著者

坂西 友秀

出版者

埼玉大学教育学部

雑誌

埼玉大学紀要. 教育学部 = Journal of Saitama University. Faculty of Education (ISSN:18815146)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.64, no.2, pp.85-119, 2015

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Ishigaki Island is located in Okinawa prefecture. A few decades ago, Okinawa prefecture was independent country from Japan as Ryukyu Kingdom. Ryukyu was established in the fifteenth century. The emperor of Ryukyu Kingdom visited the king of Ch’ing of China and took an oath to subordinate to him. China was the Suzerain of Ryukyu Kingdom. The king of Ryukyu pay a tribute to the Edo Shogun, Ieyasu TOUGAWA, too. TOUGAWA Shogun (General TOKUGAWA) forced Satsuma feudal clan, feudal lord Shimazu, to attack the Ryukyu kingdom, and to force obedience to Tokugawa Shogun. This is why Ryukyu king took a long journey to Edo as a ceremonial tribute paid to the Tokugawa court. The Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) changed the fate of Ryukyu conclusively. After the war, Japan reigned the Ryukyu kingdom. Japanese government in Meiji era incorporated the Ryukyu kingdom into Japanese country, which was newly called Okinawa prefecture. In nineteenth century, Japanese Army invaded the northern part of Asia, and expanded the Japanese colonies. In the middle of the nineteenth century, Japanese army power were declined, and defeated everywhere in the whole area of East Asia. Allied force, especially American troops concentrated their attack to the main land of Japan. Japanese government and Army had no equipment to protect the main land against the Allies. Okinawa was the first battle field, and ultimate most important protect wall for the government to keep time for defending Japanese mainland. Unconditional surrender of Japan, Okinawa had been conquered by Allies, America, till 1972. Japanese government realized the return of Okinawa prefecture to Japan. After the World War II, people of the islands and demobilization soldier suffered economic distress and difficulty of everyday life. Development of the “Yaeyama Islands” and pioneer emigrants began at that time. In spite of destruction by the war, traditional culture of Ryukyu are now inherited, succeeded and enriched by the youth. Though the life of the youth in islands aren’t so easy, they enjoy their everyday life and make efforts to create attractive activities. Now, the problem of the territory of Senkaku Islnds has been occurred between Japan and China. It is inevitable for us to know the historical processes profoundly, if we want to understand deeply the local reality, today.