On the 23rd, Okinawa celebrates "Okinawa Memorial Day" in 1977 from the Battle of Okinawa at the end of the Pacific War, and prayers for peace are offered in various places.
In Itoman City, the southern part of the main island of Okinawa, which was the last fierce battlefield, a memorial service for the war dead was held by Okinawa Prefecture from noon.
In the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, more than 200,000 people died and one in four people in the prefecture died after a fierce ground battle involving residents.
June 23 is considered to be the day when the systematic battle of the former Japanese army ended, and Okinawa Prefecture has designated it as "Okinawa Memorial Day".
Bereaved families visited the Peace Memorial Park in Mabuni, Itoman City, which was the last fierce battlefield, and joined hands on the cornerstone of peace with the names of the war dead.
At the Peace Memorial Park, a memorial service for the war dead is held from noon onwards.
The memorial service, which was held with 5,000 attendees every year, was reduced in scale due to the influence of the new coronavirus, but for the first time in three years, we invited guests such as Prime Minister Kishida to about 300. People are attending.
This is the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's return to the mainland, and Governor Tamagusuku of Okinawa Prefecture will read aloud in a memorial ceremony, "Peace Declaration" to reorganize and reduce US military bases and reduce the burden on the citizens of the prefecture. I am going to sue.