Delve into postwar Japan’s pioneering migration policy and its impact on nation-building in this key study of emigration to South America. Uncover the genesis of state-led migration, examining how political calculations, rather than solely economic factors, drove historical flows from Japan and the Ryukyu Islands. This analysis illuminates the complex US-Japan-Okinawa relationship in mid-20th century programs. An essential read for students and scholars of postwar Asian history, international migration studies, and state-led development, offering a unique perspective on migration’s political dimensions.