Japanese Diet participation for Okinawa

This article examines the process by which Okinawa was granted participation in the Japanese Diet, tracing negotiations with the US occupation forces and the political process in Japan. Although denied Diet representation by the US administration out of fear that it would raise new controversial issues concerning the Island, Okinawan leaders continued to demand some kind of participation within the Japanese political process.<br> 　The American position changed during the Ryukyu Islands chief executive elections of 1968, when Diet participation with no voting rights was deemed to favor the election of Nishimei Junji of the conservative Okinawa Liberal Democratic Party. After the Japanese government agreed to the American proposal, the two governments issued a joint announcement at the Japan-U.S. Consultative Committee meeting of 9 October.<br> 　While Japanese opposition parties protested the non-voting right formula and insisted on full Okinawan parliamentary representation, the Cabinet Legislation Bureau was of the opinion that Okinawans could not enjoy full voting rights as long as they remained under U.S. administration. Meanwhile, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) politicians sought to submit legislation enabling Diet participation for Okinawa with cooperation from the opposition, which was not forthcoming, resulting in the abandonment of Okinawan Diet participation by the end of 1969.<br> 　It was only after the Japanese-US agreement over the reversion of Okinawa on 21 November that the Cabinet Legislation Bureau changed its opinion on the status of Okinawa, stating that full voting rights could be granted upon Diet approval. The Americans agreed, opening the way for the government and the LDP leaders to launch a campaign to overcome lingering opposition by some LDP members and submit legislation on full Okinawan parliamentary participation.