they lost their homes π―π΅πΊπΈ
After World War II, the United States took control of Okinawa and southern Japan for strategic purposes. Okinowans were displaced from their lands for American military bases. Families were in poverty. Children would make money by collecting scrap metal from bombs dropped during military exercises. They were dependent on US military rations for food, but it wasn’t enough. People rummaged through cans of leftover food and used engine oil to fry tempura. Anything criticizing American bases would be shut down. Some teachers who participated in protests were fired or barred from traveling. While Okinowans were still Japanese citizens, they required special documents to travel to mainland Japan. The mainland experienced modernization while Okinawa lagged behind. Their railway system was destroyed during the war, but the US prioritized road construction. The island is still car dependent today. After their return to Japan in 1972, Okinowans continued to be cooked by both the mainland Japanese government and the United States. More on that in feature shorts.
resilience π #okinawa #japantravel #worldwar2
38 Comments
America is so anti train they don't build in own country and force other country to not build
Appreciate you for making the change in background music to be something more appropriate when talking about sensitive topics
Repost?
Thank you for highlighting Japanβs atrocities. I love Japanese culture and holidaying there, but I never ever glorify their past since Iβm Indonesian and they colonised us for a bit. A lot of people who worship Japan and thinking it can do no wrong should watch your videos.
I live in Mexico, very far away from Japan. I do appreciate your work given it makes us, the rest of the world, so conscious of such atrocities and help us understand countries and their social issues even while being so far away. β€π«Άπ½
Gotta thank the Japanese government in ww2 for that
It takes a lot of courage to speak the truth. ππ
Thank you for sharing this history! Ainu in hokkaido next?
Japan f around and found out in ww2 sadly people forget how evil japanese troops were even storys of them eaten the enemies no rules kinda like russians of today
Continently left out the part that Japanese would kill Okinawans if they didnβt fight for them in WWII.
Thats their democracy for ya.
Murica!πΊπ²
Getting oppressed by both US and Japan π
The US had to it didnβt do a perfect job but they have to set up to make sure Japan didnβt start doing that shit again
The people already had below adequate living standards before the US got there. They were living better with the US than with Japan.
Given the circumstances, idk
I would like to see more tho
Of course America makes everything it touches car-centric
I was actually aware of this, since I have done some deep diving into the quasi colonisalism that the USA has been doing around the since WWII. What is a banana republic? An American invention. What happened to Haiti, why are were they left in the dust? For the same reason that Okinawa was, except it was not the military complex, it was cheap hats and shoes production…………. Yeah. Haiti got rolled up and smoked so Americans could buy a cheap hat and baseball….
"Anything criticising American bases would e shut down"… that aged well.
And there are a lot of cases of sexual assaults in Okinawa by US troops
Kind of bothers me how Japan got away with their history due to white people being obsessed with anime and manga.
This was all after the attack on pearl harbour and the Japanese attacks through Asia right? Or was this before?
Merica
Iβm so glad someone is talking about this. The Okinawa people need to address this trauma properly instead of turning to the wrong people who seek to exploit their suppressed feelings of anger. However, I am happy to see that the countryβs Stockholm Syndrome is ending.
So really the USA tested a weapon that it's own generals said didn't need to be uses, murdered countless then colonised what they could? How very on brand π
Thank you for that perspective!
yet another US colony
WHAT THE F IS A KILOMETER??
βMURICA π¦ πΊπΈ
but in all seriousness thatβs some sad history for Okinawa
I had no idea of this, so once again thank you for all the knowledge you bestow on me. π
Thank you so much for reading comments and changing the background music, it is truly appreciated along with the informative video
Unfortunately that's what happens one another country attacks America, Japan fucked around and found out
Thank you for sharing. This is imperialism and colonialism π free Okinawa π free hawaiβi π free Palestine π free turtle island
Free Okinawa
Appreciate the coverage of the Okinawan/Uchinanchu people. It is importantly for people to know the history and square it with our current world. On another note, I do hope youβll have a few videos showing the vibrancy and strength of the Uchinanchu traditions and culture despite these challenges. Both people in Okinawa and the diaspora community continue to engage in traditional song, dance, food, etc. In fact, many people who study music and dance are in Okinawa right now testing for certification in these arts. Itβs not just about the tragedy, but the resilience and vibrancy as well! Not a critique, but a suggestion! Thanks for helping educate folks!
Iris chaing. The r word of nanking. Read it. Japan was the most evil country in ww2. I love japan but they have a wild history
Taiwan of Japan
What Americans did to Okinawa 1945-1971 is unforgivable and a crime against humanity. Despicable that the US is refusing to apologize to this day.
I have family from Okinawa that still have generational trauma from the colonization and abuse π₯Ίπ
Why does other countries need American military bases? Seems like modern day colonization.
Thank you for actually talking about this.
Thank you for creating such informative content β€
π The accuracy of this is about 0%. The Japanese empire and their "Living God King" now allied with Naz Germany, took a trip to Nanking, Opened unit 731 and had plague infested fleas heading to California on subs. After the war the us fed and took care of the Japanese better than the Japanese treated anybody else.