Photo/Illutration The original document of the agreement between Japan and the United States on the reversion of Okinawa to Japanese sovereignty. It was signed in 1971. (Provided by Foreign Ministry)

The original document of the agreement between Japan and the United States on the reversion of Okinawa to Japanese sovereignty will be made public on May 13, a full half century after the fact.

It will be on display at the Foreign Ministry’s Diplomatic Archives in Tokyo’s Minato Ward until May 25 to mark the 50th anniversary of the handover.

Admission is free.

The document bears the signatures of Foreign Minister Kiichi Aichi and Secretary of State William P. Rogers, representing both countries. It was signed on June 17, 1971.

The instrument of ratification was later approved by both countries and exchanged. That document, which bears the signature of President Richard Nixon, will also go on display.

The agreement took effect on May 15, 1972, resulting in the United States relinquishing control of Okinawa.

The Foreign Ministry, in principle, makes diplomatic documents public after 30 years have passed since they were created or obtained.

But due to a lack of manpower and other reasons, the process tends to be delayed.

Officials explained it takes time to judge the extent to which the ministry should release supporting documents that accompany original documents.

Original documents are basically stored as electronic data to ensure their preservation for posterity, which requires an additional process.

The ministry is expected to make accompanying documents of the agreement public by the end of the year.

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