水平轴思想——关于冲绳的“共同体意识”

“水平轴思想”是指在横向的关系中把握人际关系的想法，被这种“水平轴”意识所支撑的“共同体意志”，也还是同样在“水平轴”的方向上发挥作用，就是说，一个“共同体”在与其他“共同体”的关系中，决定自己的意志。面对其他“公共体”时，“共同体”成员的归属意识被越发强烈地激发出来。在冲绳近代化的过程中，把冲绳的一切当作异质的东西加以自我否定，试图向日本本土同质化看齐。这一切是通过把“国家”的意志转换成“冲绳的进步”和“摆脱落后”，而使人产生新型的“共同体意志”的幻想，“国家”的意志正是这样把这种幻想带给冲绳的民众。民众希望从残酷状况中挣脱出来的愿望，进一步使这种支配性的意志很容易变为现实。

The Horizontal Way of Thinking - On the Commonwealth Consciousness of Okinawa

To stress horizontal relations in grasping human relationship is what I would call ＂the horizontal way of thinking.＂ The will of a commonwealth supported by such horizontal way of thinking also exerts itself in a horizontal fashion. In other words, such a commonwealth would determine its own will in view of its relations with other commonwealths. When confronted with other commonwealths, the sense of belonging to one＇s own common- wealth is greatly aroused. In its modernity process, Okinawa tries to negate itself and enter into uniformity with na- tive Japan. This is realized through translating the will of the ＂state＂ into ＂the progress of Okinawa＂ and ＂the effort of breaking away from backwardness,＂ thereby creating in the minds of the local people the illusion of ＂the will of the commonwealth.＂ The hope of freeing themselves from the cruel reality has also put the local people at the mercy of the will of the ＂state.＂