Okinawa: The History of an Island People

by George H. Kerr

"The first full—lenght monograph on the history of the Ryukyu Islands in any Western language…a standard work."—Pacific Affairs

This book is the definitive work on Okinawan History and an important scholarly work in the field of Japanese studies.
Few people can point to Okinawa on a map, yet this tiny island sitting between China and Japan was and continues to be one of the most crucial Asian nerve centers in all U.S. strategic defense. Ninety percent of all U.S. military forces in Japan are located on Okinawa, one of the Ryukyu Islands, and it was through these troops that the martial art of karate was exported to the U.S.

In Okinawa: History of an Island People, noted Eastern affairs specialist George Kerr recounts the fascinating history of the island and its environs, from 1314 A.D. to the late twentieth century. The histories of Japan, Okinawa and the entire Pacific region are crucially intertwined so the study of this fascinating chain of islands is crucial to understanding all of East Asia. First published in 1958, this edition features a new introduction and appendix by Okinawa history scholar Mitsugu Sakihara, making this the most comprehensive resource on the small, vital, and intriguing island of Okinawa.

Genres: History, Japan, Nonfiction, Asia, Historical, Japanese Literature, Japanese History

592 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1958

Reviews

[Nozomi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Written with condescension and some racism. Facts are interesting and help me get a gist of general history, but read with a grain of salt. Conclusions made by the author and framing of some events are quite terrible. Definitely lacking in any sense of cultural humility. I suggest using this book as a springboard to look up more specific accounts written by Uchinanchu/Ryuukyuan/Okinawan people.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Packed with information, but long, old, and not un-soporific, this book gave me a much deeper understanding about this island I now call "home," and I really appreciate that. And now please excuse me while I lose myself in about 3 YA quick reads as a reward for finishing this tome.

[Boyd Cothran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authoritative and sweeping in scope. Perhaps a bit dated, but a must read for those interested in the history of Okinawa.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive and well-researched, this definitive book of the history of the Ryukyus is able to capture the essence of the Okinawan people. Their trusting and peaceful nature; strength and tenacity through typhoons, poverty, disease, and invasion; and grace and adaptability are all in evidence as they juggle dual allegiances to China and Japan; interact with interlopers and bellicose outsiders including Christian missionaries and Commodore Perry; and adjust to the post-WWII American presence, Reversion, and transition to a tourist economy.

While my copy was revised in 2000, it was done so in a patch quilt fashion. The Afterward intersperses updates, notes, and ends with error corrections. There is no map at the front of the book nor a legend to advise (especially younger readers) that Formosa is now Taiwan, Siam is Thailand, etc. Finally, for readability, consider removing the umlauts from words such as cooperation, and use current spellings for sceptic (skeptic), despatch (dispatch), and others throughout the book.

I would suggest that the next rewrite undergo a thorough feeding through a word processor to incorporate revisions, as well as another update for the past decade to incorporate status changes such as the movement afoot for autonomy and independence.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little heavy so far, but interesting context to help understand the island...

[Patrick McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed learning about Okianwa's fascinating history in George Kerr's book, Okinawa: The History of an Island People (1958). It highlights the special relationship Okinawa had with both China and Japan. It also, in some ways, resembles the history of mainland Japan itself as it was part of the globalization that opened the country to the world when it was briefly occupied by Commodore Matthew Perry who also forced open the mainland. I was bemused by the doings of the missionaries that found their way to Japan and Okinawa-they are not paragons of virtue. These were the first attempts at "cultural colonization." There is mention of "the Sidotti incident", in which a fearless Italian missionary named Giovanni Batista Sidotti who washed ashore on Yakushima island and was taken to Edo where he baptized servants assigned to him-angering his hosts. His actions were seen as a demonstration of European determination and prompted a new decree to kill any Europeans found attempting to enter the kingdom. Later a family, "the Bettelheims" ensconced themselves in Gokoku-ji temple for seven years forcibly trying to convert unwilling Okinawians by breaking into their houses to preach to them and meddle in local political affairs.I particularity enjoyed part Three:"Between Two Worlds" and Part Four: "Okianwa-ken: Frontier Province." The poorest prefecture gets saddled with the majority of American bases and still today is know for their kindness and adeptness at music and entertainment. I see no reason why things will ever change-mainland Japan prefers things the way things have been since Okinawa suffered the only land war fighting in WWII.

[Trevor Kew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought this book in Nagoya Airport en route to Miyako-jima (one of the more southern Okinawan islands) for a short vacation. To be honest, it was a bit of a slog, written in a rather dry style even for a history book.

