Japan's Imperial family prays for souls of war dead in Okinawa

NHK

2 days ago

Japan's Emperor and Empress, along with their daughter, have offered condolences to the souls of people who died in the southwestern prefecture of Okinawa during World War Two.
Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and Princess Aiko visited the National War Dead Peace Mausoleum in the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman City on Wednesday.
This is the couple's second visit to Okinawa since the Emperor ascended the throne, and the first for the Princess. This year marks 80 years since a fierce ground battle took place in the prefecture toward the end of the war. Itoman was the site of the final fighting in the Battle of Okinawa.
After arriving at the mausoleum, the Imperial family prayed in front of the charnel house, which holds the remains of more than 180,000 people, and then laid a bouquet of flowers.
The three next moved to the Cornerstone of Peace where the names of over 240,000 who died in the battle are engraved. They were briefed about those whose names were newly inscribed this year.
The Imperial family then visited the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum where they read accounts of survivors of the battle.
At the mausoleum, the Emperor, Empress and Princess spoke to a number of relatives of the war dead.
Afterwards, one of them, Arakaki Ikuo said he told the Imperial family that he lost three family members in the battle. He told them that he remembers being held by his grandmother, and that he still grieves over the loss. He said he asked them to help achieve world peace. Arakaki said it was great honor that he was offered words of encouragement by Princess Aiko who wished him good health and prosperity.
Another relative, Chinen Yukichi said he told the Imperial family that his father and elder brother died in the war and his mother had become a widow at the age of 36. He said the Imperial family acknowledged the difficulties he experienced, and that he felt encouraged by their words. Chinen said it is difficult to convey the reality of the war to younger people, but he said he will do his best.