Okinawa holds memorial services for wartime victims

Memorial services were held in Okinawa to honor victims of the Battle of Okinawa and the Tsushima-maru Incident. At the Kosakura no To memorial in Naha, the history of the monument is highlighted by its unique origins. The tower was established through a grassroots movement led by residents of Aichi Prefecture, including former local politician Asakichi Matsuura, to mourn the children lost when the Tsushima-maru was sunk by a US submarine.

In Kadena, a ceremony was held at the Norin Kenji no To to commemorate 502 students and teachers from the former Prefectural Agricultural and Forestry School who were mobilized and killed during the war. These events serve as ongoing opportunities for peace education and remembrance of the wartime sacrifices made by both local residents and those from distant prefectures.