As of 1942, 52,000 local residents, 86,000 Japanese, 6,000 Koreans, and 98 others lived on the South Sea Islands. Of those Japanese, 50,000 were from Okinawa. This was because Nanyo Kohatsu actively called for Okinawans, who were familiar with sugar cane cultivation, to emigrate to the South Seas Islands. A hierarchical view of Japanese mainlanders as first-class citizens, Okinawans as second-class, Koreans as third-class, and islanders (local residents) as fourth-class gradually spread, thereby positioning Okinawans and Koreans in a complicated position of discriminating against local residents while they themselves were discriminated against. In 1944, both Japanese and U.S. forces turned the entire group of islands into a battlefield, claiming the lives of many local residents.
- area Colonies and Occupied Territories by the Empire of Japan
- theme Colonies and Territories Occupied by the Empire of Japan
- explanation TOP ■The South Sea Islands The Island Flung into Imperial Rule
Between the Ruler and the Ruled
Between the Ruler and the Ruled
As of nineteen forty-two, fifty-two thousand local residents, eighty-six thousand Japanese, six thousand Koreans, and ninety-eight others lived on the South Sea Islands. Of those Japanese, fifty thousand were from Okinawa. This was because Nanyo Kohatsu actively called for Okinawans, who were familiar with sugar cane cultivation, to emigrate to the South Seas Islands. A hierarchical view of Japanese mainlanders as first-class citizens, Okinawans as second-class, Koreans as third-class, and islanders (local residents) as fourth-class gradually spread, thereby positioning Okinawans and Koreans in a complicated position of discriminating against local residents while they themselves were discriminated against. In nineteen forty-four, both Japanese and U.S. forces turned the entire group of islands into a battlefield, claiming the lives of many local residents.