Government of the Ryūkyū Islands

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This article is about the U.S. Occupation government in Okinawa; for the earlier, native royal government, see Ryūkyū Kingdom.

The Government of the Ryūkyū Islands(ja琉球政府) or U.S. Military government of the Ryūkyū Islands(ja 琉球軍政府) was the government in Okinawa, Japan after the World War II until 1972.

1 Outline
2 Peace Treaty specifications
3 Government system
4 See also

[edit] Outline

After the Battle of Okinawa in World War II, the forces of United States occupied Okinawa and set up a local government. In 1952, Japan signed the Treaty of San Francisco and admitted the control of Okinawa by the U.S. government.

The United States Civil Administration of the Ryūkyū Islands (USCAR), which was a lower organization of the forces of United States, surveiled the Ryūkyūan Government and could abolish all the decisions made by the Ryūkyūan Government. Technically speaking, USCAR was a civil affairs administration of the United States Military Government (USMG).

[edit] Peace Treaty specifications

Two important articles of the post-war peace treaty of April 28, 1952 are the following.

Article 3: Japan will concur in any proposal of the United States to the United Nations to place under its trusteeship system, with the United States as the sole administering authority, Nansei Shoto south of 29 degrees north latitude (including the Ryūkyū Islands and the Daito Islands), Nanpo Shoto south of Sofu Gan (including the Bonin Islands, Rosario Island and the Volcano Islands) and Parece Vela and Marcus Island. Pending the making of such a proposal and affirmative action thereon, the United States will have the right to exercise all and any powers of administration, legislation and jurisdiction over the territory and inhabitants of these islands, including their territorial waters.

Article 4b: Japan recognizes the validity of dispositions of property of Japan and Japanese nationals made by or pursuant to directives of the United States Military Government in any of the areas referred to in Articles 2 and 3.

After a referendum, on May 14, 1972, control of Okinawa was given back back to Japan, and USCAR was abolished. This completed the disposition of this Japanese property by USMG.

[edit] Government system

The government consisted of the legislature, the administrative body, and the courts. The members of legislature were elected. The legislature often had conflicts with USCAR. The head of the administrative body was assigned by USCAR (1952-60), assigned the leader of the dominant party of the legislature (1960-66), elected in the legislature (1966-68), and elected by the citizens (1968-72). The legislature made own laws.

The official currency was United States dollar. The government printed Ryūkyūan postage stamps and passports. Cars drove on the right in contrast to the main islands of Japan. The island switched to driving on the left in 1978 to bring it in line with the rest of Japan.