Opinion Okinawas Struggle with Ongoing US Military Presence
Peter Chai
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Dec 19 2025
sepavone/DepositphotosWhen the U.S. occupied Japan from 1945 to 1952, it established military bases in Okinawa. When the occupation ended in 1952, Japan allowed the U.S. to retain control of the prefecture. The U.S. continued to expand its military bases in the prefecture until its handover to Japan in 1972. Japan now hosts the largest number of U.S. military person