United States Military Government of the Ryukyu Islands

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]

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

Background

edit

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

edit

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

See also

edit

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

References

edit
  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