Transpacific Networks of Care and Relief connecting U.S.-Occupied Okinawa and Beyond

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K13187
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 03020:Japanese history-related
• Research Institution: Doshisha University
• Principal Investigator: Masubuchi Asako 同志社大学, 政策学部, 助教 (80867896)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 社会政策 / 沖縄占領 / 冷戦 / 援助政策 / 軍事主義

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study shows that a multi-layered network of relief and assistance activities in Okinawa has been established by the U.S. and Japanese governments, as well as by the military and private sectors, including Christian organizations and immigrants, to supplement the inadequacies of social policies in U.S.-occupied Okinawa. The detailed analysis reveals that, while each actor advocating the restoration of Okinawa, they had different agendas and intentions, such as the anti-communist policies of the Cold War period, Japanese Americans' campaign for the naturalization rights, Japanese governments' efforts for the restoration of national sovereignty. It was also suggested that the relief and aid network surrounding Okinawa should be understood in the context of development aid to Asia (especially Southeast Asia) by the U.S. and Japanese governments

Free Research Field

沖縄占領史、医療史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、これまで日本本土の法体系を参照点（=「正常」）とし、米軍統治下沖縄の社会政策の制度上の欠陥を指摘する形で研究されてきた米軍統治下沖縄の社会福祉について、その「欠如」ゆえに沖縄内外を結ぶケア・ネットワークを生み出した磁場として検証することで、国家福祉に還元されない「福祉」のあり方について再考する一つのケーススタディを提示できたと考えている。また、沖縄では日本本土復帰後も、現在に至るまで高い貧困率が続いているが、本研究で示した、米軍占領という事態が社会福祉の形成をどのように歪めていたのかという観点は、沖縄の貧困の根本原因を探るためのの一つの分析視角となるであろう。