"50 years of return to the mainland" Postwar imperial family walked with Okinawa April 28, 18:09

Okinawa celebrates 50 years since its return to the mainland in May.

During the Pacific War, more than 200,000 people were killed in a fierce ground battle, and even after the war, they were under the control of the United States and went on a difficult path.

After the war, we will look at the history of Okinawa and the imperial family, which had mixed feelings toward the imperial family.

(Social Affairs Department reporter Kanami Hashimoto)

Emperor Showa who couldn't meet his long-cherished visit to Okinawa

Fifty years ago, the government held a ceremony to commemorate the return of Okinawa to the mainland, where the Emperor Showa was seen.

Emperor Showa was eager to visit Okinawa, where many people were killed in the Pacific War.

Then, in 1987, 15 years after the return to the mainland, it was decided that Emperor Showa would visit Okinawa in time for the National Sports Festival in autumn.

At a press conference on his birthday that year, he said, "If the long-awaited visit to Okinawa is to be realized, I would like to comfort the spirits of the war dead and aim for the hardships that the citizens of Okinawa have experienced for many years." I was there.

However, before the visit, Emperor Showa was ill and the visit was irrelevant.

After returning, "Molotov cocktail" for the first visit of the imperial family

It seems that there were concerns about terrorism by radicals behind the fact that the visit of Emperor Showa was difficult to realize after the war.

This is because the first visit to the imperial family after returning to the mainland caused an incident in which a Molotov cocktail was thrown.

It was directed to the Emperor and his wife, who were visited as the Crown Prince and his wife at that time, in July 1975, three years after his return.

The Emperor and his wife headed to the Himeyuri Memorial Tower, a memorial monument for female students in Itoman City, the final battlefield of the Battle of Okinawa.

It was after offering a bouquet and offering a silent prayer.

Molotov cocktails were thrown at the radical youths lurking in the underground pits.

Nevertheless, the couple went around a number of memorial monuments without changing their schedule, and met with the bereaved family of the Battle of Okinawa, which was their wish.

Molotov cocktail perpetrator "brother-in-law"

Some people testify that this "Molotov cocktail incident" had an atmosphere of positive acceptance in Okinawa at that time.

This is Minoru Kinjo (83), a sculptor from Yomitan Village.

Approximately two weeks before the incident, the young men who were the perpetrators of the incident were staying at their home in Yao City, Osaka, where they lived at that time.

Mr. Kaneshiro was surprised to learn about the incident and began to reconsider the history of Okinawa and the situation after his return.

Mr. Kaneshiro himself lost his father, who volunteered for the army, in the war.

The Pacific War took place in the name of Emperor Showa.

For this reason, I could not wipe out the complicated feelings toward the imperial family, and I felt that Okinawa, which was separated from the mainland even after the war, was treated unfairly under American rule.

Mr. Kaneshiro went to a prison in Okinawa prefecture where he was imprisoned to help the young men who threw Molotov cocktails.

An unexpected thing happened there.

When I wrote "relationship" at the reception, I wrote "brother-in-law", and the prison officer laughed and let me through without any blame.

Minoru Kinjo: "Okinawa

people

have been pushing for a return movement with the expectation that the return to the mainland will change the human rights issues of the U.S. military. I couldn't always say. When I met the young people, I couldn't say "well done" or "you guys are terrible",

but

I just wanted to look at them and tell them that my seniors from Okinawa had visited.

"In the prison, a prisoner from Okinawa brought a sandwich and coffee at night," said one of the young men. I was surprised that some Okinawans affirmed the case. "

The Emperor and Mrs. Okinawa snuggle up to each other

The Emperor and his wife will return to Okinawa six months after the "Molotov cocktail incident."

Iejima is one of the fierce battlefields in the north.

On this island, one in two inhabitants was killed in the war.

Mr. and Mrs. Uchima, 84, who welcomed the couple as the chief of the general affairs section of the village, recalls that they had agreed in the village that they would not touch the topic of war in front of the emeritus and his wife.

Mr. Kamekichi Uchima

"The visit of the Crown Prince (Emperor Emeritus) made me realize the gratitude for returning to the mainland. It was unavoidable to mention that. "

The Emperor and his wife left the island for a half-day stay, visiting the tower dedicated to the victims of the war and visiting the sugar cane fields.

However, a few weeks after the visit, there was an event that surprised Mr. Uchima and his colleagues.

The traditional Okinawan song "Ryuka" was presented to the village by the emeritus.

Hiroga Yuruhata Standing Yuru Shiroyama The heart of the war world

It was a song that meant, "The scenery of the fields, mountains, and islands is peaceful, but when I think about the war here, my heart is full of excitement."

