Battle of Okinawa remembered 80 years on

NHK

5 days ago

People in Japan are marking 80 years since the end of the Battle of Okinawa, a campaign of fierce ground fighting during the closing stages of World War Two.
Residents of the islands have been paying tribute to those who lost their lives. A ceremony was held on Monday at the Peace Memorial Park in the city of Itoman, the site of the final fighting. Hundreds of people observed a moment of silence.
The head of a group of victims' families, Gabu Seiju, said: "80 years have passed since the horrific Battle of Okinawa came to an end. Our sympathies are with the families who lost loved ones leaving emotional scars so deep that, even now, they still haven't healed. Looking at the world today, we are deeply concerned to see all the countries currently at war. And we pray that each of them is able to achieve peace."
Okinawa Governor Tamaki Denny spoke of the importance of passing on the lessons learned.
Tamaki said: " Here lie the roots of the people of Okinawa and our enduring desire for peace. It is our mission, as those living in the present, to preserve and pass on the reality and lessons as the "Spirit of Okinawa" to future generations."
More than 200,000 people died during the Battle of Okinawa.
Okinawa recognizes June 23, 1945, as the day when the now-defunct Japanese Imperial military ended organized combat against US forces in the battle.
People have been visiting the park since the early morning to pay their respects.
One man said, " War will never end, so I hope people around the world will change their feelings and there will be no more war."
A boy who is in sixth grade said: " I'm grateful for peace, and I'm also grateful to be able to come here. I need to remember peace no matter how many years have passed."
Accounts of the battle have been passed down from generation to generation based on stories shared by survivors. But people now have few opportunities to listen to them directly.