Following signing of the Instrument of Surrender, 2 September 1945,Ryukyu Islands were administered by Department of the Navy, 21 September 1945 – 30 June 1946, with Commanding Officer, Naval Operating Base, Okinawa functioning as chief military government officer under authority of Commander-in-Chief U.S. Pacific Fleet. Transfer of administration from Department of the Navy to War Department authorized by Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) approval, 1 April 1946, of JCS 819/11, 5 March 1946, with added proviso of JCS 819/12, 22 March 1946. Pursuant to implementing instructions of General Headquarters U.S. Army Forces in the Pacific (GHQ AFPAC), Okinawa Base Command redesignated Ryukyus Command, effective 1 July 1946, by General Order 162, Headquarters U.S. Army Forces, Western Pacific, and made responsible for administration under a Deputy Commander for Military Government. Ryukyu Islands administered successively by Ryukyus Command, 1 July – 30 November 1946; Philippines-Ryukyus Command, 1 December 1946 – 31 July 1948; and Ryukyuan Command, 1 August 1948 – 15 December 1950. USCAR established, effective 15 December 1950, by a directive of Headquarters Far East Command (HQ FEC, formerly GHQ AFPAC), AG 091.1 (5 December 1950) RCA, December 5, 1950, implementing a JCS memorandum, SM 2474-50, 11 October 1950, directing Commander-in-Chief Far East, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, to organize a civil administration for the Ryukyu Islands in accordance with JCS 1231/14, 4 October 1950. USCAR continued to function under Department of the Army (formerly War Department), 1950–71. Amami Island Group of Ryukyu Islands was returned to Japan by the Agreement between the United States of America and Japan concerning theAmami Islands, signed 24 December 1953, and made effective 25 December 1953. USCAR abolished following entrance into force, 15 May 1972, of the Agreement between the United States of America and Japan concerning the Ryukyu Islands and the Daito Islands, signed 17 June 1971, by which the remaining island groups of the Ryukyu Islands, including the Okinawa Island Group, were returned to Japan.
After theBattle of Okinawa in World War II, theUnited States Navy initially administered the Okinawa group while the other three groups came under Army control. On 18 July 1945, the Navy transferred control to U.S. Army Forces in the Pacific (AFPAC), but on 21 September, assumed control again, organizing theUnited States Military Government of the Ryukyu Islands.[4] Finally, on 1 July 1946, the Army retook control, organizing the Ryukyu Command from the previous Okinawa Base Command. On 1 January 1947, AFPAC was reorganized asFar East Command. A unified Ryukyu Command, including a military government apparatus, was placed under General Headquarters,Far East Command (GHQ FECOM), in Tokyo.
When theTreaty of San Francisco came into force in April 1952, the Ryukyu Islands were placed underU.S. administration temporarily. However, their ultimate sovereignty remained with Japan.[5] USCAR, which was a subordinate organization of the forces of the United States, surveilled the nativeRyukyuan Government and could overrule all the decisions made by the Ryukyuan Government.[6]
The official currency was theB yen from 1948 to 1958 when the B yen was abolished and the US dollar was used.[7] The government printed Ryukyuan postage stamps and passports.Cars drove on the right in contrast to the main islands of Japan. The islandswitched to driving on the left in 1978 to bring it in line with Japan.
Article 3: Japan will concur in any proposal of the United States to the United Nations to place under its trusteeship system, with the United States as the sole administering authority, Nansei Shoto south of29 degrees north latitude (including theRyukyu Islands and theDaitō Shoto),Nanpō Shoto south ofSofu Gan (including theBonin Islands,Rosario Island and theVolcano Islands) andParece Vela andMarcus Island. Pending the making of such a proposal and affirmative action thereon, the United States will have the right to exercise all and any powers of administration, legislation, and jurisdiction over the territory and inhabitants of these islands, including their territorial waters.
Article 4b: Japan recognizes the validity of dispositions of property of Japan and Japanese nationals made by or pursuant to directives of the United States Military Government in any of the areas referred to in Articles 2 and 3.
Aftera formal agreement reached on 17 June 1971, control of Okinawa was given back to Japan on 15 May 1972,[9] and USCAR was abolished. This completed the disposition of this Japanese property by USMG.
The post of Governor (民政長官,Minsei Chōkan) was created in 1950 and replaced in 1957 by the High Commissioner of the Ryukyu Islands (琉球列島高等弁務官,Ryūkyū-rettō Kōtō-benmukan) until 1972.[citation needed]
The Criminal Code of Ryukyu restricted the flying of any national flags except theflag of the United States.[10] The protesters against the Ryukyu government flew the Hinomaru, theflag of Japan. Civil ships of Ryukyu flew an ensign derived from theInternational maritime signal flag for "D" instead of Japanese or American ensigns. The ensign changed to "Hinomaru below a triangular flag labeled "Ryukyus" and "琉球" (Japanese for "Ryukyu") in 1967.[11][12]
^"Records of U.S. Occupation Headquarters, World War II".National Archives. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. 1995. Retrieved2016-09-09.260.12 Records of the U.S. Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands (USCAR) 1945–72
^Eiji Takemae, The Allied Occupation of Japan, p.123
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