Ōta Chōfu
Encyclopedia
was a prominent Ryukyuan journalist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, famous for his involvement in the Kōdō-kai Movement, advocating the maintenance of hereditary rule of Okinawa
under the heirs to the royal family of Ryūkyū
.
to be awarded a scholarship to study in Tokyo
. After studying at Gakushūin
and Keiō
Universities, he returned to Okinawa in 1893, and helped found the Ryūkyū Shimpō
, the first newspaper in Okinawa.
Following the abolition of the Ryūkyū Kingdom and annexation of the islands by Japan as Okinawa Prefecture, politics and economics in Okinawa quickly came to be dominated by Japanese from the other prefectures. Many government bureaucrats, including Chōfu's father, engaged in peaceful protest, simply ceasing to work and refusing to aid the new officials in taking over responsibilities and activities. Ōta Chōfu also watched as native Okinawan merchants began to be pushed out by merchants from other cities who began to exert a monopolistic influence over the marketplace. He notes, in his writings, how a considerable amount of funding flowed into Hokkaidō
, also recently formally annexed by Imperial Japan, and that many public works projects, the building of infrastructure, etc. were undertaken there, while Okinawa received little funding or infrastructure construction from the central government at this time. While Hokkaidō had considerable natural resources and the Ainu
living there posed little political opposition, Okinawa had little natural resources, and "a large population divided and uncertain in its political and cultural loyalties".
During the Sino-Japanese War
, Ōta was a member of the pro-Japanese Kaika-tō ("Enlightenment Party"), and was in his journalism, very critical of the pro-Chinese Ganko-tō ("Stubborn Party") within Okinawa. Ōta also helped found the Kōdō-kai, a group devoted to protesting for continued native Okinawan, not Japanese, leadership of Okinawa; the group in particular sought to see the former king of Ryūkyū, Shō Tai
, instated as governor of the prefecture, and to see the position pass down through his lineage, as the throne would have. As editor-in-chief, Ōta also led the paper in opposing the Freedom and People's Rights Movement
led in Okinawa by, among others, his former fellow scholarship student, Jahana Noboru.
In his journalism, Ōta reported and commented on a wide variety of subjects, including the state of education in Okinawa and economic problems. Beginning around 1903, he promoted the establishment of agencies in Osaka
and elsewhere, including a Sugar Dealers' Association, aimed at helping Okinawans enter the otherwise Japanese-dominated markets.
He would later go on to serve as Okinawan representative in the prefectural assembly, and as mayor of Shuri (beginning in 1931), but remained a journalist throughout his life. After leaving the Ryūkyū Shimpō for a time, he was invited back in 1930 to serve as company president. He also wrote three books, including .
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
under the heirs to the royal family of Ryūkyū
Ryukyu Kingdom
The Ryūkyū Kingdom was an independent kingdom which ruled most of the Ryukyu Islands from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Kings of Ryūkyū unified Okinawa Island and extended the kingdom to the Amami Islands in modern-day Kagoshima Prefecture, and the Sakishima Islands near Taiwan...
.
Life and career
Ōta was born in Shuri, and in 1882 became one of the first Okinawan students in the Meiji periodMeiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
to be awarded a scholarship to study in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. After studying at Gakushūin
Gakushuin University
is an elite higher educational institution in Mejiro, Toshima Ward, Tokyo. It was re-established after World War II as an affiliate of the Gakushūin School Corporation, the privatized successor to the original Gakushūin University or "Peers School" set up during the Meiji era to educate the...
and Keiō
Keio University
,abbreviated as Keio or Keidai , is a Japanese university located in Minato, Tokyo. It is known as the oldest institute of higher education in Japan. Founder Fukuzawa Yukichi originally established it as a school for Western studies in 1858 in Edo . It has eleven campuses in Tokyo and Kanagawa...
Universities, he returned to Okinawa in 1893, and helped found the Ryūkyū Shimpō
Ryūkyū Shimpō
The ' was the first Okinawan newspaper. It was founded in 1893 by Shō Jun, a former prince of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, and is still in publication today....
, the first newspaper in Okinawa.
Following the abolition of the Ryūkyū Kingdom and annexation of the islands by Japan as Okinawa Prefecture, politics and economics in Okinawa quickly came to be dominated by Japanese from the other prefectures. Many government bureaucrats, including Chōfu's father, engaged in peaceful protest, simply ceasing to work and refusing to aid the new officials in taking over responsibilities and activities. Ōta Chōfu also watched as native Okinawan merchants began to be pushed out by merchants from other cities who began to exert a monopolistic influence over the marketplace. He notes, in his writings, how a considerable amount of funding flowed into Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, also recently formally annexed by Imperial Japan, and that many public works projects, the building of infrastructure, etc. were undertaken there, while Okinawa received little funding or infrastructure construction from the central government at this time. While Hokkaidō had considerable natural resources and the Ainu
Ainu people
The , also called Aynu, Aino , and in historical texts Ezo , are indigenous people or groups in Japan and Russia. Historically they spoke the Ainu language and related varieties and lived in Hokkaidō, the Kuril Islands, and much of Sakhalin...
living there posed little political opposition, Okinawa had little natural resources, and "a large population divided and uncertain in its political and cultural loyalties".
During the Sino-Japanese War
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
, Ōta was a member of the pro-Japanese Kaika-tō ("Enlightenment Party"), and was in his journalism, very critical of the pro-Chinese Ganko-tō ("Stubborn Party") within Okinawa. Ōta also helped found the Kōdō-kai, a group devoted to protesting for continued native Okinawan, not Japanese, leadership of Okinawa; the group in particular sought to see the former king of Ryūkyū, Shō Tai
Sho Tai
was the last king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom . His reign saw greatly increased interactions with travelers from abroad, particularly from Europe and the United States, as well as the eventual end of the kingdom and its annexation by Japan as Okinawa Prefecture.In 1879, the deposed king was forced to...
, instated as governor of the prefecture, and to see the position pass down through his lineage, as the throne would have. As editor-in-chief, Ōta also led the paper in opposing the Freedom and People's Rights Movement
Freedom and People's Rights Movement
The was a Japanese political and social movement for democracy in 1880s....
led in Okinawa by, among others, his former fellow scholarship student, Jahana Noboru.
In his journalism, Ōta reported and commented on a wide variety of subjects, including the state of education in Okinawa and economic problems. Beginning around 1903, he promoted the establishment of agencies in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
and elsewhere, including a Sugar Dealers' Association, aimed at helping Okinawans enter the otherwise Japanese-dominated markets.
He would later go on to serve as Okinawan representative in the prefectural assembly, and as mayor of Shuri (beginning in 1931), but remained a journalist throughout his life. After leaving the Ryūkyū Shimpō for a time, he was invited back in 1930 to serve as company president. He also wrote three books, including .