Higa Hatsuko became well-recognized inside the Okinawa because “American Hatsu” to be the first lady so you can erican soldier (the type “hatsu” in her own considering identity setting “first” within the Japanese). But not, the You. Based on accounts during the Uruma Shimpo and you can Western click, the couple was forced to independent. (“Earliest around the world matrimony mixed,” Shukan Rekio, November thirteen, 1987)
Due to the fact Chief away from Publicity Higa got indexed, new You.S. government had been prohibiting immigration off The japanese or other Parts of asia at the beginning of postwar age. Moreover, interracial erican claims.
While the stated during the a blog post named “erica” in the August 15, 1947 problem of new Uruma Shimpo, “An alternative rules, approved by Congress and you may closed by chairman, it allows this new immigration regarding soldiers’ brides to your You. To your July 16, the fresh U.” The article continues to explain that the Western Consul General inside Japan got come coming from Yokohama to help you Okinawa having a good week monthly to simply accept relationship applications in the Military Government’s courtroom section.
S. Armed forces Government create an excellent memorandum list new erican owners when you look at the Okinawa
Sixty-about three such marriages was in fact registered in the Okinawa inside the very first you to-week period of the law. A lot of them, fifty-around three, were to Japanese Western troops. Eight was to white troops, you to was to a black soldier, plus one try ranging from one or two Japanese Us citizens. All in all, 825 such marriages was in fact filed throughout away from The japanese, along with Okinawa, during this period. 397 was to Japanese Western soldiers, 211 so you can white soldiers, and you will fifteen so you can Dark colored soldiers. (Uruma Shimpo, Sep 5, 1947) The fresh new magazine detailed you to definitely “the brand new extremely high ratio of those marriage ceremonies inside the Okinawa, whenever counted from the amount from inside the The japanese general, suggests [the new highly militarized] requirements here.”
This new September step three, 1948 Uruma Shimpo established a cure for the insurance policy that had eliminated most of the marriages immediately after April cuatro ranging from Okinawans and U
This new Uruma Shimpo advertised enthusiastically on erican soldiers and you may Okinawan female, nonetheless don’t located everyone’s true blessing. For the April step one, 1948, the fresh You.Smand granted an excellent “special purchase” prohibiting marriage ceremonies ranging from Ryukyuan civilians and you will army professionals. They explained one to “which order is needed to insure that professionals around this demand fully do their responsibilities.” One of their eight posts had been “Post step one: Meaning,” “Blog post dos: Unlawful serves,” “Blog post step 3: Software if you have purpose so you can wed,” and you can “Article cuatro: Penalties.” For that reason, it absolutely was today a crime to own regional town places and you will community practices inside the Okinawa to register including marriages. Additionally, “a great Ryukyuan civilian convicted by unique court martial out of violating people of content here will likely be fined ten thousand yen, imprisoned for five years, otherwise one another.” Western armed forces staff was indeed omitted from these charges, and that applied in order to “Ryukyuan civilians.” The wedding exclude wasn’t private so you’re able to Okinawa, however, area of the U.S. military’s to another country plan away from “non-fraternization” between troops and you may civilians in filled areas. Its purpose is, very first, to keep breakup regarding regional civilians believe required to the fresh occupation army’s authority together with effortless utilization of their formula. The concern is actually that, in the event that troops turned romantic which have regional feminine, troop spirits manage suffer. Also, in the case of marriage ceremonies to Japanese female, as well as those people of Okinawa, racial bias in the us are considered too pervading.
Mg Commander Eagles approved Unique Purchase No. 31 for the August 17, effectively rescinding the wedding ban. Thus, marriage ceremonies have been today permitted having You.S. army group, Western civilians, and their families in the Southwest schöne Ungarisch Frauen Countries or encompassing oceans. Together with permitted was indeed new membership of these marriages during the civil regulators workplaces and you will contribution during the religious marriage ceremonies.