It is not easy to regard oneself as an oppressor.

While Japanese enjoyed unprecedented prosperity in recent decades, residents of Okinawa have endured a burden others simply do not appreciate, says photographer Ari Hatsuzawa, who has published a pictorial study of what he calls the complex reality in Okinawa.

The book, titled "Okinawa no Koto wo Oshiete Kudasai" (Let us Know About Okinawa) published in August, features colorful, sometimes humorous photos of everyday life in Okinawa. But its underlying message is clear: People outside the prefecture must learn more about the complicated issues its residents face.