That said, there are some interesting sections here. From the strange British missionary who lived alone on the main island during sakoku (Japan's period of enforced isolation) despite absolutely no one wanting him there (he converted a grand total of one person...) to the grand state visits from Chinese dignitaries to the invasion and takeover by the Satsuma-han of Japan in the early 1600s to Perry's visit in the 1850s, you do get quite the sense of how the islands were simultaneously off on their own in the sea and yet caught in the middle between larger and more powerful forces.

The more modern stuff is given somewhat short shrift here (Meiji onwards) and obviously anything after 1951 is left out as this is when this book was written! There is also very little information on the Second World War, despite this really being the definitive moment for Okinawa (at least the main island) in terms of obliterating what was left of its history, culture, and people. Perhaps there were still wartime restrictions in place when the book was written or perhaps the author simply didn't feel he had much else to say about the Okinawans themselves at that time.

Overall, for a place with limited historical literature in English, this is not a bad overview, but I'm sure there are more recent books that I should perhaps seek out (maybe in Japanese).

[Alix Treleaven · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall historically accurate. However the author is deeply biased, relentlessly describes Okinawan people as "naive," "uneducated," and "gentle," while Chinese people are "snobbish" and "superior" and Japanese people are "hot-tempered" and "domineering." Take DEEP caution with this one. It's factually....mostly correct (there are some errors that are pointed out in the appendices of the later edition, which is the one I read) but the author is utterly incapable of acknowledging his own biases and that leads to a deeply flawed work in general.

[Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly great book to understand Ryukyuan history and how a tributary state of China and Japan got caught between the hammer and the anvil. The core argument that is being framed is that Okinawa was caught between the "big elephants" and exploited every which way. I would recommend this book particularly for its afterword by Sakihara, as its complete twist of Kerr's narrative is definitely an eye-opener.

[Graeme McGuire · Rating 4 out of 5]

a relatively thorough and largely compassionate account of the complexities of the islands from golden era on - modern era (post-abdication) feels a bit light on matters of identity and statebuilding and the abrupt end after the Battle of Okinawa make the final quarter feel a bit rushed. but the sense of tragedy is captured all the same

[Marc Kirner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story telling, easily readable book on the tragic history of the island ending with a summary of the battle of Okinawa in 1945. In 1984, bought my copy of this book in Okinawa where I lived for about 8 years. Loved the island & it's people.

[Captain Cocanutty · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[Nancy Miyamoto · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was so dry that I just couldn't finish it. I rarely quit a book, but this one was like reading a bad school history book.

[doreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit of a chinky book, not to mention it was written in 1958, so some of the views and sentiments are a bit dated. Good to read for anyone really studying or interested in Okinawan history.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive history of the Island kingdom, incorporation into Japan, and importance in WWII. Well researched and plainly told.

[Janelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I LOVE Okinawa but this history book ranks among the most thorough and thoroughly boring. 🥱

[Brian Penoyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The views expressed herein are mine alone and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Commandant or of the United States Coast Guard.

An absolute must read for anyone who is interested in China’s maritime claims and the complex history of the East China Sea! Fascinating too to help understand the Okinawa of today - a much richer (and longer) history than I had imagined.

[Leikela · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the introduction, which outlined the US military's abuse of Okinawa after WWII, then suggested, basically, that the remaining Okinawans get over it and move off the island.

No thanks.

Another racist book that should have stayed in the 1950s. Who decided this needed a revision?

I'm incredibly disappointed as this was the only Okinawan history book I could find that wasn't specifically about WWII.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book ... especially for those who live in Okinawa. The island is only 66 miles from the Northern tip to the Southern tail. Having lived here a year prior to reading this book, I had already become familiar with so many of the locations described in the book--the book added historical context to many of the sites we have visited. I'm looking forward to more books on this little island prefecture while we continue our tour here.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very comprehensive and well researched, this book is a must for anyone interested in Okinawan history or culture. It is very detailed without being too boring (though it is a bit slow in the beginning) and gives great insight to a interesting people who constantly find themselves sandwiched between two great powers. The book would benefit from a map at the beginning to show where all of the major locations are, but nowadays I suppose the internet can give you that.

[Neal Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed introduction to the history of Okinawa. The edition that I read also included a brief set of afterwords thathelped clear up some points both of later Okinawan history and also of new discoveries in scholarship that change a few of the particulars. Good book for anyone studying regions caught in the midst of "great powers" and their maneuverings.

[Elizabeth Coyne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm only on page 120 or so, and it's pretty good. I have about three hundred pages to go.

[Zaites]

To know everything about this people country that is not a country is completly pleasant