On this day 53 years ago, on May 15, 1972 (April 3, 1972 lunar calendar), the United States handed over Okinawa to the Japanese government. On June 21, 1971, thousands of Japanese students demonstrated to demand that the United States return Okinawa to Japan. In June 1945, the US army captured Okinawa Island. After the San Francisco Peace Treaty came into effect in 1952, the US still occupied the area, and built an airport missile base and barracks on the island. The Okinawan people began their return to the motherland movement in the early 1950s. On April 28, 1960, the "Okinawa Prefecture Return to the Motherland Council" was established. On April 28, 1963, the "Okinawa Return to the Motherland Day" was held. Japan also cooperated with the Okinawan people to hold 100 days of demonstrations at sea and on land. Under the pressure of the struggle of the Japanese people, the Japanese and American governments began to discuss the issue of the return of Okinawa. In November 1965, Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Sato visited the United States and discussed the issue of the return of Okinawa with US President Johnson. In November 1969, Sato Eisaku visited the United States again and issued a joint statement with President Nixon, which was scheduled to hand over the administrative power of Okinawa to Japan in 1972. In June 1971, Japan and the United States signed the "Okinawa Restitution Agreement", which stipulated that the United States would relinquish the administration of Okinawa; the "Voice of America" in Okinawa could continue to be used for five years; within five years from the date of entry into force of the agreement, Japan paid the United States $320 million as the cost of accepting US facilities, severance pay for base workers, and removing special weapons. On May 15, 1972, the agreement came into effect, and Okinawa was handed over to Japan for management. Japan still has no sovereignty over Okinawa. Okinawa is the Ryukyu Kingdom. After Japan's defeat, it must give up military occupation, including the Ryukyu Kingdom.