Japan, US commemorate Battle of Okinawa 80th anniversary

Japan recently marked 80 years since the end of the Battle of Okinawa, the final and bloodiest ground battle of World War II in the Pacific. A memorial ceremony was held on June 23 at Mabuni Hill in Itoman City, the site of the conflict’s last stages, where Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki and members of the imperial family honored the estimated 200,000 people killed.

Calls for remembrance: Roughly half of the Japanese casualties were Okinawan civilians. Tamaki emphasized the importance of passing on the tragedy’s lessons to younger generations, citing heightened global tensions and the ongoing U.S. military presence on the island. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako earlier paid tribute at the Cornerstone of Peace, where the names of all known war dead are engraved.

Ongoing recovery and memorials: U.S. Navy sailors also joined Okinawan volunteers on June 22 in a candle-lighting vigil at Peace Memorial Park, where nearly 7,000 candles were arranged to form the kanji for “peace.” Civic volunteers, including Takamatsu Gushiken, continue searching for remains in battlefield caves, though only six have been positively identified through DNA analysis.

 

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