History of Okinawa
Okinawa is a specific country, and a short prologue in the form of a story is indispensable. Why do I say "country"? Find out below.
Ryukyu
The vanished kingdom
In the Middle Ages, Okinawa was home to the Ryukyu Kingdom, which was conquered by the Japanese in 1879. It is about the culture of the Ryukyu that has survived to this day that I will talk about today. The Kingdom of Ryukyu was a unique state and existed from 1429 to 1879. It controlled the Okinawan archipelago and several neighboring islands. The population numbered about 250 thousand people.
Okinawians: photos
The Japanese invasion
The Okinawians spoke their own language, Ryukyu. The main occupation of the Okinawians of that time was fishing and trade with neighboring countries - China and Japan. Trade flourished due to the island's favorable location at the intersection of sea trade routes. Unfortunately, the Kingdom of Ryukyu attracted "big neighbors" who tried to conquer Okinawa. The Chinese state partially conquered the kingdom, turning it into its vassal and tributary. The Japanese samurai of the Shimaju family had long encroached on these lands, and therefore also turned Okinawa into a vassal of Japan, conquering it in 1609. However, this did not satisfy the samurai, and in 1809 Japan annexed the territory of Okinawa. The Kingdom of Ryukyu became a Japanese province and then it began to be called Okinawa.
Japanese samurai. Photo.
Okinawa as part of Japan
The defeated Okinawans were subjected to brutal abuse by the Japanese. In the educational institutions of that time, children were not allowed to speak their native language, but only Japanese. A student who spoke at least one word in Okinawan had to be punished by the teachers. After that, a sign was hung around his neck, signifying that he had spoken Okinawan. The sign was not allowed to be removed for several weeks. Many Okinawans were tortured.
Okinawa during the Second World War
In 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa, it was captured by American troops. An American military base was established on the island, which was a key strategic object and controlled all approaches to Japan. After the war, the island was under American rule until 1972. In 1972, America returned occupied Okinawa to Japan, leaving its air bases there.
Most of Okinawa is now controlled by American military bases, and the sound of supersonic fighter jets overhead has become commonplace. However, this causes discomfort to the residents, and in recent years, Okinawians' resistance to the Americans has increased. In response, the number of bases has begun to decline, and the government pays compensation to residents living near military bases.