66 years ago from today (June 23rd) Japanese Imperial Army's coordinated resistance against U.S. military ended as General Ushijima committed suicide in a cave in the south point of Okinawa Main Island. The area is called Mabuni, where annual Memorial Day for the victims of the Battle of Okinawa was held today. I drove about two hours from the city I live and visited Okinawa Prefecture Peace Memorial Park in which "Cornerstone of Peace" has been established in order to inscribe all of the war victims. (Currently, over 240,000 names are inscribed on monument walls like the one you see in the below photo.
What is so special about those monuments is that the prefecture tries to inscribe all the victims of the Battle of Okinawa, including those of the Allied Forces. There are many walls with inscriptions of American, British and other foreign soldiers who lost their lives in Okinawa during the battle.
Inscriptions are organized based on the victims' hometown.
Many flowers and incenses were offered. I found some candies
and sweets offered at the memorial for young victims.
The trees planted between monument walls are locally known as
"Kobateishi Tree." (Tropical almond or Indian almond in English)
It's said Kobateishi Trees grow by absorbing tears. The trees' broad
leaves provide shades for visitors.
This round space is named as "Peace Plaza." Visitors are treated with
spectacular view of ocean from the cliff. It was so beautiful and peaceful
today. Hard to imagine this was a suicidal cliff some 66 years ago; many
victims threw themselves off the cliff as they were taught to do so rather
than being captured alive by the enemy. Very sad story.
This cone-shaped torch, named "Flame of Peace," at the center of Peace Plaza,
has been lit since June 23rd, 1995. Flames from three places including
Hiroshima and Nagasaki were combined to lit the torch. The light blue and
dark blue under the torch represent the map of East Asia with the torch
at the center where the message of peace starts to spread like ripples
throughout the world.
On the occasion of Memorial Day of Okinawa Battle, I meditated for
a moment watching this magnificent sight. Had a mixed feeling that
once a place of such horrific event is now providing us with this great
scenery and peace.
Roofed with Okinawa's traditional red ceramic tile, Okinawa Prefecture
Peace Memorial Museum features five permanent exhibition rooms
according to the different historical stages of the Battle of Okinawa as well
as a booth for grade school children to learn about peace. Most of the exhibited e the
panels and photos come with English translation and audio-guide service/device
which come in English, Chinese, Korean and Spanish is available at the ticket counter.
Okinawa Pref. Peace Memorial Museum Web Sight: http://www.peace-museum.pref.okinawa.jp/english/index.html
Museum Leaflet in English (PDF): http://www.peace-museum.pref.okinawa.jp/annai/osirase/image/English.pdf
小冊子(中文) Museum Leaflet in Chinese (PDF): http://www.peace-museum.pref.okinawa.jp/annai/osirase/image/chinese.pdf
팸플릿(한국어) Museum Leaflet in Korean (PDF): http://www.peace-museum.pref.okinawa.jp/annai/osirase/image/Korean.pdf
Museo del folleto en español (PDF): http://www.peace-museum.pref.okinawa.jp/annai/osirase/image/spanish.pdf
