Masahide Ōta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Masahide Ōta
|
|
|---|---|
|
大田 昌秀
|
|
.jpg) |
|
| Governor of Okinawa Prefecture | |
| In office 10 December 1990 – 9 December 1998 |
|
| Preceded by | Junji Nishime |
| Succeeded by | Keiichi Inamine |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 June 1925 Kumejima, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands |
| Died | 12 June 2017 (aged 92) Naha, Okinawa, Japan |
| Alma mater | Waseda University Syracuse University |
Masahide Ōta (大田 昌秀, Ōta Masahide, 12 June 1925 – 12 June 2017) was an important Japanese leader. He was a professor and a politician. From 1990 to 1998, he served as the governor of Okinawa Prefecture.
Ōta wrote many books. Most of his books were about the Battle of Okinawa. He also wrote about the relationship between Japan and the United States after World War II. As governor, he was known for his strong views. He wanted to reduce the number of United States military bases in Okinawa. This often put him at odds with the Japanese government.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Masahide Ōta was born on June 12, 1925. His birthplace was Kumejima Island in Okinawa. During World War II, his family moved.
He was a student at the Okinawa Teacher's College. During the Battle of Okinawa, he was drafted into the Japanese Army. He joined a group called the "Iron and Blood Student Corps." He saw very difficult fighting. Many of his classmates died in the war. After the battle, he hid for some months. Then, he came out and surrendered.
Ōta continued his education after the war. He studied at Waseda University in Tokyo. There, he earned a bachelor's degree in English. Later, he got a master's degree in journalism. He earned this degree from Syracuse University in New York.
Academic Career and Writings
In 1958, Ōta became a professor. He taught at the University of the Ryūkyūs. He led the Department of Social Science. Later, he became the dean of the College of Law and Letters.
He wrote about 45 books. These books were in both English and Japanese. His writings often focused on Okinawa's role. He explored the relationship between Japan and the United States. He also wrote about the military presence in Okinawa after the war. The Battle of Okinawa in 1945 was another key topic in his books.
Political Career as Governor
In March 1990, Ōta retired from his university job. In November of that year, he ran for governor of Okinawa. He won the election. He defeated the sitting governor, Junji Nishime, who had served for 12 years. Ōta ran without a specific political party.
His main campaign promise was to remove U.S. military bases. He believed this would bring peace to the island. He also disagreed with a plan to send Japanese troops on United Nations peacekeeping missions.
As governor, Ōta was a strong voice for Okinawan people. He often spoke out against the U.S. military. He also challenged the Japanese central government. He wanted to discuss the military base issue with U.S. officials. However, his requests were turned down. He was told that all talks would happen with the Japanese government.
In 1991, he had to sign lease agreements. These agreements allowed the military to use private lands. This upset many people who had supported him. They were against the war and the bases.
Efforts to Reduce Military Bases
In 1995, reports from Washington showed plans for many soldiers in Japan. From 1996 to 1998, Ōta worked to improve relations with the U.S. On September 8, 1996, he held a vote in Okinawa. About 60 percent of citizens supported reducing military bases.
On July 10, 1996, he asked the Supreme Court of Japan for help. He wanted military bases moved to mainland Japan. As governor, he refused to extend leases for private land used by the U.S. military. This caused a conflict between Okinawa and the central government. The central government then changed laws. This gave them the power to approve such documents.
Ōta's efforts led to large protests. One group, the Okinawa Women Act against Military Violence, held a rally. On October 21, 1995, about 85,000 people attended. The Japanese and American governments then formed a group. It was called the Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO). This group aimed to solve the base problems.
In 1996, the U.S. and Japanese governments agreed. They would close or move some military bases. This included the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. This base was in the middle of Ginowan city. However, as of 2017, this move had not happened.
In 1995, Ōta opened the Cornerstone of Peace monument. This monument remembers over 200,000 people who died. These included U.S. soldiers in the Okinawa Battle.
End of Governorship
In 1998, Keizō Obuchi became the Prime Minister of Japan. Obuchi supported Keiichi Inamine for governor. Inamine was from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). He ran against Ōta.
The central government and the U.S. government saw Ōta as a "thorn." He made their relationship difficult. Inamine was the son of an oil company owner. He ran a successful campaign. He did not directly criticize Ōta's work. Instead, he called Ōta's ideas "unrealistic."
The central government cut money given to Okinawa in 1998. This led to high unemployment. Inamine promised to improve jobs. He said he had good connections with the central government. On election day, the LDP used "9.2 percent" (the unemployment rate) in their slogans. Ōta's slogan was "Okinawans, Don't Sell Your Souls." Ōta lost the election. He received 46.9 percent of the votes. Inamine won with 52.1 percent.
In 2001, Ōta returned to politics. He won a seat in the House of Councillors. This is Japan's upper house of parliament. He retired from politics in 2007.
Later Life and Passing
In 2013, Ōta started a new organization. It was called the Okinawa International Peace Research Institute. It was located in Naha. In April 2017, there were reports that Ōta was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Masahide Ōta passed away on his 92nd birthday. He died on June 12, 2017. He was in a hospital in Naha. He had been suffering from pneumonia and breathing problems. After his death, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, spoke about him. He said Ōta "energetically tackled Okinawa's base issues and (economic) development at a turbulent time."
Books
- The Battle of Okinawa: The Typhoon of Steel and Bombs, Kume Publishing Company (1984) ISBN: 9784906034116
- Okinawa no minshū ishiki (shinpan), Shinsensha (1995)
- Okinawa no teiō, kōtō benmukan, Asahi Shinbunsha (1996)
