United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands

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United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands
琉球列島米国民政府
Ryūkyū-rettō Beikoku Minseifu
1950–1972
Red, white and blue flag with 48 stars of the United States of America
Flag
(1950–1959)
Coat of arms of Ryukyu Islands
Coat of arms
Location of the Ryukyu Islands (shaded red) in the East China Sea.
Location of the Ryukyu Islands (shaded red)
in the East China Sea.
StatusMilitary occupation
Capital
and largest city
Naha
Common languagesJapanese
Ryukyuan
English
GovernmentMilitary occupation
U.S. President 
• 1950–1953 (first)
Harry S. Truman
• 1969–1972 (last)
Richard Nixon
Governor 
• 1950–1951 (first)
Douglas MacArthur
• 1955–1957 (last)
Lyman Lemnitzer
High Commissioner 
• 1957–1958 (first)
James Edward Moore
• 1968–1972 (last)
James Benjamin Lampert
Historical eraCold War
1 April – 22 June, 1945
15 December 1950
• Returned to Japan
15 May 1972
CurrencyB yen (July 1948 – Sep 1958)
U.S. dollar (1958–1972)
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
USMGR
Japan

The United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands abbr. USCAR (琉球列島米国民政府, Japanese: Ryūkyū-rettō Beikoku Minseifu, Okinawan: Rūcū ʔAmirika Minhyōjōju) was the government in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (centered on Okinawa Island), after World War II from 1950 until 1972.

History[]

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration describes USCAR's history thus:[1]

Following signing of the Instrument of Surrender, September 2, 1945, Ryukyu Islands were administered by Department of the Navy, September 21, 1945 – June 30, 1946, with Commanding Officer, Naval Operating Base, Okinawa functioning as chief military government officer under authority of Commander-in-Chief U.S. Pacific Fleet. Transfer of administration from Department of the Navy to War Department authorized by Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) approval, April 1, 1946, of JCS 819/11, March 5, 1946, with added proviso of JCS 819/12, March 22, 1946. Pursuant to implementing instructions of General Headquarters U.S. Army Forces in the Pacific (GHQ AFPAC), Okinawa Base Command redesignated Ryukyus Command, effective July 1, 1946, by General Order 162, Headquarters U.S. Army Forces, Western Pacific, and made responsible for administration under a Deputy Commander for Military Government. Ryukyu Islands administered successively by Ryukyus Command, July 1 – November 30, 1946; Philippines-Ryukyus Command, December 1, 1946 – July 31, 1948; and Ryukyuan Command, August 1, 1948 – December 15, 1950. USCAR established, effective December 15, 1950, by a directive of Headquarters Far East Command (HQ FEC, formerly GHQ AFPAC), AG 091.1 (5 Dec 50) RCA, December 5, 1950, implementing a JCS memorandum, SM 2474-50, October 11, 1950, directing Commander-in-Chief Far East, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, to organize a civil administration for the Ryukyu Islands in accordance with JCS 1231/14, October 4, 1950. USCAR continued to function under Department of the Army (formerly War Department), 1950–71. Amami Island Group of Ryukyu Islands was returned to Japan by the Agreement between the United States of America and Japan concerning the Amami Islands, signed December 24, 1953, and made effective December 25, 1953. USCAR abolished following entrance into force, May 15, 1972, of the Agreement between the United States of America and Japan concerning the Ryukyu Islands and the Daito Islands, signed June 17, 1971, by which the remaining island groups of the Ryukyu Islands, including the Okinawa Island Group, were returned to Japan.

After the Battle of Okinawa in World War II, the United States Navy initially administered the Okinawa group while the other three groups came under Army control. On July 18, 1945, the Navy transferred control to U.S. Army Forces in the Pacific (AFPAC), but on September 21 assumed control again, organizing the United States Military Government of the Ryukyu Islands.[2] Finally on July 1, 1946, the Army took control again, organising the Ryukyu Command from the previous Okinawa Base Command. On January 1, 1947, AFPAC was reorganised as Far East Command and a unified Ryukyu Command, including a military government apparatus, was placed under General Headquarters, Far East Command (GHQ FECOM), in Tokyo.

In 1952, Japan signed the Treaty of San Francisco and admitted the control of Okinawa by the U.S. government.[3] USCAR, which was a subordinate organization of the forces of the United States, surveilled the Ryukyuan Government and could overrule all the decisions made by the Ryukyuan Government.

The official currency was the B yen from 1948 to 1958, when the B yen was abolished and the US dollar was brought into use.[4] The government printed Ryukyuan 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 Japan.

Peace treaty specifications[]

The Seal of United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands

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 Ryukyu Islands and the Daitō Shoto), Nanpō 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 formal agreement reached on June 17, 1971, control of Okinawa was given back to Japan on May 15, 1972,[5] and USCAR was abolished. This completed the disposition of this Japanese property by USMG.

Government system[]

The post of Governor (民政長官, Minsei Chōkan) was created in 1950 and replaced in 1957 by the High Commissioner of the Ryukyu Islands (琉球列島高等弁務官, Ryūkyū-rettō Kōtō-benmukan) until 1972.

Governors and High Commissioners[]

Main article: List of U.S. governors of the Ryukyu Islands § United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands (USCAR, 1950–1972)

Flag[]

See also: Flag of Ryukyu
Civil ensign of Ryukyu.

The Criminal Code of Ryukyu restricted the flying of any national flags except the flag of the United States.[6] The protesters against the Ryukyu government flew the Hinomaru, the flag of Japan. Civil ships of Ryukyu flew an ensign derived from the International maritime signal flag for "D" instead of Japanese or American ensigns. The ensign changed to "Hinomaru below a triangular flag labeled "Ryukyu" and "琉球" (Japanese for "Ryukyu") in 1967.[7][8]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Records of U.S. Occupation Headquarters, World War II". National Archives. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. 1995. Retrieved September 9, 2016. 260.12 Records of the U.S. Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands (USCAR) 1945–72
  2. ^ Eiji Takemae, The Allied Occupation of Japan, p.123
  3. ^ Shimamoto, Mayako; Ito, Koji; Sugita, Yoneyuki (2015). Historical Dictionary of Japanese Foreign Policy. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 22. ISBN 9781442250673. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  4. ^ Ikeo, Aiko (2014). A History of Economic Science in Japan: The Internationalization of Economics in the Twentieth Century. Routledge. p. 227. ISBN 9781317747536. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  5. ^ "Agreement between the United States of America and Japan Concerning the Ryukyu Islands and Daito Islands". United States Treaties and Other International Agreements, Volume 23, Part 1. US Department of State. 23: 449. 1973. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  6. ^ "琉球刑法並びに訴訟手続法典（一九五五年） Criminal code of Ryukyu 1955" (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2007.
  7. ^ "沖繩船舶旗問題（昭和42年 わが外交の近況） Okinawa Ships issue (Our diplomacy 1967)" (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2007.
  8. ^ "那覇 泊港?那覇港? 全琉船舶に新船舶旗掲揚 1967年7月1日 All Ryukyuan ships hold new civil ensign at Tomari port or Naha port in Naha, July 1, 1967" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 1, 2009. Retrieved December 8, 2007.

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

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