The United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands abbr. USCAR (琉球列島米国民政府, Japanese: Ryūkyū-rettō Beikoku Minseifu, Okinawan: Rūcū ʔAmirika Minhyōjōju) was the civil administration government in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (centered on Okinawa Island), replacing the United States Military Government of the Ryukyu Islands (itself created at the conclusion of World War II) in 1950, and functioning until the islands were returned to Japan in 1972.