On April 1, 77 years ago, the US military landed on the main island of Okinawa during the Battle of Okinawa at the end of the Pacific War.
In Yomitan Village, which became one of the landing sites, the residents offered a silent prayer to the victims.
77 years ago, on April 1, 1945, the U.S. military landed on the west coast from Yomitan Village to Chatan Town on the main island of Okinawa, killing more than 200,000 people in a fierce battle over three months and becoming four citizens of the prefecture. One person died.
Every year on April 1st, Yomitan Village calls for mourning for the victims of the disaster prevention radio in the village.
On the 1st, Mayor Ishimine Den Minoru called out, "Let's pray for permanent peace without forgetting the tragic ground war, and let's pass it on to future generations so that the war will not be repeated again."
Then, while the song "Satoukibi Batake" with a message praying for the sadness and peace of the Battle of Okinawa was playing, the residents offered a minute of silence.
Geno Ikehara (88), who survived as a prisoner of war in the U.S. Army at the age of 11, said, "There is still a war, but I wonder if humans have started such stupid things again. There is nothing and it destroys people's hearts, so I want to tell generations who do not know the war that they should never do it. "