How People in Okinawa Evaluate the Reversion to Japan and Perceive Current Okinawa

NAKAGAWA Kazuaki, NAKAYAMA Junnosuke

doi:10.24634/bunken.72.8_36

On the occasion of the 50s anniversary of Okinawa’s reversion to Japan, the NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute conducted a public opinion survey in Okinawa as well as nationwide to study how people perceive the U.S. military bases, the Japan-U.S. security arrangements, Okinawa’s economy, and other issues. This paper reports the findings from the survey by topic including the evaluation of the reversion and the relationship between Okinawa and U.S. military bases. [Evaluation of Okinawa’s reversion to Japan] - Over 80% are “positive” about the reversion in Okinawa and over 90% nationwide. - While approximately 80% of the respondents in Okinawa think the national government’s promotion policies of Okinawa were “helpful,” more than 60% find the government policies in general “do not reflect” Okinawa’s preferences. [Okinawa and U.S. military bases] - More than 60% feel “positive” about the presence of U.S. military bases that have been kept even after the reversion: “inevitable” (51%) and “necessary” (11%), but more than 80% take it “unreasonable” about the fact that approximately 70% of the U.S. military facilities are concentrated in Okinawa. [U.S. military bases and Okinawa’s economy] - Those thinking Okinawa’s economy would function without U.S. bases account for more than 50% of the respondents in Okinawa, with more than 70% answering that the U.S. bases are “not helping” their lives or jobs. [Passing down the memories of the Battle of Okinawa] - Regarding the Battle of Okinawa, those who “want to know” about the Battle of Okinawa account for about 90% in Okinawa and about 80% nationwide. Those feeling the memories “has not been passed down” account for over 50% in Okinawa and over 70% nationwide. [The current status and the future of Okinawa] - In terms of the current status of Okinawa, those “satisfied” (51％) and those “unsatisfied” (48%) are almost tied at around 50%. - Among the future challenges for Okinawa (multiple answers allowed), “eliminating poverty and disparities” was cited by nearly 80% of the responses.

How People in Okinawa Evaluate the Reversion to Japan and Perceive Current Okinawa

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