And the city was wrapped in flames-indelible anger and absurdity-January 5, 18:30

"Angry at the limit"

"Angry city" A

local newspaper described an incident that occurred in Okinawa half a century ago.

"Koza Riot" In

Okinawa under US rule, people set fire to the cars of as many as 80 US military personnel.

The local newspaper also tells us to speak for people's thoughts.

"This is a reaction to ignoring human rights."

There is one journalist who interviewed the case on the spot.

Age, 83.

Originally from Tokyo, he became a reporter saying "I want to convey Okinawa," and has continued to face "Okinawa's anger" that has not disappeared since the "Koza riot."

He says.

"We are still living in peace without feeling pain while imposing absurdity on Okinawa. We must be aware of this early," said

Ken Yamaguchi, a reporter at the Social Affairs Department.

The night when "Okinawa's anger" exploded

Katsu Moriguchi, 83 years old.

After working as a reporter for a local newspaper in Okinawa for about five years, he became a correspondent for Okinawa in 1963.

"I want to tell the mainland about Okinawa." To

that end, I thought it was not enough to write an article in a local newspaper.

And seven years later, he came across the "Koza Riot".

(Note: Locally known as the "Koza riot" or "Koza incident") The

incident occurred before dawn on December 20, 1970.

The trigger was one traffic accident.

In Koza City (now Okinawa City) at that time, a car driven by an American soldier hit a resident who was crossing the road.

People nearby surrounded the U.S. military police who had set out to handle the accident.

The military police fired to intimidate it.

As a result, people lit the cars of US military personnel one after another.

It is reported that 82 cars were damaged.

There was a reason for the actions of those who were later referred to as "riots."

Three months ago, an American soldier drove a woman to death in Itoman City.

However, on December 11, the American soldier was acquitted.

Okinawa under American rule had no right to judge.

The acquittal was handed down in an American military trial.

"How long will we be oppressed?"

People's dissatisfaction and anger at the US military was higher than ever.

Mr. Moriguchi arrived at the scene after 1 am.

The U.S. military had set a regulation line around the site, but it was said that they started interviewing by evading it.

Mr. Moriguchi:

"It's pitch black, and there are almost no street lights. It's just dark with the neon lights of the bars, cabarets, and other shops of the US soldiers. Other than that, it's pitch black. I swirl over the city of Koza and use searchlights to illuminate the scene of the incident. It was a noisy atmosphere. "

" The young men who set fire to their cars spoke angry words. "America, Tackle Say," that is, "Punish American soldiers." One car cheers every time the car is wrapped in flames. It's a situation where things happen. It's a strange expression, but it was like a "festival" or something like being at a festival site. Of course, it's a place surrounded by anger. "

Mr. Moriguchi still keeps the camera used for the interview at that time.

And every time I look at this camera, I have something to remember.

Mr. Moriguchi:

"The young man who participated in the riot said,'Brother, brother', holding my shoulder and pulling me in, saying,'Please take a good photo, please take a good photo.' I'd like to guide you around the site with a feeling like "Please follow me." At that time, the current situation in Okinawa, the sadness and anger of the people of Okinawa could hardly be conveyed to the mainland, so anyway. , "Make it news and tell me this properly", supported by that feeling, I just kept turning the camera. "

Unchanging "absurdity"

Two years later, Okinawa returned to Japan.

Moriguchi was also transferred to Tokyo as a result.

Until 1990, he was a commercial broadcaster, and even after retirement, he went to Okinawa as a freelance journalist and continued to cover.

It is said that what drives Mr. Moriguchi is the appearance of Okinawa, which has not changed significantly even after returning to Japan.

The assault of a girl by an American soldier in 1995.

This led to a major swell calling for the reduction of bases and the revision of the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement.

Nine years later, a US military helicopter crashed on the campus of a university.

The Japanese side could not even get the police close to the scene, and again the base and status of forces agreement were questioned.

Every time the tragedy is unreasonable, the problem surrounding the base in Okinawa has been highlighted.

However, even now, about 70% of the dedicated facilities of the USFJ are concentrated in Okinawa.

Since returning to Japan, about 6,000 US military personnel have been arrested for criminal offenses in Okinawa.

The absurdity felt by the people of Okinawa that led to the "Koza riot" has not been resolved even after half a century.

There is a scene that burns into Mr. Moriguchi's eyes and does not leave.

Five years ago, a civilian employee of the U.S. Army killed a 20-year-old woman in an attempt to sexually assault her.

It is the figure of the people who gathered at the "prefectural convention" held two months later in memory of the victims.

Mr. Moriguchi:

"Everyone put up the same placard," Anger has exceeded the limit. "In other words," I'm already angry here (the throat). "And it's really hot in midsummer. It was a day, but everyone should wear mourning clothes, and everyone who is not in black mourning clothes should be unified in black. Tens of thousands of people (Note: 65,000 participants announced by the organizer) are crowded. It was a magnificent funeral, a funeral procession, or a strange gathering. "

" The people of the mainland can live in peace in the region of Okinawa, where the people of Okinawa carry such a burden. That's because, while imposing such "irrationality" and keeping it strong, Japanese people live in peace without feeling any pain, and we must quickly realize that. "

What the "Koza Riot" points to

Last month, 50 years after the "Koza Riot," a symposium was held in Okinawa to look back on the incident.

And the local newspaper once again features the case.

People continue to think about the historical meaning of the "Koza riot."

Mr. Moriguchi has been watching Okinawa from the standpoint of being from the mainland for the past half century after witnessing the incident.

What do you think now?

Mr. Moriguchi:

"It's a thing of the past because it's been 50 years," but the fact that it's still being told vividly is probably because the situation in Okinawa hasn't changed. Essentially nothing has changed. I don't think it's possible. The thought "What was that night's cry in Koza?" Has been swirling among the people of Okinawa, and in a sense, anger reaches the boiling point of patience. I think the situation is going on all the time. "

Mr. Moriguchi:

"When a big incident or accident occurs, there is a temporary interest in Okinawa. I think about Okinawa and feel like" I have to fix this situation "in the mainland. It gets excited, but as time goes by, it gets colder. It's hard to find people who want to know the suffering of Okinawa and the situation of Okinawa. For the people of the mainland, Okinawa is tourism, migration, etc. Culture and entertainment are all just consuming Okinawa for ourselves. "

Mr. Moriguchi:

"Okinawa's interest in the mainland is not transient, it is sustained, and it is spread to the surroundings. So, the problem of Okinawa is our own problem. Okinawa must be hoping that such a time will come, and I'm always staring at Okinawa with that in mind. "

In February, Moriguchi was diagnosed with malignant lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.

The stage is 3.

The doctor told me that I had one year to live.

Even so, I will continue to think about and convey Okinawa until the day when the light of life goes out.

What can I do as a reporter and as a person living on the mainland?

What do I have to do?

Every time I think back on Mr. Moriguchi's words, my chest is tightened.

Next year, Okinawa will celebrate its 50th anniversary since returning to Japan.

Reporter of the Social Affairs Department　

Ken Yamaguchi Born in

Tokyo For

two years

from　

2011, he covered base issues at the Okinawa Bureau, and is

currently in charge of themes such as war and peace at the Social Affairs Department.