91-yr-old woman who lost family members in Battle of Okinawa shares painful story
ITOMAN, Okinawa -- Eighty years ago, the Battle of Okinawa claimed the lives of many residents during fierce ground combat between U.S. and Imperial Japanese Army forces. A then 10-year-old girl who lost family members one by one, wandered the battlefield alone. Now in her 90s, the Okinawa resident has shared her experiences, urging the world to learn from history rather than blame it amid ongoing conflicts.
On June 22, the day before Okinawa Memorial Day, 91-year-old Rieko Tamaki visited the Mange-no-to Monument in Itoman, Okinawa Prefecture. Her paternal grandfather died in the area following an attack by U.S. forces, and the family had to flee, leaving his body behind. "There's no proof, but I believe he's enshrined here," she said, clasping her hands in prayer. Tamaki wonders if her late grandfather was able to meet other members of her family in the afterlife. "Have you met the family you longed to see?" she asked him.
In October 1944, Tamaki's family of 10 began their escape. The "Oct. 10 air raid" destroyed her father's hospital in Naha, forcing them to relocate to Ginowan. Tamaki had lost her mother before the war, and when the new year came, her father and uncle were conscripted. She still remembers the rough texture of her father's military uniform as he lifted her up.
On April 1, 1945, U.S. forces landed on Okinawa's main island. The remaining eight family members headed south to Shuri, where the headquarters of the Imperial Japanese Army's 32nd Army was located, hoping to find her father. However, not only was there no clue as to her father's whereabouts, but after sneaking into a cave in Shuri, they were told by a Japanese soldier, "This is for military use. Leave at sunset." That night, her maternal grandmother took her own life.
The family moved toward the former village of Kochinda, finding a small shelter. However, a shell exploded nearby, instantly killing Tamaki's close friend of the same age. Her brother was severely injured and taken to a field hospital. He had his left arm severed and died, moaning, "I want water."
They were forced to leave the Kochinda shelter when a nearby one was hit by a flamethrower. "We were searching for a way to escape when there was nowhere to run," Tamaki recalled.
Her grandfather was also attacked. In a farmer's shed, he was hit by gunfire from his back to side. Despite his injuries, he urged the family to hide behind a stone wall. Shortly after, the young Tamaki heard a cry she had never heard before. Her grandfather had taken his own life to avoid being a burden.
Her paternal grandmother died instantly in another attack, and Tamaki comforted herself by telling herself that she had died without suffering. "You were lucky," she reflected, addressing her late grandmother.
Her aunt and a cousin were also injured, and her immobilized aunt urged her to flee. Alone, Tamaki feared she might be the only survivor in Okinawa. At dusk, she saw a living figure among the corpses and ran to them, staying close without exchanging names.
One day, a man noticed the feared Grumman aircraft were no longer flying, and went to investigate. From the top of a hill, he shouted, "Hey, the war is over!" Climbing the hill to see for herself, Tamaki witnessed evacuated people emerging from all directions. "I couldn't believe so many had survived," she thought. This was near the former village of Mabuni, now part of Itoman.
After the war, she reunited with her aunt, who had miraculously survived, but her father was confirmed dead, meaning only the two of them had survived. She regrets leaving her family behind and not being able to give her brother water in his final moments. These regrets persist, and she can't sleep without sleeping pills.
Despite this, Tamaki continues to share her story, emphasizing the importance of remembering. In early June, she met with Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko during their visit to Okinawa, sharing her experiences.
Looking at the world today, in addition to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Israel continues to fight against the Islamic organization Hamas and is intensifying its military attacks on Iran. Tamaki said, "Once war begins, the future becomes uncertain. War is the result of nations' insatiable desires." She emphasized, "We must take action before it starts. It is important to work through diplomacy, economic cooperation and cultural exchange."
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