7. The Ryukyu Islands (Including Okinawa)
After World War II, the United States occupied the Ryukyu Islands, most notably Okinawa, until 1972. The reversion agreement returned these islands to Japanese sovereignty, but significant American military bases remain to this day. This chapter left a lasting imprint on both U.S.-Japan relations and Okinawan identity. The U.S. bases remain a polarizing subject in Japan.
