This article explores the negotiations between Japan and Okinawa to clarify the latter’s role in this process. I focus on visits to Tokyo by Chobyo Yara, Chief Executive of the Government of the Ryukyu Islands, to meet with Japanese Government officials, including Prime Minister Eisaku Sato and Foreign Minister Kiichi Aichi. In particular, I consider ‘homeland level status’, a term used in these discussions to define the conditions for Okinawa’s reversion to Japan.

中文翻译：

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日本和冲绳之间围绕“本土级别地位”回归的谈判进程

本文探讨了日本和冲绳之间的谈判，以阐明后者在此过程中的作用。我的重点是琉球群岛政府首席执行官 Chobyo Yara 访问东京，会见日本政府官员，包括首相佐藤荣作和外相爱知喜一。我特别考虑“本土级别地位”，这是这些讨论中用来定义冲绳回归日本的条件的术语。