Okinawa's war time wounds reopened (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

When Japanese officials decided to erase Okinawa's most notorious war time incident from official textbooks, residents were furious. They explained to the BBC's Pramod Morjaria why their anger has not abated.

A bustling group of islands surrounded by clear waters and coral reef, Okinawa is a haven for tourists all over Asia.

But look beyond the glitzy malls and neon lights, and it is not long before you get a sense that history, too, is very much visible.

The island group is hundreds of miles south of Tokyo - Japan gained full control of the islands as recently as the 1970s.

It is home to almost 50,000 Americans, and US military bases are scattered across the islands - a legacy of World War II.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7098876.stm

Book recs: "In the Realm of a Dying Emperor", for details of WWII Japanese occupation; "Blowback", for details of current US occupation.

[Bonobo]

1. The Japanese thought the Americans were going to kill them.

I had a Japanese teacher once, who told me that when they Americans handed out milk, their suspicions that they were trying to poison them were confirmed, because Japanese people didn't drink milk then and they all got diarrhea.

When you think about it, it is not so surprising that they thought the Americans were monsters, given the fact that they had bombed Japan into rubble, etc., etc. Not to mention the fact that the Japanese were pretty merciless with their own enemies, so they assumed the worst about America too.

Now, 60 years later, we have proven that the Japanese were right about US soldiers, just they wrong era.

Ironically, nowadays, a Japanese soldier would be more likely to nassage a prissoner's feet than beat them. Times sure change, huh.

[Hand]

2. Milk? Bad idea.

Japanese are unusually prone to lactose intolerance. It would be deadly stuff for an already malnourished and unhealthy population. (Sigh) Good intentions gone awry.

[usaftmo]

3. Japan doesn't have full control of Okinawa

The World War II surrender agreement gave the U.S. control of Okinawa, with language that if/when the U.S. Government feels like it, then the control of Okinawa will return to Japan. While Nixon was President he offered 80% of the island to Japan, and wanted the U.S. to still have the remaining 20% for military bases. The Japanese government accepted the proposal; having 80% control is a lot better than having 0% control.

While the U.S. controlled Okinawa U.S. laws applied there, the flag was flown throughout the island, and English was spoken in schools.

Sometimes the civilians in Okinawa protest wanting to have full control of Okinawa back. I don't concur with that; they should be thrilled to have the 80% we offered them. Oh no...please don't tell me I actually gave credit to Nixon!!!