The Community of Nuchi Du Takara (“Life Is the Ultimate Treasure”) in Postwar Okinawa: Local Subjectivity Within and Against Empire

In 1945, the Battle of Okinawa left hundreds of thousands dead and wounded. Since then, the U.S. military has been a part of life on Okinawa; permanent military bases were later constructed there due to its strategic location and Cold War considerations. Inoue (Japan studies, Univ. of Kentucky; Okinawa and the U.S. Military) offers a critical analysis of how Okinawan society has both resisted and adapted to this military presence by applying concepts from a wide range of thinkers, including Sigmund Freud and Karl Marx. Inoue shows that decisions made in Washington, DC, and Tokyo, without much input or regard to the people of Okinawa, have had a dramatic impact on life there. Notable protests against the military presence have taken place throughout the years, especially after crises such as the rape of an Okinawan girl by U.S. servicemen in 1995. Inoue’s book also indicates that some people on the island appreciate the economic opportunities provided by the military presence.