The Okinawan Diaspora in Mainland Japan: Insights from the Hyogo Prefecture Okinawan Association

By: ,

December 5, 2025

The Okinawan Diaspora in Mainland Japan: Insights from the Hyogo Prefecture Okinawan Association
The Okinawan Diaspora in Mainland Japan: Insights from the Hyogo Prefecture Okinawan Association

Volume 23

Abstract: This study investigates the political consciousness, identity, and cultural resilience of Okinawan emigrants to mainland Japan, focusing on the Hyogo Prefecture Okinawan Association. Using surveys and interviews, it highlights how Okinawans navigate migration challenges while preserving their heritage. Key findings reveal a strong affinity for Okinawa among members who were first-generation Okinawan, while younger generations showed a shift toward broader Japanese identification. Cultural practices, such as Okinawan cuisine and traditional events, have remained essential but were less common among younger members. Most respondents opposed the concentration of US military bases in Okinawa, though views on economic dependency and base removal were divided.

Keywords: Cultural Preservation, Diaspora, Identity, Hyogo Prefecture Okinawan Association, Okinawa

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Volume 23

About the author:

Atsushi Hagihara is an Associate Professor at Kindai University in Osaka, Japan. He obtained his PhD from Kyoto University in 2015. His research interests include modern Japanese history and contemporary Okinawan politics. In recent years, he has conducted research on Okinawan local newspapers and the Okinawan diaspora in Japan. His recent article, “How Did Okinawan Local Newspapers Report on the 50th Anniversary of Okinawa’s ‘Reversion’ to Japan?”, was published in Seisaku Kagaku Kokusai Kankei Ronshu, vol. 23 (March 2025).

Hasan TOPAÇOĞLU is an Assistant Professor at Üsküdar University in Istanbul, Türkiye. He earned his PhD from Kyoto University in 2018. His research interests intersect with media events, social memory, modernization narratives, and broader topics within media and cultural studies, with a particular focus on Japan. Recently, his work has centered on Okinawa, exploring reversion memory, the 50th anniversary of reversion, and Okinawan national identity. His recent publication is an edited volume, 100 Years of Turkish–Japanese Relations: From History to Economy, Culture to Arts (Routledge, May 2025).

The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus is a peer-reviewed publication, providing critical analysis of the forces shaping the Asia-Pacific and the world.

    About the author:

    Atsushi Hagihara is an Associate Professor at Kindai University in Osaka, Japan. He obtained his PhD from Kyoto University in 2015. His research interests include modern Japanese history and contemporary Okinawan politics. In recent years, he has conducted research on Okinawan local newspapers and the Okinawan diaspora in Japan. His recent article, “How Did Okinawan Local Newspapers Report on the 50th Anniversary of Okinawa’s ‘Reversion’ to Japan?”, was published in Seisaku Kagaku Kokusai Kankei Ronshu, vol. 23 (March 2025).

    Hasan TOPAÇOĞLU is an Assistant Professor at Üsküdar University in Istanbul, Türkiye. He earned his PhD from Kyoto University in 2018. His research interests intersect with media events, social memory, modernization narratives, and broader topics within media and cultural studies, with a particular focus on Japan. Recently, his work has centered on Okinawa, exploring reversion memory, the 50th anniversary of reversion, and Okinawan national identity. His recent publication is an edited volume, 100 Years of Turkish–Japanese Relations: From History to Economy, Culture to Arts (Routledge, May 2025).

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