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United States Military Government of the Ryukyu Islands

Coordinates: 26°30′N 128°0′E / 26.500°N 128.000°E / 26.500; 128.000
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United States Military Administration of the Ryukyu Islands
  • 琉球列島米国軍政府
  • Ryūkyū-rettō Beikoku Gunseifu
1945–1950
Red, white and blue flag with 48 stars of the United States of America
Territory controlled by USMGR 1945–1950.
Territory controlled by USMGR 1945–1950.
StatusMilitary occupation
Capital
and largest city
Naha
Common languages
U.S. President 
• 1945 (first)
Franklin D. Roosevelt
• 1945–1950 (last)
Harry S. Truman
Governor 
• 1945 (first)
Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr.
• 1950 (last)
Robert S. Beightler
Historical eraCold War
1 April – 22 June 1945
15 December 1950
Currency
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Empire of Japan
USCAR
History of Ryukyu

Periods
Palaeolithicpre–10,000 BC
Early Kaizuka Period8,000–300 BC
Late Kaizuka Period300 BC–1100 AD
Gusuku period1187–1314
Tenson dynasty16616 BC?– 1186 AD?
Shunten dynasty1187?– 1259?
Eiso dynasty1260?– 1349
Sanzan1314–1429
Hokuzan1314?–1416
Chūzan1314?–1429
Nanzan1314?–1429
Ryukyu Kingdom1429–1879
First Shō dynasty1429–1469
Second Shō dynasty1469–1879
Satsuma Invasion1609
Ryukyu Domain1872–1879
Japanese Annexation1879
Meiji1879–1912
Taishō1912–1926
Pre-World War II1926–1945
Militarism
Battle of Okinawa1945
U. S. administration1945–1972
Military Government1945–1950
Civil Administration1950–1972
Government1952–1972
Tokara Reversion1952
Amami Reversion1953
Koza riot1970
Okinawa Reversion Agreement1971
Okinawa Reversion1972
Okinawa Prefecture1972–present
Kagoshima Prefecture1953–present
Topics

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

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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

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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

[edit]
Main article: List of U.S. governors of the Ryukyu Islands § United States Military Government of the Ryukyu Islands (USMGR, 1945–1950)

See also

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

References

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  1. ^ "Records of U.S. Occupation Headquarters, World War II". National Archives and Records Administration. 2016-08-15. 260.12 Records of the U.S. Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands (USCAR) 1945–72. Retrieved 2016-09-09.
  2. ^ a b Fisch, Arnold G. Jr. (1988). Military Government in the Ryukyu Islands: 1945–1950 (PDF). Army Historical Series. Washington, D.C. LCCN 2017491247. OCLC 258121764. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-03-21. Retrieved 2022-05-14. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

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

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