Okinawa commemorated the 79th anniversary of a brutal World War II battle on Sunday, where Japanese and U.S. troops clashed, resulting in over 200,000 casualties. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attended a memorial service at Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, where 181 additional names were added to the list of war dead, bringing the total to 242,225.
The intense fighting from March to June 1945 had a devastating impact on the local population, with one in four residents of the Japanese island prefecture losing their lives. Okinawa remained under U.S. control until 1972 and continues to host a large number of U.S. military forces.
During the ceremony, Kishida acknowledged the burden that Okinawa residents carry as a result of the concentration of U.S. bases on the island, promising to work towards alleviating that burden. Tensions with China have led Japan to strengthen its defense capabilities in Okinawa, raising concerns among locals about their islands potentially becoming a conflict zone once again.
Okinawa Gov Denny Tamaki also expressed concerns about the growing presence of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces in the prefecture, echoing the sentiments of the island’s residents.
© KYODO