Tokyo (AP) – Japan Emperor Naruhito and his family offered prayers in Okinawa on Wednesday, marking a significant moment at one of the fiercest battles of World War II, which took place on an island in southern Japan 80 years ago.
This tribute honors the many Okinawan residents and those from surrounding islands as regional tensions with China rise, intensifying fears of potential conflict.
Naruhito’s father, the 91-year-old former Emperor Akihito, held a deep concern for Okinawa, serving as a role model for his son given the island’s challenging history.
The emperor and his wife, Empress Masako, invited their 23-year-old daughter, Princess Aiko, to join them, clearly aiming to instill an awareness of the historical significance in the next generation during their Wednesday visit. This marks Aiko’s first trip to Okinawa.
The trio first visited the final battlefield at Itman on the island, laying white flowers at the memorial honoring the spirits of those who lost their lives during the national conflict.
The Battle of Okinawa began on April 1, 1945, when U.S. forces landed on the island, marking the start of a campaign that would last until late June, claiming over 200,000 lives, nearly half of whom were Okinawan civilians—many compelled to commit mass suicides under the orders of the Japanese military, all fought under the name of Emperor Hirohito, Naruhito’s grandfather.
On June 23, the island commemorated the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa, which took place in 1945. Even after the conclusion of nearly 30 years of U.S. occupation in 1972, the island continues to host a prominent American military presence.
Naruhito emphasized the importance of passing down the tragic lessons of World War II to younger generations during a speech on his birthday in February, pledging to contribute to efforts promoting historical understanding and a commitment to peace.
The imperial family visited a peace monument later on Wednesday, which is inscribed with the names of approximately 500,000 people who died in the conflict, located on Hill Mabuni where the battle concluded. They also toured the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum, where they engaged with families and survivors of the battle.
This visit marked Naruhito’s seventh visit to Okinawa; his last trip was in 2022, during the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the island’s return to Japan.
Source: apnews.com