
Okinawa marks 80th anniversary of end of WWII ground battle
Okinawa on Monday observed the 80th anniversary of the end of a fierce World War II ground battle between Japan and the United States that took the lives of over 200,000 military personnel and residents.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki attended a service at the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, where the final stage of the battle was fought. Another 342 names were added to the list of war dead inscribed on monuments, bringing the total to 242,567 people.
The Battle of Okinawa from March through June 1945 in the Japanese southern island prefecture took a heavy toll on the local population, with one in four residents killed.
After Japan's defeat, Okinawa was under U.S. administration until 1972 and it continues to host the bulk of U.S. forces in Japan.
Anti-base sentiment runs deep due to noise, pollution and crimes committed by American service members, with a series of alleged sexual assault cases revealed recently fueling anger among local residents.
Japan has been strengthening its defense capabilities in the prefecture in recent years as tensions grow with China over Taiwan and the nearby Senkaku Islands, a group of uninhabited islets controlled by Tokyo and claimed by Beijing, which calls them Diaoyu.
The move has raised concern among Okinawans that their islands could again become the front line of conflict.
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23 minutes ago
Ishiba Says He Will Stay in Office
News from Japan Politics Jul 20, 2025 22:48 (JST) Tokyo, July 20 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Sunday that he will stay in office following the day's House of Councillors election. "The deadline for tariff talks (between Japan and the United States) comes on Aug. 1. We have to face it with all our might," Ishiba said on television. He said his ruling Liberal Democratic Party has no intention to abandon power. Ishiba also said, "Discussing (an expansion of the ruling coalition) with those who are responsible for the future of the country is an option." END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
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Nikkei Asia
an hour ago
- Nikkei Asia
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The ruling bloc could secure fewer than 46 seats -- a new low since the formation of the coalition between the LDP and Komeito. 9:30 p.m. As of 7:30 p.m., the national turnout figure stood at 29.93%, down 0.65 percentage point from the previous upper house election. 9:22 p.m. Ryohei Iwatani, the secretary-general of Japan Innovation Party, which has a strong foothold around Osaka, said at a press conference: "We continued to appeal for realistic reforms, including lowering social insurance premiums and that gradually gained the understanding of voters throughout the campaign period." 9:14 p.m. Here are some photos from the evening so far: 9:08 p.m. Itsunori Onodera, the LDP's policy chief, spoke to NHK: "The election results clearly show that our policies did not go down well with the voters. I have to acknowledge this as the party's policy chief." When he was asked about whether the party will go for tax cuts or cash handouts as an economic relief measure, Onodera said, "The consumption tax is an important revenue source for the country's social security programs. We need to discuss with the opposition what it intends to do with these programs." During the campaign, the LDP promised cash handouts as a relief measure for inflation, while opposition parties called for consumption tax cuts, either permanent or temporary. 8:59 p.m. Kiyomi Tsujimoto of the CDP told a radio station that "I think criticism against the LDP was very strong." NHK projects that the CDP, the main opposition party, will likely increase its seats in the chamber. Meanwhile, the DPFP, which held four seats before the election, is also projected to boost its presence in the chamber. 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The upper house vote comes amid Tokyo's continued efforts to reach a trade deal with Washington, which has slapped a 25% "reciprocal" tariff that goes into effect on Aug. 1. 6:30 p.m. Here's a few photos from today: 6:15 p.m. The national voter turnout as of 4 p.m. stood at 22.42%, 0.57 percentage point lower than the previous upper house election three years ago, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. For Tokyo, it was 22.87% -- 2.6 percentage points down. According to government data, an estimated 26.18 million people participated in early voting, a record high and over 6.5 million more than in the previous upper house poll. 6 p.m. Just two hours now until voting ends. Exit polls and projections by major broadcasters will start coming in at 8 p.m., and will be updated frequently during the course of the evening as votes are counted.


The Mainichi
an hour ago
- The Mainichi
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