Battle of Okinawa was for local communities. Many people were killed and infrastructure throughout the region was almost completely destroyed.
Imagine if a quarter of your community died during one battle. That is what happened to the people of Okinawa during just 82 days of fighting towards the end of World War II. Peace Boat held a memorial day on June 22 to mark 65 years since the end of the fighting between forces of the United States and the Japanese military, which killed about 100,000 civilians throughout the group of tiny Pacific islands. The conflict was one of the bloodiest engagements of WWII, with Japanese troops fighting vigorously to defend against the advancing US military. More than 250,000 people are thought to have died during the battle, including many civilians who were deliberately attacked by both sides.
site design imagesparkle.com
image

Okinawans are famous for living to one of the oldest ages in the world. Their longevity is greater than others living in Japan, which is the country with highest number of centenarians per capita in the world.
There are many Okinawans travelling on the 69th Voyage and the memorial day was an opportunity for them to share their culture with Japanese from the mainland. One couple played the Sanshin, a three-stringed Okinawan instrument, and sang wartime songs about the struggle of the Okinawan people against their oppressors. The region, then known as the Ryukyu Kingdom, first came under partial control of mainland Japan in 1609 and completely lost its independence after Japanese invasions following the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Okinawans then suffered discrimination for decades and were given less rights than other Japanese. Many were hastily forced into the army during WWII when it became apparent that the US would invade the island chain.
image
Banners and posters were made to highlight the dominance of the US military in Okinawa.
Today Okinawa hosts many US military bases which are part of the United States Forces Japan (USFJ). These bases were first set up during WWII as part of the US campaign to attack Japan's mainland and were later used as an outpost for US involvement in other conflicts throughout the region, such as the wars in Korea and Viet Nam. The largest US air base in Asia is located at Kadena and about 30,000 American troops remain garrisoned in Okinawa. While the military might have some economic value to pockets of the Okinawan community, the bases are extremely close to civilian populations and pose many problems. This includes noise pollution from military aircraft, the risk of accidents such as the crashing of planes into crowded areas, and the wrecking of local ecosystems through the testing of munitions.
image

Peace Boat staff member Rosalva Welsch held a lecture to discuss how the bases were affecting Okinawans. She said the military bases have been forced against communities against their will.
Okinawa was under the administration of the US from 1945 for 27 years and is still being used as a central outpost for the US in Asia. The islands were returned to Japanese administration in 1972 but a staggering 75 per cent of all USFJ forces remain in Okinawa. The result of this is that 18 per cent of the main island of Okinawa is controlled by the US military. There is much controversy around the US bases, and the presence of such a large number of servicemen in the region has caused many social issues. One example of this is repetitive high-profile incidents where members of the military have been accused of raping young Okinawan women.
image

Special dances were held by groups of young people on Peace Boat, calling for peace and the closure of the military bases scattered throughout Okinawa.
The bases have caused so much debate that the governments of the United States and Japan are trying to relieve tensions between the Okinawans and military by moving the Futenma base which is located next to the large city of Ginowan. While the proposed site is in a more remote area, it will place extreme stress on natural habitats and has sparked massive protests from environmental groups and residents. Peace Boat staff member Rosalva Welsch, from the United States, said that she was shocked to learn that so many of the bases exist on an area that makes up less than one per cent of Japan's territory. "These bases operate in a way that would never be allowed in the US," she said. Peace Boat is concerned that the new base will have a shocking impact on an entire bay which is known for its biodiversity, in particular its array of fish life and pristine coral system.
image
Hundreds of people joined in the day's events. For many it was the first time that they spoke with Okinawans about problems caused by the military bases.
The memorial day was a significant opportunity for Peace Boat participants to learn about how conflicts which ended 65 years ago still have a strong impact on communities today. Ms Welsch believes the creation of a new base would dramatically increase tensions between Okinawans and military units in the region. "Every member of the government in Okinawa, as well as the mayor [of the relocation site] and most of the population are against the proposed base." Peace Boat is calling for the the Japanese government to abandon all plans to create new bases. Instead there should be a solution to the problem posed by the military presence in Okinawa which shows greater respect for the local community. "We think that there are much better mechanisms for establishing security and peace for East Asia, such as creating a nuclear free zone or completely fulfilling the spirit of Japan's peaceful constitution," Ms Welsch said.