United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands

United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands
琉球列島米国民政府
Ryūkyū-rettō Beikoku Minseifu
1950–1972
Red, white and blue flag with 50 stars of the United States of America
Top: Official flag (1960–1972)
Bottom: Unofficial flag (from 1954)
Coat of arms of Ryukyu Islands
Coat of arms
Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner
Territory controlled by USCAR 1955–1972.
Territory controlled by USCAR 1955–1972.
StatusMilitary occupation
Capital
and largest city
Naha
Common languagesJapanese
English[1]
Ryukyuan
Demonym(s)Okinawan
Japanese
American
U.S. President 
• 1950–1953 (first)
Harry S. Truman
• 1969–1972 (last)
Richard Nixon
Governor 
• 1950–1951 (first)
Douglas MacArthur
• 1955–1957 (last)
Lyman Lemnitzer
High Commissioner 
• 1957–1958 (first)
James Edward Moore
• 1968–1972 (last)
James Benjamin Lampert
Historical eraCold War
22 June 1945
• Civil Administration
15 December 1950
15 May 1972
CurrencyB yen (July 1948 – Sep 1958)
U.S. dollar (1958–1972)
Preceded by
Succeeded by
USMGR
Japan
Okinawa Prefecture

The United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands abbr. USCAR (琉球列島米国民政府, Japanese: Ryūkyū-rettō Beikoku Minseifu, Okinawan: Rūcū ʔAmirika Minhyōjōju) was the civil administration government in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (centered on Okinawa Island), replacing the United States Military Government of the Ryukyu Islands (itself created after World War II) in 1950, and functioned until the islands were returned to Japan in 1972.[2] It oversaw the native Ryukyuan Government. It could overrule all the decisions made by the native government.

  1. ^ Following the return of Okinawa Islands to Japan in 1972, English remained as a foreign language for administrative purposes
  2. ^ Sayuri Daimon (2002-05-14). "Handover of Okinawa to Japan was prickly issue". Japan Times. Retrieved 2021-02-13.