戰後日本政治史上，佐藤榮作首相締造了經濟發展最輝煌的時代，任內政績尤以「收回琉球」為人所稱道。惟同樣值得注意的是，佐藤的政績，乃是基於日本「親美反共」的時空背景。因此，本文擬先鋪陳佐藤的出身背景、人格特質、從政經歷，再以這些線索析論施行收回琉球政策的理由。其次，以琉球對美國的亞洲軍事戰略所扮演之角色為中心，說明日本收回琉球必須以「反共」作前提的緣由。最後，以收回琉球過程作經緯，評析佐藤厲行「親美反共」政策的得失。

Prime Minister Eisaku Sato created the most glorious era of economic development in the political history of postwar Japan. Sato’s praiseworthy achievement was “Okinawan reversion” based on a “pro-American and anti-communism” stance. This article first presents the reasons why Sato executed the “Okinawan Reversion” policy, based on his family, personal character, and political experiences. It also illustrates the relations between Japan’s “anti-communism” policy and the Asian military strategy of the United States. As the main point of “Okinawan reversion”, this article finally analyzes the gains and losses due to Sato’s “pro-America and anti-ommunism” policy.