Overview and Historical Background of the Yara Reform Administration (Governor Asanao Yara)

Overview and Historical Background of the Yara Reform Administration (Governor Asanao Yara)

Biography of Yara Asanao (屋良朝苗)
Yara Asanao (1902-1997) was an Okinawan educator and politician who became the first publicly elected governor of Okinawa after the reversion of Okinawa in 1972. As an innovative governor, he worked for the consolidation and reduction of U.S. military bases and the improvement of residents' welfare.

Historical Background
The Yara administration took office in 1972, the year Okinawa was returned to Japan. At that time, Okinawa's base-dependent economic structure and social infrastructure, built up during the 27 years of U.S. military rule after the war, were lagging.

After Okinawa was returned to Japan, the economic disparity between Okinawa and mainland Japan was pronounced, and there was an urgent need to improve the standard of living and the educational environment. The presence of U.S. military bases was central to the Okinawan economy, yet anti-base sentiment among residents was growing stronger.

Policies of the Yara Reform Administration
Through negotiations with the Japanese government, the Yara administration sought to strengthen Okinawa's autonomy and promote its economy. His main policies included the following

1. reduction and consolidation of U.S. military bases and promotion of the use of former military sites
He called for the downsizing of U.S. military bases and advocated a plan to utilize the former military sites for the revitalization of the local economy.

2. diversification of the economic base
Aiming to break away from a base-dependent economy, we promoted the promotion of the tourism industry, agriculture, and fisheries. In addition, we actively utilized economic assistance from mainland Japan through the Okinawa Development Agency.

3. improvement of welfare and education
Efforts were made to improve public education and expand social welfare. We also focused on infrastructure development, which had lagged behind due to postwar U.S. military rule.

4. maintenance of cultural identity
The government emphasized the preservation of Okinawan culture, language, and traditions, and made cultural uniqueness a pillar of Okinawa's development.

Challenges and Limitations of the Yara Administration
While Yara's policies had some successes, they were limited by the structural challenges of the U.S. military base problem and the elimination of economic disparities. As negotiations for the return of the U.S. military bases failed to make progress, the economy continued to be forced to depend on the bases. Another challenge was that Okinawa's claims were not adequately reflected in negotiations with the Japanese government.

Significance of the Yara Reform Administration
The Yara administration was an important period when Okinawa began to address various issues it faced after its reversion to mainland Japan, symbolizing Okinawa's anguish and friction with mainland Japan, particularly with regard to the base issue. As a symbol of the struggle for autonomy and cultural identity, it played an important role in Okinawa's political history.