United States Military Government of the Ryukyu Islands
The United States Military Government of the Ryukyu Islands (琉球列島米国軍政府, Ryūkyū-rettō Beikoku Gunseifu), or "USMGR", 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 | |||||||||
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| Status | Military occupation | ||||||||
| Capital | Naha | ||||||||
| Common languages | Japanese Ryukyuan English | ||||||||
| Government | Military occupation | ||||||||
| 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 era | Cold War | ||||||||
| 1 April – 22 June 1945 | |||||||||
| 15 December 1950 | |||||||||
| Currency | A yen (to July 1948) B yen (July 1948–Sep 1958) | ||||||||
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Background
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]
Government system
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).[3]
Governors
See also
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- United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands
- Government of the Ryukyu Islands, the body of Okinawan self-governance from 1952–1972.
- 1945 Katsuyama killing incident
References
- "Records of U.S. Occupation Headquarters, World War II". National Archives. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. 1995. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
260.12 Records of the U.S. Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands (USCAR) 1945-72
- Fisch, Jr., Arnold G. (1988). Military Government in the Ryukyu Islands: 1945-1950 (PDF). Washington, DC: Center of Military History, United States Army. p. 3.
- ja:琉球列島米国軍政府