Top 5 Expropriated Islands that Should Be Returned to the Original Inhabitants (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–15 … My Adventures in Japan)

“The Japanese stole Hokkaido, stole Okinawa, and rented Hawaii, on a long-term basis.”

For millenia, Japan consisted largely of the 3 homogenous populations on the islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. In the late 1800s, however, Japan entered the modern world. And it began to do what many other nation-states do.

It stole the northern island of Hokkaido from the indigenous Ainu, stole the southern islands of Okinawa from the indigenous Ryukyuan people, and rented Hawaii from the non-indigenous Americans (on a long-term basis, apparently).  

You belong to us. And we’ll take your land, too.

The northern Ainu and the southern Ryukyuans are minority groups. However, the official Japanese stance is that neither the Ainu nor the Ryukyuans are minorities.    

The Ainu come from as far north as the Kamchatka Peninsula, and they traded with the Japanese for hundreds of years before the Japanese finally subjugated them and essentially compelled them to integrate into Japanese society. Interestingly, the official stance was developed only after the Japanese stole Hokkaido from the Ainu in the Meiji Era (in the late 1800s). 

Could that be a coincidence?  

Apparently the Ryukyuans are anthropologically related to the Ainu. Assuredly, they are quite different from the Japanese in terms of language, cuisine, culture, religion, ethnic identity, tradition, and more. However, after the Japanese annexed Okinawa in the Meiji Era, the Japanese invaders worked to stifle the language, culture, and traditions of the Ryukyuans – just as they had done with the Ainu. 

Could that be a coincidence?   _{(Image source)}

We come in peace. We bring money.

As for Guam, Saipan, and Hawaii, the invasions by Japanese tourists over the past few decades have been relatively peaceful – and very lucrative for the locals.

Consequently, the Japanese have been welcomed with open arms by the Americans, and it's very unlikely that the natives will try to banish them any time soon.      _{(Image source)}

   Introduction to – “Notes from Under the Tatami Mats”  _{(right-click on title)}

Top 4 Brilliantly Novel Uses of Concrete, Concrete, and More Concrete

Top 3 Ineffective Anti-Terrorism Measures

Top 3 Dirty Politicians and Bureaucrats

... and more

Links to my Other Series …

      Introduction – "Intro to Vocab-ability"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Guide – "Guide to Entries"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Index– "Index" to all Chapters and Sections   _{(right-click on title)}

      Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"   _{(right-click on title)}

_{Images sourced from Google Images, unless otherwise indicated or unless my own.}