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Jon Mitchell's 'Why Are We in Okinawa?' Exposes Double Colonization

publication · 2026-08-06

Jon Mitchell, an investigative journalist, has released a book titled 'Why Are We in Okinawa?' through Bloomsbury, which delves into Okinawa's oppression by both Japan and the United States. The narrative details Japan's annexation of Okinawa in 1879, the island's devastation during the 1945 battle, the US's control beginning in 1951, and its partial return in 1972, emphasizing the cultural, environmental, and human tolls involved. Mitchell addresses the discrimination faced by Okinawans, who are referred to as 'dojin,' and the ban on their local dialects, portraying Okinawa as a 'sute ishi' in Japan's imperial ambitions. Activists like Nakamura Fumiko and Ota Masahide, along with modern artists such as Awich, are also highlighted. Max Crosbie-Jones reviews the book in the Spring 2026 edition of ArtReview Asia.

Key facts

  • Jon Mitchell is an investigative reporter based in Tokyo.
  • The book 'Why Are We in Okinawa?' is published by Bloomsbury, priced £25 hardcover.
  • Okinawa was annexed by Japan in 1879, sacrificed in 1945, handed to US control in 1951, and partially returned in 1972.
  • The San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1951 ceded Okinawa's sovereignty to the US military.
  • Okinawans were labeled 'dojin' (dirt people) and prohibited from speaking local dialects.
  • Nakamura Fumiko, a former elementary school teacher, became 'the mother of the Okinawan peace movement'.
  • Ota Masahide, a former Imperial soldier and governor, opened the Cornerstone of Peace memorial.
  • Awich's rap song 'Tsubasa' (2022) protests base-related noise and accidents.
  • Mitchell is from Wales, a country with a history of discrimination and poverty paralleling Okinawa's.
  • The review is by Max Crosbie-Jones and appears in ArtReview Asia's Spring 2026 issue.

Entities

Artists

  • Jon Mitchell
  • Nakamura Fumiko
  • Ota Masahide
  • Awich
  • Max Crosbie-Jones

Institutions

  • Bloomsbury
  • ArtReview Asia
  • Cornerstone of Peace

Locations

  • Okinawa
  • Japan
  • Tokyo
  • Wales
  • Beijing
  • Taiwan

Sources