But in 1972 , Washington returned them to Japan as part of its withdrawal from Okinawa . Hundreds of Japanese factories and stores reopened in China after violent protests . Exports to China , Tokyo 's largest trading partner , dropped nearly 10 % year - on - year in August . Japanese automakers Nissan , Mitsubishi , Toyota and Honda , have reopened in China . Panasonic has yet to reopen in Qingdao where part of its facility was set ablaze by protesters .
Hundreds of Japanese factories and stores reopened in China after violent protests . Exports to China , Tokyo 's largest trading partner , dropped nearly 10 % year - on - year in August . Japanese automakers Nissan , Mitsubishi , Toyota and Honda , have reopened in China . Panasonic has yet to reopen in Qingdao where part of its facility was set ablaze by protesters .