Kamejiro Senaga

Kamejiro Senaga (at left, holding book)

Kamejiro Senaga (瀬長 亀次郎, Senaga Kamejirō) (June 10, 1907 – October 5, 2001) was a Japanese politician of the 20th century who was a Communist. Senaga was an outspoken critic of American oppression on Okinawa and was imprisoned by American military authorities for sheltering Communists. He was a mayor in Naha and a prominent political figure during the American occupation of Okinawa. However, he was removed when military authorities arbitrarily changed Okinawan election ordinances. Senaga was a strong advocate for the reversion of Okinawa, which was initially opposed by the American military. Later, he served as a representative of the Japanese Communist Party in the Diet, in the House of Representatives, before retiring from politics in 1990.

References

• Cary, James (1963). Japan Today: Reluctant ally. New York: Praeger.
• http://two--plus--two.blogspot.com/2007/10/anti-us-okinawa-activist-senagas-prison.html (accessed 2 Dec. 2007)
• U.S. News & World Report (1957). Red mayor on key U.S. Base