Mr. Uchima himself lost 12 relatives such as her father and sister in the war, and it is said that there was something that the Emperor's song was impressed with.

Mr. Kamekichi Uchima

"I didn't talk about the war with the couple at the time of my visit, but I was able to study the history of the island in advance, and I was able to find out the scars of the war scattered in the mountains, and wrote this song. I thought that it was the responsibility of the war, including us, to the Emperor Showa,

but in reality it wasn't. It was like this song that the Emperor wrote. thought"

The Emperor and his wife are "gentle fathers and mothers"

The Emperor and his wife have had the opportunity to interact with the children of Okinawa since 1963, before returning to the mainland.

This is an exchange with Okinawan children, commonly known as "Okinawa Bean Reporters," who are dispatched to Tokyo during the summer vacation to experience the work of reporters.

Every year, we invited "bean reporters" to their homes and listened enthusiastically about the lifestyles of Okinawans and traditional performing arts.

Shigeo Kawamitsu (75) of Itoman City, who has been involved in the activities of "Mame Reporter" for more than 40 years, said that he felt a strong feeling for Okinawa by the Emperor and his wife through the activities.

Mr. Shigeo Kawamitsu, Adviser of the Okinawa Prefecture Bean Reporter Friendship Party

"The Emperor and Mrs. Emeritus were studying the history and culture of Okinawa to the extent that even experts were enthusiastic. He kept an eye on the reality and did not forget to stay close to him. The

couple asked questions that children could easily answer, such as "Which subject do you like?" It ’s like a father. ”

Interaction with the inherited "Okinawa Bean Reporter"

In the Heisei era, the exchanges with the Okinawan children who came to Tokyo as "bean reporters" were inherited by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, who became the Crown Prince and his wife.

In August 2016, there was a scene in which Their Majesties and the children of the "bean reporter" had a talk at the Tomiya Imperial Residence where they lived at that time and played volleyball together as a surprise.

Aiko, who was a junior high school student at that time, also joined the circle.

Upon entering Reiwa, the exchange with the "bean reporter" was taken over by Mr. and Mrs. Akishino.

Nago Tomoyori (15), a first-year high school student in Nago City, who interacted with Mr. and Mrs. Akishino as a "bean reporter" three years ago, was impressed by the fact that he was able to talk with Yuhito of the same age. Says.

When asked by Yuhito, "Did you make friends in this experience?", She was able to clearly answer "I made it."

Another "bean reporter" asked Yuhito about his favorite fruit and said that it was "passion fruit", and that it was a peaceful time.

Natsuki Tomoyori

"I was a distant imperial family, but I was happy that they were interested in us. Even now, 50 years after my return, there are many bases in Okinawa, and I live in Nago. , There are issues such as the relocation of Henoko.

I think that the imperial family will turn their attention to Okinawa, which will lead to the thoughts of the people and the citizens of Okinawa, so the imperial family will continue to pay attention to Okinawa. I want you to"

Postwar imperial family walking with Okinawa

Mr. Kawamitsu, who has been involved in the activities of "bean reporter" for many years, said that when the Emperor and Mrs. Emeritus visited Okinawa four years ago (2018), they welcomed them at the hotel where they stayed. He said that he was kindly told, "Thank you for the bean reporter."

Mr. Shigeo Kawamitsu, Advisor of the Okinawa Prefecture Bean Reporter Friendship Party

"I think that the" Bean Reporter "that started as a bridge between the mainland and Okinawa has been inherited even if the times change, and the thoughts of the Emperor and his wife for peace are also inherited. I hope that the bond between Okinawa and the imperial family will continue to be connected. "

A visit to Okinawa that Emperor Showa could not fulfill.

The Emperor and Mrs. Mr. and Mrs. visited Okinawa 11 times, and had repeated memorial services for the war dead and visits with the bereaved families.

On the night of the "Molotov cocktail" that first visited Okinawa, the Emperor announced a discourse.

"Many precious sacrifices made are not something that can be redeemed by temporary acts or words, but people have spent many years remembering them, and each and every one of them is in deep introspection. I can't think of keeping my heart on

As the word says, the Emperor and his wife have been paying close attention to Okinawa, which has been on a difficult path for many years.

I felt that such a figure touched the hearts of many Okinawans and led to exchanges with the next generation.

Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress will be attending the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's return to the mainland on May 15th.

After the war, I would like to keep an eye on the future course of the imperial family, which has continued to be close to the people of Okinawa.

Kanami

Hashimoto ,

Reporter of the Social Affairs

Department