United States Military Government of the Ryukyu Islands
The , 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). 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. Government system The government was headed by the and his second-in-command, the . They were assisted by the . Governors See also United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands Government of the Ryukyu Islands, the body of Okinawan self-governance from 1952 to 1972. 1945 Katsuyama killing incident :ja:琉球列島米国軍政府 Naval Base Okinawa References 1945 establishments in Japan 1950 disestablishments in Japan Ryukyu Islands Government agencies established in 1945 Government agencies disestablished in 1950 History of United States expansionism Japan–United States relations Okinawa under United States occupation Postwar Japan Shōwa period