OKINAWA MILITARY CLUB CHITS AND TOKENS

Military club chits and tokens developed due to a need to control hard currency at the clubs, control usage by authorized personnel, and maintain security of currency where civilian personnel were employed in the clubs. Token and chits helped to control theft and improper usage because accounting for tokens and chits by the local civilian personnel was safer then counting hard currency. Tokens and chits also helped to prevent usage on the civilian black market, although it was not 100% effective, especially in the case of tokens. Military clubs also made extra money when the chits and tokens were not redeemed.

The photos show chits and tokens from my collection along with photos or ads for clubs that used the chits or tokens. Between 1945 and 1972 there were over 150 different military clubs on Okinawa.