Continuation of Anti-reversion Theory : Reconsidering the Philosophy of Keitoku Okamoto

The purpose of this article is reconsidering the philosophy of Keitoku Okamoto opposed against the “reversion” of Okinawa to Japan in terms of its continuity after May of 1972. His anti-reversion theory was developed for trying to reject the national integration into Japan. In his theory, the reversion process had been carried out through utilizing “communal physiology” of the people in Okinawa, the way to understand the world as a structure of concentric circle, and representative politics. This article explores reversion process was not finished in May 1972, but continued after 1972 through above-mentioned three routes. As Okamoto mentioned and suggested in some essays after 1972, national projects for the development of Okinawa such as the construction of Central Terminal Station (CTS) in Okinawa Island had the important role to subsume Okinawa under the political and economic structure of Japan. Therefore, Okamoto’s antireversion theory was transformed in order to grasp continuous integration process after 1972. He emphasized the role of social movements created and activated the autonomy and direct actions of the people living in Okinawa against ongoing reversion process. Finally, this article argues the importance and actuality of Okamoto’s philosophy in current situation regarding the construction of a new U.S. military base in Henoko and new helipads in Takae