Okinawa marks 74th anniversary of World War II battle

Let's hope such a battle is never necessary again.

"Claimed the lives of more than 200,000 local residents and soldiers" How many of those local residents weren't killed in battle but were forced or convinced to commit suicide by the IJA?

sensei258, actually it was over 200,000 civilians killed in the battle. The vast majority of them were killed by the Americans during the "Steel Typhoon." The Americans shot anything that moved and were known to blow up caves full of civilians. The Americans should of bypassed Okinawa like Taiwan. Neutralize the airfields and ports and head directly toward the "home islands."

sensei258, actually it was over 200,000 civilians killed in the battle. The vast majority of them were killed by the Americans during the "Steel Typhoon." The Americans shot anything that moved and were known to blow up caves full of civilians. The Americans should of bypassed Okinawa like Taiwan. Neutralize the airfields and ports and head directly toward the "home islands."

This is what happens when civilians are used as human shields. The US needed the air bases on Okinawa to attack the mainland. It was necessary.

They seem to have these anniversaries every year

Was he booed again? I seem to remember he got a hearty booing a couple of years and was told to "go back to Tokyo".

The Americans should of bypassed Okinawa like Taiwan.

The Emperor should have ordered his forces to surrender after the devastating fire-bombing of Tokyo and surrounding areas.

Another example of getting pride from suffering, (Okinawa residents aren't Japanese either.) They were sacrificed to give a longer time frame for the Japanese government to sacrifice greater numbers of its youth in this bizarre mind set that suffering is Nobal.

The majority of which were killed by their own government

Haven’t Abe’s security detail heard of ‘cool biz’?

sensei258, actually it was over 200,000 civilians killed in the battle. The vast majority of them were killed by the Americans during the "Steel Typhoon."

Anyone that exaggerates the number of civilian, or ANY deaths associated with the battle here, particularly one who is supposedly from Okinawa should be ashamed!

Yes many were killed because of the US military action here, BUT the blame lies soley at the feet of the IJA for not moving the civilian population OUT of harms way prior to the attack that they knew would eventually come!

The Americans bore over 49,000 casualties including 12,520 killed. General Buckner was killed in action on June 18, just days before the battle ended. Japanese losses were even greater—about 110,000 Japanese soldiers lost their lives. It's estimated between 40,000 and 150,000 Okinawa citizens were also killed.

The Memorial Park now has roughly 240,000 names engraved on the granite walls that line the walkways through the park.

It is a somber and heart wrenching experience to walk through and see ALL the names, of ALL the people, civilian and military, together!

YuriOtaniToday  04:54 pm JST

sensei258, actually it was over 200,000 civilians killed in the battle. The vast majority of them were killed by the Americans during the "Steel Typhoon." The Americans shot anything that moved and were known to blow up caves full of civilians. The Americans should of bypassed Okinawa like Taiwan. Neutralize the airfields and ports and head directly toward the "home islands."

The "samurai ", apparently people who are supposed to embrace death with honor, had resorted to hide in the deepest parts of the caves for self preservation, and put women and children at the entrance. Not to mention the propaganda against Americans encouraging the locals to commit suicide. As usualwith the Japanese they will blame every body else for every thing and wilfully mis-educate the populace.

"Give Okinawa back to its people "

The day after China gives back Tibet to the Tibetans.

and America gives back America back to the Wampanoag.

They died for Japan. Honor them.

sensei258, actually it was over 200,000 civilians killed in the battle. The vast majority of them were killed by the Americans during the "Steel Typhoon."

because other than using Okinawas as human shields Okinawas were forced to suicide attack American soldiers and even the IJA disguised themselves as civilians to avoid capture. the Americans had no idea who was who but knew either could kill them. dont take my world for it watch the unbiased NHK documentary there are large amounts of documented proof the AMericans were the sole villains actually they showed more remorse for the Okinawas than the IJA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REStVTDzgjc

It is very regrettable that mainland prefectures are not sharing the burdens of Okinawa.

Okinawa on Sunday marked the 74th year since the end of a major World War II ground battle that claimed the lives of more than 200,000 local residents and soldiers from the Japanese and American militaries.

