The Perry Centennial of 1953 in Okinawa: U.S. Cultural Policy in Cold War Okinawa

Abstract

This paper examines the significance of the Perry Centennial festival of 1953, the 100-year

anniversary of the United States opening Okinawa of 1853. The U.S. government regarded the

Centennial as an excellent opportunity to promote American democracy in Postwar Okinawa,

particularly at the moment when Soviet pressure in Asia increased. In order to prevent Communist

aggression and gain Okinawan peoples understanding on U.S. policy in East Asia, the U.S. used the

Perry Centennial to emphasize the mutual unity and security with Okinawa. The U.S. military

government in Okinawa sought to present the drama of Commodore Matthew C. Perrys diplomacy

and the success of his historic naval expedition to underscore the world leadership of the United States

in 1953. The article examines such Americas cultural diplomacy toward Okinawa, and describes how

the Perry Centennial of 1953 helped shape the public opinion on U.S. policy in Cold War in Okinawa.