The Problem of the Ryukyu Islands: Background and Future

On October 10, 1944 American bombers began the assault on Japan's island bastion of Okinawa which was to culminate in the landing of American Marines and Army troops on Easter Sunday, APril 1, 1945. The subsequent hard-fought battle which ended in crushing defeat for the Japanese was followed by American Occupation of the island of Okinawa and of the other islands of the Ryukyu archipelago.