Japan’s only subtropical province has long been popular with bees in Okinawa, who come to the island for their hot weather, ancient beaches and turquoise seas.
But beyond the picturesque Pacific landscapes and visitors enjoying the water game, the islands are known for the huge American military appearance of the Second World War.
Tokyo looks at over 30 American military facilities that cover about 25% of the Okinavan land to underline national and regional safety security and American Japanese alliance.
For many Okinawans, however, the American appearance feels like a painful heritage of a business that puts the island and its inhabitants in chains.
History of anti-base spirit
A few weeks before my visit to Okinawa, several sexual assault allegations against American military personnel were exposed.
Reports brought painful memories of a 12 -year -old Okinavan girl’s 1995 gang rape by three American soldiers.
At that time more than 80,000 Oknins were taken to the streets to oppose the presence of the US Army.
The arrest of an American national to kill a local woman in 2016 staged a massive protest.
Under acute pressure, Japan agreed with the US to return the land used by Futanma Air Base to Okinawa. While about 4000 members of US Marine Corps have been transferred to Guam, thousands remain more, and the return of the ground is still a pipe dream for Oknins.
When I passed through the site at Henoco Bay, about a dozen protesters stopped the rain to sit against military facilities. One of the protesters, Senega Kazuo stated that they come every week to stop the expansion of American bases “.
“Women were sexually assaulted in Okinawa; Kadena and Fucenema [bases] Made a lot of noise … us [soldiers] Come to Okinawa for America, not for Japan or Okinawa, “he told me.
A public survey of two local universities in 2023 revealed that 70% of Oknins found the concentration of American military bases inappropriate into the province.
Despite public dissatisfaction, the defense cooperation of the US and Japan is as strong as usual. In February, the administration of US President Donald Trump renewed the security treaty with Japan amidst increasing threat from North Korea and increased tension between and Taiwan.
Do America’s hideouts protect Okinawa?
Expecting the same anger from other local people, I moved to Naha, the main city of Okinawa. Those who talked to there were mostly indifferent to the US Army – with some assistants.
A female shopkeeper in a local jewelry stand, who preferred to be anonymous – indicated the sensitivity of the issue among the local people – she told me that she thinks that if a war broke, the wild Americans protect them.
The scene was shared by fashion store worker Ms. Kina, who was her first name with the hero. She told me that she hated the US army, but now she hopes that it can protect the island in possible conflicts.
Despite the cases of sexual assault committed by some American soldiers and the anger incurred by crimes, some Okins still do not want American forces to leave.
“Violence occurs everywhere, but it is not the reason to remove anyone,” Mikawa Suico, the owner of a silver -haired restaurant, told me.
While the US-Japaan Treaty ensures that the US Army will help protect Japan, can local Oknins be a priority for security?
Professor Kozu Aqibayasi of Doshisha University specializing in military and gender told me that there is a false story that the Japanese government has long been fed to Okinavan.
“The US Army is not here to protect Oknins. But [the narrative] It is like a fantasy … It is a very deep root myth, not only with Okinavan, but around the world-this militaryization is the only thing to assure your safety, “he said.
[1945मेंओकिनावाकीलड़ाईमेंअमेरिकीआक्रमणसेठीकपहलेअकीबायशीनेविफलनिकासीयोजनाकाहवालादियाजिसकेपरिणामस्वरूप100000नागरिकमौतेंहुईं।”वे[plans] Did not work and [Okinawans] It was not priority, “he said.
At the end of March, Japan launched a plan on how to vacate some 120,000 people from Okinawa in terms of a war related to China, which includes several controversies in the area, including Taiwan and Senakaku/Diyu Islands, claimed by Tokyo, Beijing and Taipei.
According to Paul O’she, senior lecturer at the East and Southeast Asian Studies Center at Lundan, Sweden, the US base makes Okinawa a goal for China for China.
He said, “Hundreds, perhaps thousands of Chinese missiles who are trained on use on Okinawa. It is a well -understood and compulsory cost of the bases,” he told me.
However, O’HEA reported that the bases have a disgusting effect and “contributes to maintaining peace.”
Economic burden or lifeline?
In addition to security and diplomatic benefits, the Japanese government says that American military bases in Okinawa are justified due to the economic lifeline provided in the region.
Despite his popularity with tourists, Okinawa is the poorest province in Japan. The average income is only 70% of the national average and limited job opportunities, which contributes to a poverty rate of 35%.
The province, which is less than 1% of the total land area of Japan, hosts around 29,000 American troops, more than 70% of the total deployed in the East Asian country.
Japan currently pays $ 1.4 billion (€ 1.24 billion) to the US on an average for the largest foreign deployment of American soldiers, soldiers and bases. Trump is carrying on Tokyo to pay even more.
Despite the thesis issues, the targets in Okinawa have created jobs and economic benefits for the islands: American Village Shopping District produces 33.6 billion yen (about $ 231 million), while according to 2015 government data, more than 3.300 people are working in the area.
Wataru Nishino, who works at a tourist center near the American village, told me that thesis benefits help promote the image of America, especially among the youth who “do not have the discovery of poor impression of the US Army because we have more likely to know the subject.”
“My friend’s father works on the base, while the second is a mixed race [of Japanese and American descent]They create job opportunities for us – if our English is good then we can work on the basis, “Heer said.
But Okinawa’s Mayor Denny Tamki has asked for the rival of the hideouts that they provide jobs that they only contribute about 5% of the income of Okinas, while the ground is occupied, if returned, the gene can be approximately $ 7 billion (€ 6.2 billion).
“Okinawa is the poorest province? Land, labor and resources spent on maintaining base can be used in other productive ways, and over time, Okinawa’s economy may be beyond the bases,” O’She said.
Edited by: Carl Sexton
