July 9, 2026

Akahata ‘current’ column

Immediately after the war, the Okinawan civilian government under U.S. military rule chose to turn a blind eye to the establishment of a red-light district that exploited women living in poverty. Fierce debates took place at the time between the U.S. military and the civil government, which were pushing for the creation of an “entertainment district” for U.S. soldiers, and Okinawan politicians and women’s groups.

Senaga Kamejiro of the Okinawa People’s Party (which merged with the Japanese Communist Party after Okinawa’s reversion to Japan) strongly opposed the plan, stating, “I am absolutely opposed to this from the standpoint of human rights protection.” He argued that while “dance halls” might sound acceptable on the surface, in reality it was not an entertainment district but a red-light district. In defiance of many objections, the establishment of the “special zone” was forced through.

An NHK documentary aired this year reported that “a special zone known as Yaeshima was created” in Koza (now Okinawa City), adjacent to the U.S. Kadena Air Base. Against the backdrop of the Korean War, the number of U.S. soldiers stationed in Okinawa surged, transforming Koza into a major entertainment area. In 1953, the U.S. military authorities launched the “A-Sign” system, effectively authorizing women who had to engage in prostitution to make a living and regulating the sex industry by such means as conducting regular STD screenings.

The deep-rooted problem of sex crimes in Okinawa persists to this day. As recently as April of this year, a U.S. soldier in his 20s was referred to prosecutors on charges of sexually assaulting a woman. Each time such incidents occur, both the Japanese government and the U.S. military pledge to prevent a recurrence.

Last month, the Okinawa prefectural assembly unanimously called on the Foreign Ministry to prevent sexual violence by U.S. servicemembers from recurring. All cities, towns, and villages in the prefecture also endorsed this call, including the need for a fundamental revision of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which serves as a breeding ground for crimes committed by U.S. military personnel.

Past related article:
> 50 years since ex-Okinawa People’s Party joined with JCP [October 31, 2023]