Over 200,000 precious lives were lost on Okinawa in the only land battle fought in Japan during World War II. The environment and people's lives were devastated by the unleashing of the "Typhoon of Steel," the name of the furious land battle fought on Okinawa. Placed under U.S. administrative rule for 27 years from the end of the war till reversion to Japan in 1972, Okinawa commenced the road from devastation to reconstruction under unstable social conditions.
Health and medical conditions deteriorated during the early postwar years. There were many serious problems, such as the prevalence of endemic and communicable diseases and shortages of food, medicine, medical personnel and medical facilities. The devastation caused by the war increased the number of orphans, elderly with no kin, physically disabled people and fatherless households. Also, due to poverty caused by the war and with the existence of U.S. military bases, prostitution catering to the U.S. military became rampant. Rape incidents frequently occurred. Other problems also arose from the U.S. military bases such as the social difficulties in dealing with stateless children of mixed race. Because of the above mentioned problems, efforts to promote social welfare programs for the relief of all those affected became urgent.
Ever since landing on the Okinawa main island, the U.S. military has given priority to public health, such as taking preventive measures to stop American soldiers stationed in Okinawa contracting infectious diseases. At that time, the foundation of public health for Okinawan residents was the U.S. military's relief donations of health materials and other supplies. The military also donated world leading technical help in the treatment of infectious diseases such as venereal disease, tuberculosis and Hansen's disease.
The Government of the Ryukyus was inaugurated in 1952, under U.S. civil administration. For the 20 years until reversion the government gradually improved laws in the field of social security by modeling the laws on those of mainland Japan. Even with meager financial resources, all efforts were made to create laws that would be most suitable for Okinawa's situation. Social welfare, health and medical care for the people were actively developed and due to the combined efforts of the government and private citizens, people's lives gradually became more stable.
Since the reversion in May of 1972, the Third Okinawa Development Plan has been underway to prepare the foundation for correcting disparity with mainland Japan. Of special note is the medical care insurance and pension plan, which was considerably behind mainland Japanese standards. The move to a universal medical insurance and pension system has greatly advanced the welfare of people in Okinawa.
This prefecture has been required to take thorough steps to meet people's changing needs in the ever evolving and diversifying fields of health care, social welfare and environmental sanitation as well as carefully thought out measures to provide improvements in the care of the many outlying areas. Half a century has passed since the end of the war and as the prefecture with the longest living citizens in Japan, it is our great challenge to form a prosperous society, directed toward the 21st century, where the citizens can enjoy long life.
Due to a lack of large scale industry at its center, the industrial foundation of Okinawa's economy is frail, and tertiary industries, as represented by tourism, predominate. Reflecting this frailty, Okinawa, though blessed with a strong labor force, has had a high unemployment rate since before the war. Indeed, before and after the war, some 100,000 people from Okinawa set out to South America and other countries as emigrants. Even today, the job market is extremely limited, with the unemployment rate running twice the national average. Because there is a strong inclination to find work within this prefecture, the unemployment rate amongst the working young has risen and become a serious problem. For the improvement of the social security system in the future, solving of employment problems is the most important issue. In order to create new employment opportunities under Okinawa's grand design for the 21st century, it will be necessary to give priority to the improvement of Okinawa's industrial foundation and the development of human resources.
As Japan's host of the East Asian Ministerial Meeting on Caring Societies in Okinawa, the Prefectural Government takes this opportunity to present these materials summarizing the development of social security programs in Okinawa since World War II. This publication is divided into four fields: Public Health, Medical Care, Environmental Sanitation, and Social Welfare. While looking at these fields in a general view, we have also touched upon the "Proclamation of a World Longevity Region" announced at the opportunity of the 50th Anniversary of the end of World War II, describing the actual practices Okinawa has taken to reach this goal. Also, to further understand Okinawa Prefecture's standpoint we would be very happy if you would refer to the publication, OKINAWA TODAY.