Kariyushi Club
Encyclopedia
, formerly called , is the local party
in Okinawa Prefecture
, Japan
, seeking an independent Ryukyu
, the . The current party leader is . Kariyushi is Okinawan
for "happy" or "harmony with nature".
at the time) was administered by United States
. Founders included and , whose pseudonym was . Sakima was the former president of the Public Finance Corporation, a government financial corporation of the Ryukyu Government under US-control, while Nuka was a Chartered Accountant
. Sakima became a candidate of the 1971 House of Councillors
election
, but failed it with 2673 votes. As Okinawa was returned to Japan in the next year, the party prestige was decreased. After 730
, a symbolic moment on July 30, 1978, when Okinawa changed back to driving on left as other parts of Japan, the party virtually stopped its activity.
On August 15, 2005, Chōsuke Yara, a president of the T-shirt
store called Alice T-shirt Center, resumed the party, making himself as a new party leader. Nuka became an honorable party leader. Yara became the candidate of the 2006 Okinawa Prefectural Governor election, but failed with 6220 votes, or 0.93% of the entire votes. Critics believed this is because the vast majority of Okinawans think the independence is unrealistic . On the other hand, the party was under adverse conditions, as it completely lacked name recognition or an electoral turf, and Yara resided in Tokyo, not in Okinawa. Some found the party gained surprisingly many votes despite these conditions. In fact, Yara's 6220 votes is 2.3 times more than Sakima's votes back in 1970, although Sakima was a celebrity at the time, while Yara is not. Consequently, the party declared victory of the 2005 election. Since Yara gained 1576 votes in Naha
alone, the party hopes it may have a seat in the next Naha City Council member election, which will be held in 2009. (In the last City Council election, an election winner with the least vote gained 1841 votes.)
In 2007, the PAFF, a trade union
of freeters (part time
workers) and foreign workers, alleged the party for breaking the Labor Standard Act and the Trade Unions Act, claiming it fired an officer without a proper reason.
On March 3, 2008, the party changed its name to the current one.
The party also claims the "Northern Ryukyu" (Amami Islands
) are part of the Ryukyus. It pledges to collaborate with Amami Islanders to create Amami Prefecture or to transfer the islands into Okinawa Prefecture.
, Anti-Japan, or leftist". After the independence of the republic, they consider to negotiate with Japan and the US to create the military alliance between the three. If the negotiation fails, they may consider selling the current US bases by international auction.
They claim Senkaku Islands
, currently administered by Japan but claimed by the Republic of China
and the People's Republic of China
, is Ryukyuan territory.
They claim to support other independence movements in East Asia
, namely those of Tibet
and Taiwan
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Okinawa Prefecture
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, seeking an independent Ryukyu
Ryukyu independence movement
The or Republic of the Ryūkyūs is a movement for the independence of Okinawa and the surrounding islands , from Japan. The movement emerged in 1945, after the end of the Pacific War...
, the . The current party leader is . Kariyushi is Okinawan
Okinawan language
Central Okinawan, or simply Okinawan , is a Northern Ryukyuan language spoken primarily in the southern half of the island of Okinawa, as well as in the surrounding islands of Kerama, Kumejima, Tonaki, Aguni, and a number of smaller peripheral islands...
for "happy" or "harmony with nature".
History
The party was founded in June 1970, when Okinawa (called RyūkyūRyukyu Islands
The , also known as the , is a chain of islands in the western Pacific, on the eastern limit of the East China Sea and to the southwest of the island of Kyushu in Japan. From about 1829 until the mid 20th century, they were alternately called Luchu, Loochoo, or Lewchew, akin to the Mandarin...
at the time) was administered by United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founders included and , whose pseudonym was . Sakima was the former president of the Public Finance Corporation, a government financial corporation of the Ryukyu Government under US-control, while Nuka was a Chartered Accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
. Sakima became a candidate of the 1971 House of Councillors
House of Councillors
The is the upper house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Representatives is the lower house. The House of Councillors is the successor to the pre-war House of Peers. If the two houses disagree on matters of the budget, treaties, or designation of the prime minister, the House of Representatives...
election
Elections in Japan
The Japanese political system has three types of elections: general elections to the House of Representatives held every four years , elections to the House of Councillors held every three years to choose one-half of its members, and local elections held every four years for offices in prefectures,...
, but failed it with 2673 votes. As Okinawa was returned to Japan in the next year, the party prestige was decreased. After 730
730 (transport)
The was the day July 30, 1978, when Okinawa Prefecture of Japan switched back from driving on the right-hand side of the road to the left.-Overview:Originally, Okinawa drove on the left-hand side of the road, the same as the rest of Japan...
, a symbolic moment on July 30, 1978, when Okinawa changed back to driving on left as other parts of Japan, the party virtually stopped its activity.
On August 15, 2005, Chōsuke Yara, a president of the T-shirt
T-shirt
A T-shirt is a style of shirt. A T-shirt is buttonless and collarless, with short sleeves and frequently a round neck line....
store called Alice T-shirt Center, resumed the party, making himself as a new party leader. Nuka became an honorable party leader. Yara became the candidate of the 2006 Okinawa Prefectural Governor election, but failed with 6220 votes, or 0.93% of the entire votes. Critics believed this is because the vast majority of Okinawans think the independence is unrealistic . On the other hand, the party was under adverse conditions, as it completely lacked name recognition or an electoral turf, and Yara resided in Tokyo, not in Okinawa. Some found the party gained surprisingly many votes despite these conditions. In fact, Yara's 6220 votes is 2.3 times more than Sakima's votes back in 1970, although Sakima was a celebrity at the time, while Yara is not. Consequently, the party declared victory of the 2005 election. Since Yara gained 1576 votes in Naha
Naha, Okinawa
is the capital city of the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa.Naha is a coastal city located on the East China Sea coast of the southern part of Okinawa Island, the largest of the Ryukyu Islands...
alone, the party hopes it may have a seat in the next Naha City Council member election, which will be held in 2009. (In the last City Council election, an election winner with the least vote gained 1841 votes.)
