From Okinawa to Wales: Peace and Resistance Across 10,000 Kilometres

From Okinawa to Wales: Peace and Resistance Across 10,000 Kilometres

Mae Okinawa yn gartref i un o fudiadau heddwch mwyaf gwydn y byd – ond nid oes fawr neb yn gwybod amdano. Dechreuodd y mudiad yn sgil trawma’r Ail Ryfel Byd, ac yna fe ddatblygodd dros 27 mlynedd dan oresgyniad yn yr Unol Daleithiau. Heddiw mae pobl o bob cefndir yn Okinawa yn parhau i fynegi eu heddychiaeth drwy ralïau torfol, meddiannu adeiladau, comedi a chelf.

Okinawa is home to one of the world’s most resilient – yet little-known – peace movements. Rooted in the trauma of World War II, then honed during 27 years of US occupation, today Okinawans from all walks of life continue to express their pacifism through mass rallies, sit-ins, comedy and art.

Ers 16 mlynedd, mae’r newyddiadurwr a’r awdur o Gymru, Jon Mitchell, wedi bod yn gohebu am fudiad heddwch Okinawa a’r anghyfiawnderau gan lywodraethau’r Unol Daleithiau a Japan a’i sbardunodd. Ac yntau’n arbenigwr yn Neddf Rhyddid Gwybodaeth yr Unol Daleithiau, mae ei ymchwiliadau wedi sbarduno gwelliannau gan awdurdodau cenedlaethol ac wedi ennill y gwobrau newyddiaduraeth uchaf eu bri yn Japan.

For 16 years, Welsh journalist and author Jon Mitchell has reported on Okinawa’s peace movement and the US and Japanese government abuses that have precipitated it. An expert in the US Freedom of Information Act, his investigations have prompted improvements by national authorities and earned him Japan’s highest journalism awards.

Yn y sgwrs hon yn y Deml Heddwch, bydd Jon yn trafod ei lyfr diweddaraf (Bloomsbury Academic 2026). Mae’r llyfr yn olrhain sut cafodd yr ynysoedd eu cyfeddiannu gan Japan, eu goresgyn gan yr Unol Daleithiau, a sut y maent erbyn heddiw dan fwy a mwy o fygythiad gan Tsieina. Ochr yn ochr â gwreiddiau heddychiaeth yn Okinawa, bydd Jon yn archwilio’r tebygrwydd rhwng Cymru ac Okinawa. Er bod bron i 10,000 cilomedr rhyngddynt, mae’r ddau le wedi profi gwahaniaethu, gormes ieithyddol a chamfanteisio amgylcheddol – ffactorau sydd wedi meithrin ymrwymiad cadarn i heddwch a chyfiawnder cymdeithasol.

In this talk at the Temple of Peace, Jon will discuss his latest book (Bloomsbury Academic 2026). The book traces how the islands were annexed by Japan, occupied by the United States, and are today increasingly threatened by China. Alongside the origins of Okinawan pacifism, Jon will explore the parallels between Wales and Okinawa. Despite being separated by almost 10,000 kilometres, both have experienced discrimination, linguistic suppression and environmental exploitation – factors that have engendered a steadfast commitment to peace and social justice.

Bydd Jill Evans, cyn-Aelod o Senedd Ewrop ac Is-gadeirydd Academi Heddwch Cymru yn ymuno â Jon mewn trafodaeth.

Jon will be joined in discussion by Jill Evans, former Member of the European Parliament and Vice-Chair of Academi Heddwch Cymru.

Ganed Jon Mitchell yn Abertawe ac mae wedi byw yn Japan ers 1998. Mae’n newyddiadurwr ymchwiliol gyda’r Okinawa Times, ac mae wedi ysgrifennu chwe llyfr am Okinawa, gan gynnwys Poisoning the Pacific, a enillodd wobr yng ngwobrau llyfrau blynyddol yr US Society of Environmental Journalists. Ers 2024, mae wedi cydlynu’r gwaith o gyfieithu Neges Heddwch ac Ewyllys Da’r Urdd i Uchinaaguchi, sef iaith Okinawa.

Jon Mitchell was born in Swansea and has lived in Japan since 1998. An investigative journalist with Okinawa Times, he is the author of six books about Okinawa, including Poisoning the Pacific, a winner in the US Society of Environmental Journalists’ annual book awards. Since 2024, he has coordinated the translation of the Urdd’s Peace and Goodwill Message into the Okinawan language, Uchinaaguchi.

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