Tokyo, Jun 23 (AP) Okinawa marked the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of one of World War II's most brutal battles, which took place on this southern island.
With rising global tensions, the governor, on Monday, emphasized that it is Okinawa's “mission” to continue sharing the tragic history and its current impacts.
The Battle of Okinawa resulted in the death of a quarter of the island's population, leading to a 27-year U.S. occupation, which still results in a significant American military presence today.
The memorial took place a day after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, heightening uncertainties on the island regarding the substantial American military presence and concerns about potential entanglement in a conflict involving Taiwan.
Governor Denny Tamaki highlighted the significance of the escalating global conflicts and nuclear threats, pledging support for global peace studies, disarmament, and preservation of war remains.
“It is our mission, as those living in the present, to preserve and pass on the reality and lessons to future generations," he stated.
Fierce Battle and Civilian Deaths
U.S. troops landed on Okinawa's main island on April 1, 1945, initiating a battle in their advance towards mainland Japan.
The Battle of Okinawa spanned nearly three months, claiming around 200,000 lives — about 12,000 were Americans, and over 188,000 were Japanese, half of whom were Okinawan civilians, including students and victims coerced into mass suicides by the Japanese military.
Historians acknowledge that Okinawa was sacrificed by Japan's Imperial Army to protect the mainland. The island group remained under U.S. occupation until its return in 1972, two decades longer than most of Japan.
Monday's remembrance took place at Mabuni Hill in Itoman City, where the remains of many of the war dead are laid to rest.
Remembering the Tragedy
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba faced criticism during Monday's ceremony. Weeks prior, Shoji Nishida, a ruling party lawmaker, known for diminishing Japan's wartime atrocities, criticized an inscription on a well-known cenotaph commemorating students.
The inscription accused Japan's military of causing deaths, while Americans liberated Okinawa, which Nishida labeled as “rewriting history.” He also called Okinawa's history education “a mess.”
Nishida's comments sparked outrage in Okinawa, compelling Ishiba to apologize to the island's governor, who had condemned the remark as outrageous and historically distorting.
The Himeyuri Cenotaph honors student nurses abandoned at the battle's end, many dying in group suicides with teachers. Japan's wartime military had instructed people never to surrender, even if it meant death.
Concerns about whitewashing Japan's problematic wartime past continue as memories of the tragic events fade and ignorance about the suffering grows.
Ishiba, at the memorial, asserted that Japan's peace and prosperity are built on Okinawa's history of hardship, and it is the government's duty to “devote ourselves to achieve a peaceful and prosperous Okinawa.”
Postwar Years and Growing Fear
Okinawa remained under U.S. occupation until reverting to Japan in 1972. The U.S. military retains a significant presence due to Okinawa’s strategic importance in Pacific security, aiding not only Japan's defense but also missions in regions like the South China Sea and the Middle East.
Private properties were appropriated for U.S. bases, stunting local industry growth, creating a base-dependent economy.
Apprehensions about a Taiwan conflict revive painful memories of the Battle of Okinawa. Many residents and historians assert Okinawa served as a pawn for mainland Japan's protection.
Historical tensions between Okinawa and mainland Japan persist, stemming from the annexation of the Ryukyu Islands, a former independent kingdom, in 1879.
Burden of History
Okinawa houses the majority of about 50,000 U.S. troops based in Japan under a bilateral security agreement, with 70 percent of U.S. military facilities located here, though the island accounts for just 0.6 percent of Japanese territory.
Even 53 years post-reversion to Japan, Okinawa remains encumbered by the significant U.S. presence, experiencing noise, pollution, aircraft incidents, and crimes associated with American troops, according to the governor.
Nearly 2,000 tons of unexploded U.S. bombs remain in Okinawa, with occasional discoveries. A recent explosion at a U.S. military base storage site caused minor injuries to four Japanese soldiers.
The remains of hundreds of war dead are still unrecovered on Okinawa, with government search and identification efforts lagging behind. (AP)
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