Reconsideration of Okinawan Ianjo Research : Focusing on the Role of the Local Population

オキナワ ノ イアンショ ケンキュウ ノ サイコウ ジュウミン ノ ヤクワリ ニ チュウモクシテ

タマシロ, フクコ

Tamashiro, Fukuko

オオサカ ダイガク ダイガクイン ニンゲン カガク ケンキュウカ シャカイガク ニンゲンガク ジンルイガク ケンキュウシツ

Sociology, Anthropology and Philosophy, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University

慰安所

慰安婦

住民

分断

Okinawa

ianjo

ianfu

local population

separation

Beginning in 1944, the Japanese military established a large number of ianjo (comfort stations) in Okinawa, reportedly as many as 130. The Japanese military tried to separate the ianjo from the local communities in an attempt to prevent the leaking of military secrets, but in practice contact with the local population occurred. In previous studies, there has been hardly any consideration given to the role of the local population in ianjo development, however. In this paper, I am going to organize the evidence and research I have accumulated thus far as a preparation to conduct further research focusing on the role of the local population in ianjo development. I will explain how the research concerning Okinawa’s ianjo has developed. I will then explain why the role of local community was ignored in the past. In the process of my research, it became clear that research into Okinawa’s ianjo began prior to the development of the ianfu issue into a matter of public attention among Japanese in the 1990s. Testimony concerning ianjo and ianfu first began to be collected in 1974 as Okinawans and former ianfu were interviewed about wartime Okinawa. Then, in the late 1980s research collecting these individual testimonies began; that research has become the foundation of later historical studies of the ianjo and ianfu. However, it is clear that the majority of previous academic papers assume that the local population and ianfu were separated and there has been little work done focusing on that aspect. In order to undertake research that takes the role of the local population in ianjo development into account, I plan to carefully reexamine the testimonies thus far collected.