In 2007, the PAFF, a trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
of freeters (part time
Part time
A part-time job is a form of employment that carries fewer hours per week than a full-time job. Workers are considered to be part time if they commonly work fewer than 30 or 35 hours per week...
workers) and foreign workers, alleged the party for breaking the Labor Standard Act and the Trade Unions Act, claiming it fired an officer without a proper reason.
On March 3, 2008, the party changed its name to the current one.
Policies
The party ultimately seeks the independent Republic of Ryukyus. Meanwhile, they pledge these policies for now;- To make Okinawa State distinct from KyūshūKyushuis the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
, in case Japan restructures the current prefecturesPrefectures of JapanThe prefectures of Japan are the country's 47 subnational jurisdictions: one "metropolis" , Tokyo; one "circuit" , Hokkaidō; two urban prefectures , Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 other prefectures . In Japanese, they are commonly referred to as...
into states based on regionsRegions of JapanThe regions of Japan are not official administrative units, but have been traditionally used as the regional division of Japan in a number of contexts...
. - To lower the employment costs of civil officers.
- To introduce the sightseeing tax to create the jobs of 5,000 people.
- To create more jobs by Okinawa Longitudinal SubwayRapid transitA rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
with a shelter (like the one in SapporoSapporo Municipal SubwayThe is an underground rapid transit system in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is operated by the Sapporo City Transportation Bureau.-Lines:The system has 3 lines; the first, the Namboku Line, was opened in 1971 prior to the 1972 Winter Olympics.-Technology:...
). - To introduce the insurance for tourist agents.
- To establish the regulation to protect nature for tourism.
- To offer jobs preferentially to native Okinawans.
- To abolish the value added taxValue added taxA value added tax or value-added tax is a form of consumption tax. From the perspective of the buyer, it is a tax on the purchase price. From that of the seller, it is a tax only on the "value added" to a product, material or service, from an accounting point of view, by this stage of its...
on foods. - To hold an international conference for armament reduction.
- To teach unique Okinawan history.
The party also claims the "Northern Ryukyu" (Amami Islands
Amami Islands
The are a group of islands that is part of the Satsunan Islands, which are then part of the Nansei Islands. The islands are part of Kagoshima Prefecture, in the Kyūshū region of Japan...
) are part of the Ryukyus. It pledges to collaborate with Amami Islanders to create Amami Prefecture or to transfer the islands into Okinawa Prefecture.
International policies
The party claims it is "not Anti-USUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Anti-Japan, or leftist". After the independence of the republic, they consider to negotiate with Japan and the US to create the military alliance between the three. If the negotiation fails, they may consider selling the current US bases by international auction.
They claim Senkaku Islands
Senkaku Islands
The , also known as the Diaoyu Islands or Diaoyutai Islands or the Pinnacle Islands, are a group of disputed uninhabited islands in the East China Sea...
, currently administered by Japan but claimed by the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
and the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, is Ryukyuan territory.
They claim to support other independence movements in East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
, namely those of Tibet
International Tibet Independence Movement
The Tibetan independence movement is a movement for the independence of the lands where Tibetan people live and the political separation of those lands from the People's Republic of China. It is principally led by the Tibetan diaspora in countries like India and the United States, and by...
and Taiwan
Taiwan independence
Taiwan independence is a political movement whose goals are primarily to formally establish the Republic of Taiwan by renaming or replacing the Republic of China , form a Taiwanese national identity, reject unification and One country, two systems with the People's Republic of China and a Chinese...
.
Party flag
The party's official flag is called Sansei Ten'yō-ki , literally the Flag of the Three Stars, the Sky and the Ocean. The flag is designed by Nuka. The party also plans to use it as the flag of the Republic, should it gain independence. Navy and light blue (or blue, according to the party) stand for the ocean and the sky on Ryūkyū. The white star shows morality and reason. The red star shows pride and passion. The yellow star shows peace and prosperity. The red and yellow stars have white boarders, as the party put much faith in morality.See also
- Ethnic issues in JapanEthnic issues in Japan- Demographic :About 1.6% of Japan's total legal resident population are foreign nationals. Of these, according to 2008 data from the Japanese government, the principal groups are as follows....
- List of active autonomist and secessionist movements
- Ryukyu independence movementRyukyu independence movementThe or Republic of the Ryūkyūs is a movement for the independence of Okinawa and the surrounding islands , from Japan. The movement emerged in 1945, after the end of the Pacific War...
- Ryukyu IslandsRyukyu IslandsThe , also known as the , is a chain of islands in the western Pacific, on the eastern limit of the East China Sea and to the southwest of the island of Kyushu in Japan. From about 1829 until the mid 20th century, they were alternately called Luchu, Loochoo, or Lewchew, akin to the Mandarin...
- Ryukyu KingdomRyukyu KingdomThe Ryūkyū Kingdom was an independent kingdom which ruled most of the Ryukyu Islands from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Kings of Ryūkyū unified Okinawa Island and extended the kingdom to the Amami Islands in modern-day Kagoshima Prefecture, and the Sakishima Islands near Taiwan...
- RyukyuansRyukyuansThe are the indigenous peoples of the Ryukyu Islands between the islands of Kyūshū and Taiwan. The generally recognized subgroups of Ryukyuans are Amamians, Okinawans, Miyakoans, Yaeyamans, and Yonagunians. Geographically, they live in either Okinawa Prefecture or Kagoshima Prefecture...