Today April 28th is the 72st anniversary of the Japan’s restoration of sovereignty after its defeat in World War II.

Since Okinawa was kept under U.S. control even after the April 28, 1952 effectuation of the San Francisco Peace Treaty, which ended the postwar occupation of Japan by the Allied Powers, people in the prefecture are strongly opposed to the central government’s decision to mark the day with celebration.

In the prefecture, April 28th has long been remembered as the day of humiliation, with many people thinking Okinawa was abandoned by the Japanese government on that day in 1952.

Okinawans consider April 28th as “the day of infamy” when Japan came out from under the allies, while Okinawa remained under U.S. control.

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