​We regularly receive requests for reading recommendations about Luchu / Okinawa. Unfortunately the vast majority of the resources available about Luchu, particularly in the English language, are written and published by white or Japanese people, not by Luchuans / Okinawans. Thus, they tend to use a Western or Japan-centric worldview, contain major inaccuracies that misrepresent Luchuans, and marginalize Luchuan voices. We strongly recommend learning about Luchu from Luchuans, not from Westerners or Japanese people. 

We often receive requests from Japanese and Westerners (including some Okinawan Americans) to review and promote their work regarding Okinawa. However, the overwhelming majority of these works are very problematic, contain major errors, and do not accurately reflect Luchuan voices. Therefore we cannot recommend their materials. 

In order to help promote Luchuan voices, the Peace For Okinawa Coalition is working to create and publish our own materials. In the meantime, however, below are some English-language materials we recommend. 

There are some additional materials available in Luchu published by local municipalities or small publishers that we would recommend. Unfortunately these tend to be difficult or impossible to obtain from outside of Luchu, therefore we will not include them on this list. 

These materials, of course, do not provide a comprehensive understanding of Luchu, and only provide a basic introduction to Luchuan issues. ​

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​Akamine, Mamoru. The Ryukyu Kingdom: Cornerstone of East Asia. 

​Easily the best Luchu / Okinawan history book in the English language, and the only English-language book specifically about Luchu readily available in the West that we recommend. Mamoru Akamine is a Luchuan professor of history at Meio University. ​

Asian Settler Colonialism, edited by Candace Fujikane and Jonathan Y. Okamura. 

Although not specifically about Luchu / Okinawa, Asian Settler Colonialism provides a useful and important framework for understanding issues pertaining to marginalized peoples. Both Fujikane and Okamura are Japanese, not Okinawan, but they approach the issue of settler colonialism in a respectful manner. They do not pretend to be Okinawan or Hawaiian, and they are upfront about their own settler identity. They seek to support Hawaiians from the sides, not the front, as is appropriate. Understanding the role of settler colonizers is essential to understanding marginalized peoples, including Luchuans / Okinawans. 

Okinawa Prefectural Government. "What Okinawa Wants You to Understand about the U.S. Military Bases."

The Okinawa Prefectural Government has published some useful and accurate materials about Okinawa, particularly about issues surrounding the U.S. and Japan militaries. They work directly with the U.S. and Japan militaries and are often the best, most direct, and most accurate source of information regarding military, environmental, and economic issues in Okinawa. These materials are readily available from their website: https://dc-office.org/brochure
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The Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Park website.

​The Memorial is the most accurate source of materials relating to the Battle of Okinawa, and stores first-hand testimonies of survivors. Their website contains many of these testimonies, translated into various languages. Link: ​http://www.peace-museum.okinawa.jp/english/

The Himeyuri Peace Museum.

Similar to the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial, the Himeyuri Peace Museum is the most accurate source of information of the 'Himeyuri' nursing students who were massacred by Japanese and U.S. soldiers in 1945. Their website contains information written in various languages: ​https://www.himeyuri.or.jp/EN/establish.html

Zayas, Alfred de.
"The Human Rights Trilogy"
Building a Just World Order.
Countering Mainstream Narratives: Fake News, Fake Law, Fake Freedom.
The Human Rights Industry.

Alfred de Zayas is a high ranking United Nations official, and the original UN Independent Expert on the Promotion of Democratic and Equitable International Order. He is one of the world's leading experts in human rights and international law, and has repeatedly voiced his support for restoring Luchu's independence. 

In Building a Just World Order, Zayas argues in favor of Luchuan / Okinawan rights to self-determination. In The Human Rights Industry, Zayas cites the Peace For Okinawa Coalition's vision for Luchu's independence restoration. 

​Wang, Yuanchong. Remaking the Chinese Empire: Manchu – Korean Relations, 1616-1911.

Although not technically about Luchu / Okinawa, Remaking the Chinese Empire discusses Chinese - Korean relations during the Qing Dynasty. During this time Luchu had a very similar relationship to China as Korea did, so many parallels can be drawn between the two. Wang mentions Luchu (Ryukyu) numerous times throughout this work. 

Siu, Leon. The Basis for the Restoration of the Hawaiian Kingdom. 

Trask, Haunani-Kay. From a Native Daughter: Colonialism and Sovereignty in Hawaiʻi

More books that are not directly about Luchu / Okinawa. Rather, they are about Hawaiian independence, and have in turn played important roles in helping to influence and inspire Luchuan / Okinawan independence restoration advocates.