An Artful Way of Making Indigenous Space

Abstract:This article shows the emergence of indigenous space in Okinawa through a review and analysis of land use planning in Yomitan Village. This article examines how microcommunities have historically organized and situated and how these self-governing entities and community leaders cooperate to create alternative land use of militarized space. I explore the dispute over the former Yomitan Airfield to unpack contested understandings and forms of belonging to, occupation over, and usage of the land. The analysis of the Yomitan Airfield demonstrates an artful way of indigenous repossession of militarized land by a local community. Furthermore, the repossession of the Yomitan Airfield shows when, how, and to what extent “indigeneity” matters in the contemporary land politics in Okinawa.