Okinawa Memorial Day – Irei no Hi

Today marks the 63rd anniversary of the day the battle for Okinawa ended. This anniversary is marked every year in Okinawa as Irei no Hi(慰霊の日), a day of prayer for the 200,000+ people who died during the battle.

Here’s a report from TBS about survivors gathering to pray and their desire that future generations know that war is terrible and should be avoided:

Kyodo News also has some coverage of this year’s events:

This year, the names of 128 people were added to a list of names carved into stone cenotaphs dedicated to those who perished in the battle. The number of names now stands at 240,734.

Okinawa, whose main island lies around 1,500 kilometers southwest of Tokyo, was the only inhabited part of Japan where ground fighting took place during World War II.

Ceremony participants offered a one-minute silent prayer at noon Monday and later floral tributes at the peace park.

Fukuda delivered a speech and said he “will make best efforts to realize an affluent livelihood for the Okinawa people” and “reduce their burden while listening to voices of their long-felt need.”

Gov. Nakaima read out an annual peace message offering condolences to the victims of the battle and renewing a pledge not to wage a war again.

In the ceremony, a 10-year-old primary school boy read a poem appealing for peace in the world. “I wish happiness for all the people. So, I’d like to look at the world closely. I’d like to listen to the voices of the world. With gentle hands and with a warm mind,” said Eisuke Kano, a fourth-grader at Yomitan Elementary School.