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PARTNERS - Okinawa

• Okinawa Women Act Against Military Violence, Naha, Okinawa.

Okinawa Women Act Against Military Violence was formed in September 1995, following the rape of a 12-year-old girl by 3 US servicemen.  This group has held demonstrations and protests, organized letter writing campaigns, and brought their creativity and passion to protests and campaigns against the US military presence in Okinawa, which dates back to 1945 and the end of World War II. See key facts about Okinawa and details of the effects of long-term US military presence (pdf).

Okinawa Women Act Against Military Violence provides a strong feminist voice linking violence against women with military violence. This organization hosted two International Network meetings in 1997 and 2000.

Contact: Suzuyo Takazato, Co-Chair
Okinawa Women Act Against Military Violence
3-29-41-402 Kumoji, Naha-shi,
Okinawa, 900-0015 JAPAN.
Tel/fax: +81-98-864-1539
e-mail:space-yui@nirai.ne.jp

KEY FACTS ABOUT Okinawa

• A group of islands midway between Tokyo and Manila. It is the southern-most prefecture in Japan, with a population of 1.3 million people
• Endured three-months of fierce fighting between Japan and the US in 1945. Approximately 200,000 Okinawan people were killed by US and Japanese troops in this Battle of Okinawa
• Administered and occupied by the US from 1945 to 1972. The US military requisitioned land for bases
• Comprises 0.6% of the land area of Japan but houses 75% of the US military facilities in Japan. There are 37 US bases and installations in Okinawa, 23,842 troops and 21,512 family members
• Twice the size of Guam but smaller than Oahu (Hawai’i)
  

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Okinawa Prefecture -- Military Base information
http://www3.pref.okinawa.jp/site/view/contview.jsp?cateid=14&id=592&page=1

Okinawa Peace Network-Los Angeles
www.uchinanchu.org

Japan Policy Research Institute
www.jpri.org