In 1950, in the Gunto Island district governor elections, many of those elected had waged campaigns stressing the idea of reversion to Japan. In the reforms carried out within the political parties as a result of the elections, the promotion of reversion to Japan became part of the basic party platform of the Okinawa Socialist Masses Party (Shadaito).
After the election of the Gunto district governors, the U.S. government changed the administration of the islands from the military government to the three tiered United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands (USCAR). This federal system consisted of the Central Government, the Gunto Governments and the municipal city and village jurisdictions.
The U.S. by now had become aware of the reversion sentiments of the Gunto district governments and in April of 1951 established the Provisional Central Government to protect its legislative, judicial and administrative rights until a more permanent Central Government could be formed. With the appearance of the Provisional Central Government the Gunto governments became governments in name only.
In March of 1952 the residents of Okinawa voted in majority for candidates that were promoting the reversion to Japan in a direct election of the legislature. The U.S. Civil Administration sensed an impending crisis and, on April 1, appointed Shuhei Higa as the first chief executive of the Government of the Ryukyus Islands. The Gunto governments, elected by the people of Okinawa with their hopes in mind, were disbanded.
