오키나와의 아이덴터티와 기지문제 : 지사선거를 중심으로

Abstract

Okinawa had historically been a independent kingdom from Japan until it was forcibly annexed to Japan in 1879. Since Japan's defeat in 1945, it has not been independent and was under U.S. control, but was returned to Japan in 1972 and is now in existence. The identity of the Okinawans has been mixed as they go through a rather difficult process of independent states, partial inclusion in Japan, complete integration, U.S. domination, and Japan's reintegration. Since ending U.S. military rule and returning to Japan in 1972, the Okinawans have been agonizing over the identity of Okinawa, feeling the still-remaining U.S. military base problem and gradual structural discrimination on the mainland. Since its return, the prefecture election has been reflected the central government's structure of confrontation between conservatives and progress. However, such a confrontation structure has weakened or disappeared in Japanese politics due to the end of the Cold War regime and the collapse of the 55-year system. This was the same for the Okinawa governor election. Since 1998, the prefecture election has led to four consecutive victories for the conservative candidate. Meanwhile, there has been a political and electoral trend in Okinawa that emphasizes “identity over ideology” as movements across the conservative landscape began to emerge in the wake of the U.S. military sexual assault in 1995. Its iconic organization was “All-Okinawa,” which led to the election of Onaka in 2014 and the election of Tamaki in 2018. The election stream that emphasizes Okinawa's identity in the conservative race ended the conservative candidate's rule after the Cold War, and introduced a new regional government in Okinawa.