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Yomiuri Shimbun
5 days ago
- General
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Okinawa Marks 80th Anniversary of Fierce WWII Battle; Names of Yamato Battleship Crew Added to Peace Memorial
ITOMAN, Okinawa — Okinawa Prefecture marked Okinawa Memorial Day on Monday, remembering the Battle of Okinawa that took the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the final days of World War II. The Okinawa Memorial Service for All War Dead, organized by the prefectural government and assembly, was held at the Peace Memorial Park in the Mabuni district of Itoman, where the last fierce battle of the war took place. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki and representatives of bereaved families were among the about 4,000 people attending the ceremony. They renewed their commitment to peace amid the ongoing conflicts around the world. At noon, the attendees observed a minute of silence and offered prayers for the victims. Tamaki presented a Peace Declaration in which he said the realities and lessons of the Battle of Okinawa have been passed down through such means as the testimony of war survivors, who despite their emotional scars have sought to convey their experiences to future generations. 'It is the mission of those of us living today to continue to uphold the lessons,' he said. Regarding the continued concentration of U.S. military bases in the prefecture, Tamaki said, 'Incidents and accidents involving U.S. military personnel continue to occur as an excessive burden of U.S. bases.' The prime minister stressed in his speech that we must never forget the regrets of all those who died in battle. 'Even young people were mobilized and died in the war. They included female students who were put to work as nurses,' he said. This year, 342 names were added to the Cornerstone of Peace, bringing the total number on the monument to 242,567. More than 90%, or 326, of the 342 names added were those of people from outside the prefecture. Many were crew members of the battleship Yamato, which sank in April 1945 on its way to Okinawa on a special attack mission.
The Mainichi
5 days ago
- General
- The Mainichi
Why is June 23 remembered as Okinawa Memorial Day?
The Mainichi Shimbun answers some common questions readers may have about "Okinawa Memorial Day," which falls on June 23. Question: June 23 is Okinawa Memorial Day. Why is this day chosen for remembrance? Answer: Eighty years ago, in 1945, ground battles between Japanese and American forces took place in Okinawa Prefecture, resulting in the deaths of about 200,000 people including residents. The ground battles began in earnest when U.S. forces landed on Okinawa's main island on April 1, 1945, and it is said that Japan's organized resistance ended on June 23. That day, a Japanese military commander and others, cornered by U.S. forces, took their own lives in Mabuni, now part of the city of Itoman. Q: So, the Battle of Okinawa ended that day, didn't it? A: Not exactly. Although the command headquarters ceased to exist, sporadic fighting continued. Before taking his own life, the Japanese commander had issued orders to "fight to the end." The U.S. declared the end of operations in Okinawa on July 2, 1945, and Japanese forces in the Nansei Islands including Okinawa signed the surrender documents on Sept. 7, 1945. Q: When was June 23 established as Okinawa Memorial Day? A: In 1961, while Okinawa was under U.S. control, the local Ryukyu government legally designated Okinawa Memorial Day. Initially, June 22 was set as memorial day, but it was changed to June 23 in a 1965 legal revision. This change was based on research findings indicating that June 23 was more likely the day the commander took his own life. However, the theory supporting June 22 still exists today. Q: How do the people of Okinawa observe this day? A: June 23 is a public holiday in Okinawa, as stipulated by the prefectural ordinance, and memorial services are held across the prefecture. Bereaved families and others visit the "Cornerstone of Peace" at Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, offering flowers and putting their hands together in prayer before the monuments inscribed with the names of those who died in the Battle of Okinawa and other conflicts. During the annual Okinawa Memorial Service for All War Dead held at the park, attendees observe a moment of silence at noon, and the governor of Okinawa reads out a "Peace Declaration." This is a day to mourn the loss of 200,000 lives and reflect on the importance of peace.
Yomiuri Shimbun
6 days ago
- General
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Foreigners Prominent in Memorial Activities for Battle of Okinawa Victims; Event Reading Names of Victims to Continue Through Monday
NAHA — Foreign nationals are starting to have a clear presence at events to remember the victims of the Battle of Okinawa, which marked the devastating end of the Pacific War. People from more than 20 countries are participating in a movement to read out the names of the over 240,000 war dead engraved on the Cornerstone of Peace monument in Itoman, Okinawa Prefecture. The monument was established 30 years ago based on the concept of transforming the 'Typhoon of Steel' — the U.S. forces' heavy artillery shelling and bombing campaign — into waves of peace. It marks its 30th anniversary on Monday, amid continuing prayers for peace both in Japan and internationally. On June 6, Vincent Rina, a 26-year-old trainee from South Sudan, carefully read out the names and ages of the war victims at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Okinawa Center in Urasoe, Okinawa Prefecture. The names included those of a 1-year-old baby and two children believed to be three siblings. 'Thinking about the short lives these children had is truly heartbreaking,' said Rina, who lost her father in a conflict in her country. 'By highlighting innocent victims, this event contributes to building peace. It's something I want to bring back to my country.' Launched in 2022 by an executive committee of local volunteers, the name-reading initiative has had more and more participants every year. This year, applications from foreign organizations have surged, and the total number of participants is expected to exceed last year's record of about 5,800. For this reason, romaji romanized spellings were added to the names for the first time. The readings have been held daily in a relay format since June 1 and will continue until Monday, the day of the Okinawa Memorial Service for All War Dead, which commemorates the victims of the Battle of Okinawa. On June 6, about 20 individuals from 14 different countries participated in the reading at JICA, including JICA trainees and international students. Among them was Fernando Nakasone, a fourth-generation Japanese-Peruvian student from the University of the Ryukyus. Nakasone's uncle lost two younger sisters, ages 11 and 8, in Okinawa during the Battle of Okinawa. The two girls were killed by a bomb shortly after leaving a cave in search of water. Nakasone heard the story from his uncle when he was a child. 'I want to share this unforgettable history in Peru, too,' he said.
