« Occupied Okinawa »: Documentary Film Release

#Partner event

The Geneva press club and the Peace For Okinawa Coalition are pleased to invite you to a conference with :

• Robert Kajiwara, author of the documentary film “Occupied Okinawa”
• Alfred de Zayas, International legal norms applicable to Ryukyu (Okinawa)
• Hoshin Nakamura, Battle of Okinawa survivor and recollections of the Battle of Okinawa

The Peace For Okinawa Coalition will present the release of the Documentary Film “Occupied Okinawa”.

“Occupied Okinawa”, a new musical documentary feature film, is set to be released internationally in select locations this starting this fall, showcasing the power of music and peace activism in the beautiful and culturally-rich Ryukyu Islands. The film dives into Okinawa’s history, from its time as an independent Ryukyu Kingdom, to its annexation by Japan in 1879, and its occupation by the U.S. military since the end of World War II. “Occupied Okinawa” explores the ongoing struggle of native Okinawans against militarization and colonization through the use of music, dance, and peace demonstrations.

About the Peace For Okinawa Coalition

The Peace For Okinawa Coalition was founded in January 2019 by Indigenous Luchuan (Okinawan) Robert Kajiwara under the auspices of numerous Luchuan elder organizations, including the Ryukyu Independence Action Network. Prior to this Kajiwara had been working for various Luchuan organizations who had appointed him to advance Luchuan issues, particularly to the younger generations. In December 2018 Kajiwara started a petition to stop the illegal construction of the U.S. military base at Henoko, Okinawa. Supported by numerous elder groups in Luchu, the petition reached its goal of 100,000 signatures in just ten days, and went on to amass over 212,000 signatures (around 20% of the Okinawan population) in around two months, becoming the largest petition for this issue. The popularity of the petition sparked demands among young Luchuans for the creation of an organization with a strong online presence that could promote Luchuan issues, as well as represent Luchuan voices at the United Nations. This led to the creation of the Peace For Okinawa Coalition, operating under the auspices of the Ryukyu Independence Action Network and numerous other Luchuan elder organizations. Since February 2019 the Peace For Okinawa Coalition has maintained a regular presence at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, advocating for Luchuan rights.