Let's get it right! I was anyone and everyone who died during the battle! This is an inaccurate statement!

However this one is right!

This year, the names of 42 war dead were newly inscribed on the Cornerstone of Peace in the park, bringing the total to 241,566, irrespective of nationality or their civilian or military status.

Bugs the hell out of me that this had to be added at the very end when it SHOULD have been at the beginning!

Irei-n--hi, Memorial Day, is about remember ALL who sacrificed their lives! The writer of this article motive's are questionable at best! Trying to divide here rather than remember what today is all about!

We lost the war. We have to accept the reality. Okinawa is half returned in the true sense but we have to compromise at somewhere.

Wow, Prime Minister Abe looks very sad! I wonder if he's reflecting on the Japanese Government's management of the situation at the time!

Abe always looks sad when he remembers who lost the war.

Without US military settlement in Okinawa, Japan, Prime minister Shinzo Abe knows that we're in an era where one nation alone can't defend itself without US military bases to help defend against China if China tries to take over Okinawa. And to all the fewer Okinawan ppl who don't care commenting and opposing against the US base relocation plan if u can't stand living in Okinawa anymore, move out of Okinawa and to mainland Japan if ure gonna continue to be a bunch of idiots

sensei258, actually it was over 200,000 civilians killed in the battle. The vast majority of them were killed by the Americans during the "Steel Typhoon." The Americans shot anything that moved and were known to blow up caves full of civilians. The Americans should of bypassed Okinawa like Taiwan. Neutralize the airfields and ports and head directly toward the "home islands."

@ YuriOtani  You are somewhat off in your description of the battle.  IJA had told the civilians the US forces were intent on raping and looting, and they (IJA) used them as shields and also fostered the "Bushido" code on them telling them it's better to die than face the Americans.  Much like what happened to many of the Japanese civilians in Saipan when we took it from Japan.

As with many Japanese you have a different view of what really happened, based on what you were educated with.  I can show that in a simple example, in regards to the Battle of Manila that happened before the Okinawa assault.  The battle for Manila was house to house fighting similar to what was going on in Europe, with the IJA making the Allies pay for retaking the city.  However, back in 1942 when Manila was taken by the Japanese, the US forces declared it an "Open City" which meant that all military was moved out to spare the civilian populace the bombing.  End result was that Manila was spared then.  However when the tides were turned, no such sanctuary was given by the Japanese commanders and as a result, severe fighting ensued.

Same as with Okinawa.  IJA commanders decided to fight it out rather than let the people off the hook from the bombardment.

Congrats. Think of all the lives that were lost due to your direct cause and involvement. Standing ovation.

May all their souls rest in peace.

War is a horrible thing, and war in the Pacific was savagery at an unparalleled level.

Congrats. Think of all the lives that were lost due to your direct cause and involvement. Standing ovation.

I get the idea here that you done know what the war was about, and why Okinawa was a battle ground.

There is no "congrats" to be handed out on this day. It's a day to remember ALL who died and there should be no need to be attempting to point fingers of blame. The time for that should be long over.

It must be acknowledged that Prime Minister Abe keeps coming to this far-off island prefecture to attend the memorial service every year, each time saying Okinawa's base-hosting burden must be reduced.

In the 2017 eulogy, he said: "I'm determined to produce definite results to allay the burden" This year, too, he repeated: "I'm determined to produce definite results to allay the burden."

But note that his "definite results" are realized only by transferring Futenma's function to Henoko, that is to say, relocation of burden from one place to another within the same prefecture, that will surely result in Okinawa as a whole's base-hosting burden to continue forever. 

I've been arguing the Henoko new base won't serve as a deterrence for regional conflicts for the various reasons I've given on every occasion.

It must be acknowledged that Prime Minister Abe keeps coming to this far-off island prefecture to attend the memorial service every year, each time saying Okinawa's base-hosting burden must be reduced.

Get off it with the exaggerations already, "far off" , it's a 1/4 of the distance between Wwashington dc and Hawaii, and the burden will be substantially reduced when Futenma is closed!

Although this is not a thread for the regurgitation of your stale opinions!