Movement for the Return of Okinawa by Shigeri Yamataka and the National Federation of Regional Women’s Organizations

Abstract

Women’s activist Shigeri Yamataka has been active in various fields, including women’s suffrage, maternal and child welfare, consumerism, and peace. Scholarly attention is lacking on the movement for the return of Okinawa in through the activities of the National Federation of Regional Women’s Organizations (known as Chifuren), of which Yamataka was the chairperson. This study aims to elucidate the movement, which was led by Yamataka and Chifuren in collaboration with the Okinawa Women’s Federation, through documentary materials from both Okinawa and the mainland. Along with the Japan Seinendan Council and the Okinawa Kenjinkai, Chifuren formed the Three Organizations Conference for the Realization of the Return of Okinawa. Together, they carried out campaigns, and collaborated with Okinawa Women’s Federation. In addition to signature campaigns and petitions to the Prime Minister, Chifuren regularly visited Okinawa to assess the local situation and battle sites and held meetings with local organizations. Chifuren and the Okinawa Women’s Federation collaborated on the movement for the return of Okinawa to the mainland, despite occasional differences in understanding, which reflected a gap between the perspectives of mainland from Okinawa stakeholders.