Okinawa Reversion Day

What Is Okinawa Reversion Day?

Every May 15th is "Okinawa Reversion Day" (沖縄復帰記念日, Okinawa Fukki Kinenbi) in Japan. On May 15, 1972, administrative control of Okinawa — which had been under U.S. governance since the end of World War II in 1945 — was formally returned to Japan. The reversion ended 27 years of American administration and reunited the Ryukyu Islands with the Japanese mainland, fulfilling the long-held desire of Okinawan and mainland Japanese alike for the archipelago's return to Japanese sovereignty.

Okinawa Under U.S. Administration: 1945–1972

The Battle of Okinawa (April–June 1945) was one of the bloodiest engagements of the Pacific War, killing an estimated 200,000 people — including roughly a quarter of Okinawa's civilian population. After Japan's surrender, the United States retained administrative control of Okinawa under Article 3 of the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty. During the 27 years of U.S. administration, Okinawans lived under American rule, used the military-issued "B yen" and later U.S. dollars as currency, drove on the right side of the road, and needed travel documents to go to and from mainland Japan. U.S. military bases occupied significant portions of the island, a presence that remains a source of political tension to this day.

The Reversion Movement

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Okinawans mounted a sustained popular movement demanding return to Japanese sovereignty, embodied in the slogan "hondo fukki" (本土復帰, reversion to the mainland). The movement was driven by the desire for the political rights, economic benefits, and cultural belonging that Japanese citizenship would provide. After years of diplomatic negotiations, U.S. President Nixon and Japanese Prime Minister Sato agreed in 1969 to return Okinawa by 1972. The Okinawa Reversion Agreement was signed on June 17, 1971, and took effect at midnight on May 15, 1972.

Okinawa Since 1972

Okinawa's reversion brought Japanese legal standards, the yen, and left-hand traffic (the switch was made overnight on July 30, 1978, in an operation called "730"), but the large U.S. military presence — covering about 70% of all U.S. military facilities in Japan — has remained a persistent political issue. Okinawa has developed a distinct regional identity, combining Japanese culture with its Ryukyuan heritage, vibrant tourism, and a unique cuisine, music, and craft tradition that draws visitors from across Japan and the world.

Fun Facts

• Ryukyuan Kingdom: Before becoming part of Japan in 1879, Okinawa was the independent Ryukyu Kingdom — a maritime trading state with deep cultural ties to both China and Japan. This history gives Okinawan culture its distinctive character.
• Traffic switch of 1978: The switch from right-hand to left-hand traffic on July 30, 1978 required years of preparation, the replacement of road signs and markings, and the conversion of buses. The changeover itself was completed in about eight hours overnight, although accidents and traffic jams followed in the days after the switch.
• Not a national holiday: Okinawa Reversion Day is not a public holiday, but commemorative ceremonies co-hosted by the national government and Okinawa Prefecture have been held on milestone anniversaries.