| Part of Cold War | |
 A U.S. military serviceman stands near a burned Volkswagen Karmann Ghia in Koza, hours after the riot. | |
| Date | December 20, 1970 |
|---|---|
| Location | Koza, Okinawa |
| Cause | Vehicular accidents involving pedestrians, resulting in chain reaction escalation; tensions & discontent over US military presence |
| Participants | Okinawan people; American servicemen |
| Outcome | 56–60 American servicemembers and 27 Okinawans injured; 82 people arrested |
The Koza riot (コザ暴動, Koza bōdō) was a violent and spontaneous protest against the US military presence in Okinawa, which occurred on the night of December 20, 1970, into the morning of the following day. Roughly 5,000 Okinawans clashed with roughly 700 American MPs in an event which has been regarded as symbolic of Okinawan anger against 25 years of US military administration.[1][2] In the riot, approximately 60 Americans and 27 Okinawans were injured, 80 cars were burned, and several buildings on Kadena Air Base were destroyed or heavily damaged.[3][4]
- ^ Kadekawa. p176.
- ^ "矛盾に満ちた住民対立/コザ騒動から30年 - 琉球新報 - 沖縄の新聞、地域のニュース". Ryukyushimpo.jp. Archived from the original on 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
- ^ Mitchell, Jon, "Military policeman's 'hobby' documented 1970 Okinawa rioting Archived 2012-07-12 at the Wayback Machine", Japan Times, 17 December 2011, p. 12.
- ^ "第４部・南島サウンド行＜５＞コザ暴動 「人生をグチャグチャにされた」 支配への怒り臨界点に達し―連載". Nishinippon Shimbun. Archived from the original on 2013-05-01. Retrieved 2020-07-18.