Masahide Ota, former Okinawan governor I visited those Okinawan emigrants living in Bolivia. ... They called themselves 'pariahs' ." Photo by Cai Hong / China Daily

'Friendly ties'

"Though we don't want to be involved in wars, Okinawa may be deemed a terrible island by people in those countries," Ashitomi said. "Okinawans don't want to join the US military operations or assume the burden of US wars."

As Okinawans see it, the US marines can be deployed anywhere in the Asia-Pacific region, be it Guam, Hawaii or mainland Japan. In their view, it is not essential that the corps should be stationed on their island.

Ashitomi said Okinawa does not want to get involved in the US conflict with China. "Sitting geographically close to China, mainland Japan and Southeast Asia, the island aspires to develop friendly ties with all of them," he said.

Okinawa wants a peaceful environment, he said. The anti-bases activists oppose the shift of Japan's security policy, which they say will drag the country into armed clashes.

"With memories of the war, we know how horrible a war is. We don't want Okinawa to be a battlefield all over again," Ashitomi argued.

Many Okinawans feel that the rest of Japan owes them a debt of gratitude and that the Japanese government owes an apology to the prefecture for what its residents have suffered.

The white beach where many US troops landed 70 years ago is now rated among the most beautiful and popular tourist beaches in the Pacific.

The city of Naha, left in ruins by US incendiary bombs and high-explosive shells, has risen from the ashes to become a gleaming finance, education and political center.

Its Kokusai Dori entertainment district - teeming with restaurants, nightclubs, bars and gift shops - stretches through the heart of the city, drawing visitors from across Japan and the Pacific Rim.

But among all the glitz, local people's war scars lie deep in their hearts. They are resolved to fight back against what they perceive as Tokyo's discrimination.

Contact the writers through caihong@chinadaily.com.cn