Free Okinawa!

What if, instead of being returned to Japan in the 70s, Okinawa instead went independant? How could such a situation arise?
There certainly is a heavy degree of national identity in Okinawa- they were only annexed into Japan in the late 19th century and even today they kind of have their own language (though sadly Japanese has kicked its arse over the last century and a bit)
IOTL nonetheless the majority in Okinawa firmly wanted to rejoin Japan. Is it at all possible to somehow sour them on the mainlanders enough that they want independance without messing with pre-war history?


(ps- the topic name is intentionally silly)
 
What if, instead of being returned to Japan in the 70s, Okinawa instead went independant? How could such a situation arise?
There certainly is a heavy degree of national identity in Okinawa- they were only annexed into Japan in the late 19th century and even today they kind of have their own language (though sadly Japanese has kicked its arse over the last century and a bit)
IOTL nonetheless the majority in Okinawa firmly wanted to rejoin Japan. Is it at all possible to somehow sour them on the mainlanders enough that they want independance without messing with pre-war history?


(ps- the topic name is intentionally silly)

I guess most wanted to rejoin Japan because a lot of the indigenous population died in April 1945!

More seriously it might be possible if you get a successful uprising on Jeju island in 1948 that leads to a break away from the Seoul government. If somehow you can get an independent Jeju recognized then I think there are historic links between the 2 islands and the Okinawans will see that if it works for Jeju then why not us. Even a Jeju/Okinawan federation.

Another possibility is a North Korean victory in 1950 before UN intervention but the US protect Jeju island and use independence for Jeju as a pretext for a forward base to protect Japan.

Again an independant Jeju shows the way to Okinawa.
 
Have the United States retain them longer, perhaps encouraging a seperate identity more leading to them becoming a state in Free Association in the late 80's or early 90's.

You could have a scenario where a Newfoundland referendum is held, that is the previous status (being part of Japan) is not included, and people are forced to choose between becoming a state or independence.
 
Have the United States retain them longer, perhaps encouraging a seperate identity more leading to them becoming a state in Free Association in the late 80's or early 90's.

You could have a scenario where a Newfoundland referendum is held, that is the previous status (being part of Japan) is not included, and people are forced to choose between becoming a state or independence.

Wouldn't that serve to just piss off Japan and put relations between Tokyo and Washington in Jeopardy? I don't see the United States being that callous unless our relations went off the deep-end in the (70's), which is not impossible, but indeed incredibly difficult due our National Security Policies and Trade Relations.​
 
Wouldn't that serve to just piss off Japan and put relations between Tokyo and Washington in Jeopardy? I don't see the United States being that callous unless our relations went off the deep-end in the (70's), which is not impossible, but indeed incredibly difficult due our National Security Policies and Trade Relations.

Japan already gave up its rights to them in the treaty that gave us control of them, and as far as I know their was'nt that much lobbying/they did'nt care that much about some backwards islands they'd controlled less than a century.
 
As another poster once suggested to me in another thread, have the Republic of China lead the occupation of the Ryukyu Islands after World War II. The Chinese Civil War ensures that this doesn't last long, leading the United States to inherit the job, but the state of affairs might do enough to separate the Ryukyuan identity from Japan once it comes time to lift the occupation. The Ryukyus then opt for independence rather than becoming part of Japan again.
 
Japan already gave up its rights to them in the treaty that gave us control of them, and as far as I know their was'nt that much lobbying/they did'nt care that much about some backwards islands they'd controlled less than a century.

Yes...............apparently it was the Okinawans that were the ones moving for reunification with Japan, with presents a Dilemma. Obviously it makes it easier for and Independence Movement to form now we know that it is only the objectives of the Movement itself that need to change. However, the United States is unlikely to be willing to give up its extensive and strategic military bases upon the island itself. Neither side is liable to compromise on this issue.​
 

Sumeragi

Banned
Ryukyuans moved for uniting with Japan because of how the US messed up the administration of the islands. It's like Alsace: Each new authorities butchered their job so much that they wanted the people opted for the alternative. Basically, we'll have to butterfly away the military administration of the Ryukyu Islands, and make the region de facto independent in the first place, in order to prevent the "Return to Japan" movement.
 
Ryukyuans moved for uniting with Japan because of how the US messed up the administration of the islands. It's like Alsace: Each new authorities butchered their job so much that they wanted the people opted for the alternative. Basically, we'll have to butterfly away the military administration of the Ryukyu Islands, and make the region de facto independent in the first place, in order to prevent the "Return to Japan" movement.

That...........doesn't seem all that possible. The Ryukyuans will not be calling for it themselves and there would be no reason for it during the 1940's. That and Okinawa already was to an extent a Major American Military Installation in the Pacific so they are not about to dismantle it and move on.

Apparently on further reading, Roosevelt had planned on giving the Ryuku Islands to the Republic of China, but Chiang Kai-Shek refused for some reason, it is not specific. There also apparently was pressure for the creation of an Independent State, so it is not as Far-Fetched as I thought. Again I can't find any specifics.​
 

Sumeragi

Banned
About the Jeju-Ryukyu links

1. Both languages have influenced each other greatly.

2. There are several theories that the ruling class of the Ryukyuans came from Korea via Jeju when the Sambyeolcho resistance against the Mongols was finally defeated in Jeju.
 
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