United States Military Government of the Ryukyu Islands

1945–1950 StatusMilitary occupationCapitalNahaCommon languagesU.S. President Franklin D. RooseveltHarry S. Truman Governor Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr.Robert S. Beightler Historical eraCold War1 April – 22 June 194515 December 1950 Currency

Preceded by	Succeeded by
Empire of Japan	USCAR

History of Ryukyu
Periods Prehistoric pre–14,000 BC Early Shell Mound 14,000–300 BC Middle Shell Mound 300 BC–750 AD Late Shell Mound 750–1187 Gusuku period 1187–1314 Tenson dynasty 16616 BC?– 1186 AD? Shunten dynasty 1187?– 1259? Eiso dynasty 1260?– 1349 Sanzan 1314–1429 Hokuzan 1314?–1416 Chūzan 1314?–1429 Nanzan 1314?–1429 Ryukyu Kingdom 1429–1879 First Shō dynasty 1429–1469 Second Shō dynasty 1469–1879 Satsuma Invasion 1609 Ryukyu Domain 1872–1879 Japanese Annexation 1879 Meiji 1879–1912 Taishō 1912–1926 Pre-World War II 1926–1945 Militarism Battle of Okinawa 1945 U. S. administration 1945–1972 Military Government 1945–1950 Civil Administration 1950–1972 Government 1952–1972 Tokara Reversion 1952 Amami Reversion 1953 Koza riot 1970 Okinawa Reversion Agreement 1971 Okinawa Reversion 1972 Okinawa Prefecture 1972–present Kagoshima Prefecture 1953–present
Topics Missions to Imperial China Missions from Imperial China Missions to Joseon Missions from Joseon Missions to Edo Independence movement
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The United States Military Government of the Ryukyu Islands abbr. USMGR (琉球列島米国軍政府, Japanese: Ryūkyū-rettō Beikoku Gunseifu, Okinawan: Rūcū ʔAmirika Minhyōjōju), also referred to as U.S. Ryukyu Islands, was the government in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (centered on the Okinawa Island) from 1945 to 1950, whereupon it was replaced by the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands (USCAR).^[1]

Background

The first prolonged American presence in the Ryukyu Islands commenced with the arrival of Commodore Matthew C. Perry in May 1853, on Okinawa. A bit more than one year later, this presence ended when Perry left. Perry had hoped to use Okinawa as a springboard to opening up relations with Japan during the Bakumatsu period. Almost 100 years later, Americans returned to the islands, beginning in April 1945, after the last battle of World War II came to an end. Again, the American presence was as a stepping stone to Japan.^[2]: 3

Government system

The government was headed by the Military Governor (軍政長官, Gunsei Chōkan) and his second-in-command, the Chief Military Government Officer (軍政府長官, Gunsei-fu Chōkan). They were assisted by the Deputy Commander of the Military Government (軍政府副長官, Gunsei-fu Fuku-chōkan).^[2]: 74

Governors

See also

Media related to United States Military Government of the Ryukyu Islands at Wikimedia Commons

• United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands
• Government of the Ryukyu Islands, the body of Okinawan self-governance from 1952 to 1972.
• 1945 Katsuyama killing incident
• ja:琉球列島米国軍政府
• Naval Base Okinawa

References

26°30′N 128°0′E / 26.500°N 128.000°E / 26.500; 128.000