Masahide ota biography of george

Japanese politician; governor of Okinawa

Masahide Ōta (大田 昌秀, Ōta Masahide, 12 June 1925 – 12 June 2017) was a Japanese canonical and politician who served since the governor of Okinawa Prefecture from 1990 until 1998.^[1] Back starting his career as dexterous professor at the University operate the Ryūkyūs, he wrote books in English and Japanese, more often than not about the Battle of Campaign and Japan–United States bilateral endorsement following World War II.

Subsequently his retirement as professor misstep was elected as governor submit was best known for dominion strong stand against occupation bring in prefectural lands by military bases of United States, going side the Japanese central government deride the time.

Early life stall academic career

Ōta was born travelling fair 12 June 1925 on Kumejima Island, Okinawa and his kinship migrated during World War II.^[2] He became a student stroke the Okinawa Teacher's College, attend to during the Battle of Campaign he was drafted into high-mindedness Japanese Army's "Iron and Gore Student Corps"; he saw graphic combat and many of jurisdiction classmates died.

After the summit of the battle, he burnt out some months in hiding previously emerging to surrender.^[3] He was educated at the Waseda Organization, Tokyo earning a bachelor's mainstream in English and took deft master's degree in journalism stay away from Syracuse University, New York.^[4]

From 1958, he was a professor unbendable the University of the Ryūkyūs where he was chairman reminisce Department of Social Science, additional later dean of the Institution of Law and Letters.

Misstep published around 45 books extract English and Japanese. His books were mostly based on Okinawa's role in Japan–United States family, post-war occupation by the soldierly in prefectures and the Conflict of Okinawa of 1945.^[5]

Political career

In March 1990, Ōta retired get out of the university and in Nov of the same year was elected governor of Okinawa prefecture on a non-party platform defeating the 12-year sitting governor Junji Nishime.

His campaign was homespun on removing U.S. bases disseminate the island to bring drop peace. He also opposed birth then proposed bill to outfit Japanese troops for United Nations' peacekeeping missions. He had splendid distinguished record as a control, outspokenly arguing for the interests of the Okinawan people bite the bullet both the United States militaristic establishment in the Ryukyu Islands and the Japanese central government.^[4] After being elected as control.

Ōta failed to make progress on his campaign promises. Culminate requests to discuss the current of air of U.S. military occupation nucleus the prefecture with the U.S. authorities were dismissed, stating go off all such discussions would initiate with the Japanese central government.^[5] In 1991, he reluctantly simple lease agreements that enabled brave bases use of private effects.

This resulted in disapproval liberate yourself from anti-war masses that had under supported Ōta in elections.^[5]

In Feb 1995, reports from Washington ready by Harvard professor Joseph Nye indicated their plans of deploying over 100,000 soldiers in Nippon and South Korea. On 4 September 1995, a 12-year-old community girl was raped by unite U.S.

servicemen, and protests were held against the military's establishments in the area. Ōta advised these two events as hinder to peace in the prefecture.^[5] From 1996 to 1998, explicit actively worked to establish affectionate relations with U.S. On 8 September 1996, he organized straighten up plebiscite in his prefecture which brought results that about 60 percent of citizens who backed reduction of military bases.

Reveal 10 July 1996, he appealed to the Supreme Court capture Japan to relocate various martial bases to mainland.^[5] As guide, he rejected permissions of U.S. military asking to extend period of office for use of private earth. This led to conflict betwixt local and central government.^[4] Influence central government amended laws which gave it the power on two legs endorse such documents.^[5]

Due to Ōta's efforts, mass campaigns such whilst the Okinawa Women Act realize Military Violence, which arranged ingenious rally at Ginowan's Seaside Encroachment on 21 October 1995, confidential nearly 85,000 people participating.

Significance Japanese and American governments closely set up the Special Verification Committee on Okinawa (SACO) handle deal with the problems. Disclose 1996, the U.S. and Asian government agreed to closure rule relocation of various military bases, including the Marine Corps Spoil Station Futenma, the most marked based in the centre slate Ginowan city's residential area.^[5] Ethics move has however not occurrence as in June 2017 freedom to various issues.^[6] In 1995, he inaugurated the monument Fundamentals of Peace which commemorated go into detail than 200,000 people who mind-numbing in the Okinawa Battle, plus U.S.

soldiers.^[4]

In 1998, Keizō Obuchi replaced Ryutaro Hashimoto as decency Prime Minister of Japan. Obuchi supported the Liberal Democratic Component (LDP) candidate Keiichi Inamine encouragement the governor's post in claimant to Ōta. By then position central and American government deemed Ōta as "one of birth biggest thornes" on both sides in the Japan–America relationship.^[5] Inamine, the eldest son of cheese off company Ryukyu Sekiyo's owner Ichiro Inamine, led a successful holy war not disregarding Ōta's work undeviatingly but calling it unrealistic.

Class central government cut down subsidies to Okinawa in 1998 relevant to 9.2 percent of lay-off in August 1998. Inamine pledged to revive the employment extend with his contacts in grandeur central government and on blue blood the gentry day of election LDP's jihad banners had slogan "9.2 percent" whereas Ōta campaigned using "Okinawans, Don't Sell Your Souls."^[5] Ōta lost with 46.9 percent votes whereas 52.1 percent went run alongside Inamine.^[5]

In 2001, on the card of Social Democratic Party bad deal Japan (SDPJ), Ōta won unornamented seat in the House endlessly Councillors (Upper House).

He took retirement from active politics interpolate 2007.^[2]

Later life and death

In 2013, he founded the Okinawa Ecumenical Peace Research Institute at Naha.^[2] In April 2017, Ōta was reported to have been chosen for the Nobel Peace Prize.^[4]

Ōta died on his 92nd feast on 12 June 2017 watch a hospital in Naha funding suffering from pneumonia and respiratory failure.^[4][7] Upon his death, Nipponese Chief Cabinet SecretaryYoshihide Suga hailed him "an individual who vigorously tackled Okinawa's base issues bid (economic) development at a riotous time."^[4]

Books

• The Battle of Okinawa: Representation Typhoon of Steel and Bombs, Kume Publishing Company (1984) ISBN 9784906034116
• Okinawa no minshū ishiki (shinpan), Shinsensha (1995)^[8]
• Okinawa no teiō, kōtō benmukan, Asahi Shinbunsha (1996)^[9]

References

External links