Latest news with #OkinawaPrefecturalPeaceMemorialMuseum
Yomiuri Shimbun
6 days ago
- General
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan's Emperor, Empress, Princess Aiko Visit Okinawa Pref. To Commemorate War Dead; Visit Marks 1st Since October 2022
The Yomiuri Shimbun The Emperor, the Empress and Princess Aiko arrive at the Okinawa Peace Hall in Itoman, Okinawa Prefecture, on Wednesday. NAHA — The Emperor, the Empress and their daughter Princess Aiko began their visit to Okinawa Prefecture on Wednesday to commemorate the war dead as this year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. This is the first time for Princess Aiko to visit the prefecture. The family arrived in Naha and traveled by car to Itoman in the prefecture. They offered flowers at the National War Dead Peace Mausoleum and were to visit the Cornerstone of Peace, where names of the war dead are engraved. The family also was to visit the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum where they would look at exhibits and meet with war veterans and bereaved families of the war dead. They were also to meet young people engaged in activities to continue telling stories from the war. On Thursday, they will visit Naha to offer flowers to the memorial for victims of the sinking of the Tsushima-maru student evacuation ship, and meet with survivors and bereaved families of the victims at the adjacent Tsushima-maru Memorial Museum. The family will also visit the main building of Shuri Castle, which was destroyed in a fire in 2019. Work to restore the building is currently underway. This is the third visit to Okinawa by the Emperor and Empress and the first since October 2022. The trip also marks the seventh visit to the prefecture by the Emperor, who first traveled there when he was still known as Prince Hiro. The family will return to Tokyo on Thursday.
San Francisco Chronicle
6 days ago
- General
- San Francisco Chronicle
Japan's emperor and his family pray in Okinawa for the victims of the island battle 80 years ago
TOKYO (AP) — Japan's Emperor Naruhito and his family prayed on Wednesday in Okinawa for all the war dead in one of the bloodiest battles of World War II that was fought on the southern Japanese island 80 years ago. The commemoration comes as many residents of Okinawa and the nearby islands are increasingly concerned about the possibility of another war as regional tensions with China escalate. Naruhito's father, the 91-year-old former Emperor Akihito, cared especially about Okinawa because of its difficult history, setting an example for his son. The emperor and his wife, Empress Masako, asked their 23-year-old daughter, Princess Aiko, to accompany them on Wednesday's trip in an apparent effort to convey their attention for history on the next generation. It is Aiko's first visit to Okinawa. The three first headed to the island's last battlefield of Itoman and laid white flowers before an ossuary at the National War Dead Peace Mausoleum, where the remains of most of the victims are placed. The Battle of Okinawa began on April 1, 1945 when the U.S. troops, in their push for mainland Japan, landed on the island. It lasted until late June, killing more than 200,000 people. Nearly half of them were civilian residents of Okinawa, including students and victims of mass suicides ordered by the Japanese military, which waged the war in the name of Naruhito's grandfather, late Emperor Hirohito. On June 23, the island will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa, which led to heavy American troop presence on the island, even after the nearly 30 years of U.S. occupation ended in 1972. Naruhito, in his birthday remarks in February, stressed the importance of telling the tragedy of World War II to younger generations, pledging to contribute to efforts to promote the understanding of history and the determination for peace. The imperial family later on Wednesday visited the Cornerstone of Peace memorial, which has the engraved names of about a quarter million war dead on the Mabuni Hill where the battle ended. They also visited a permanent war exhibit at the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum and met with the survivors and families of those bereaved in the battle. Wednesday's visit was Naruhito's seventh visit to Okinawa. He last visited in 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's reversion to Japan.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Japan's emperor and his family pray in Okinawa for the victims of the island battle 80 years ago
TOKYO (AP) — Japan's Emperor Naruhito and his family prayed on Wednesday in Okinawa for all the war dead in one of the bloodiest battles of World War II that was fought on the southern Japanese island 80 years ago. The commemoration comes as many residents of Okinawa and the nearby islands are increasingly concerned about the possibility of another war as regional tensions with China escalate. Naruhito's father, the 91-year-old former Emperor Akihito, cared especially about Okinawa because of its difficult history, setting an example for his son. The emperor and his wife, Empress Masako, asked their 23-year-old daughter, Princess Aiko, to accompany them on Wednesday's trip in an apparent effort to convey their attention for history on the next generation. It is Aiko's first visit to Okinawa. The three first headed to the island's last battlefield of Itoman and laid white flowers before an ossuary at the National War Dead Peace Mausoleum, where the remains of most of the victims are placed. The Battle of Okinawa began on April 1, 1945 when the U.S. troops, in their push for mainland Japan, landed on the island. It lasted until late June, killing more than 200,000 people. Nearly half of them were civilian residents of Okinawa, including students and victims of mass suicides ordered by the Japanese military, which waged the war in the name of Naruhito's grandfather, late Emperor Hirohito. On June 23, the island will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa, which led to heavy American troop presence on the island, even after the nearly 30 years of U.S. occupation ended in 1972. Naruhito, in his birthday remarks in February, stressed the importance of telling the tragedy of World War II to younger generations, pledging to contribute to efforts to promote the understanding of history and the determination for peace. The imperial family later on Wednesday visited the Cornerstone of Peace memorial, which has the engraved names of about a quarter million war dead on the Mabuni Hill where the battle ended. They also visited a permanent war exhibit at the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum and met with the survivors and families of those bereaved in the battle. Wednesday's visit was Naruhito's seventh visit to Okinawa. He last visited in 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's reversion to Japan.
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Japan's emperor and his family pray in Okinawa for the victims of the island battle 80 years ago
TOKYO (AP) — Japan's Emperor Naruhito and his family prayed on Wednesday in Okinawa for all the war dead in one of the bloodiest battles of World War II that was fought on the southern Japanese island 80 years ago. The commemoration comes as many residents of Okinawa and the nearby islands are increasingly concerned about the possibility of another war as regional tensions with China escalate. Naruhito's father, the 91-year-old former Emperor Akihito , cared especially about Okinawa because of its difficult history, setting an example for his son. The emperor and his wife, Empress Masako, asked their 23-year-old daughter, Princess Aiko , to accompany them on Wednesday's trip in an apparent effort to convey their attention for history on the next generation. It is Aiko's first visit to Okinawa. The three first headed to the island's last battlefield of Itoman and laid white flowers before an ossuary at the National War Dead Peace Mausoleum, where the remains of most of the victims are placed. The Battle of Okinawa began on April 1, 1945 when the U.S. troops, in their push for mainland Japan, landed on the island. It lasted until late June, killing more than 200,000 people. Nearly half of them were civilian residents of Okinawa, including students and victims of mass suicides ordered by the Japanese military, which waged the war in the name of Naruhito's grandfather, late Emperor Hirohito. On June 23, the island will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa, which led to heavy American troop presence on the island, even after the nearly 30 years of U.S. occupation ended in 1972. Naruhito, in his birthday remarks in February, stressed the importance of telling the tragedy of World War II to younger generations, pledging to contribute to efforts to promote the understanding of history and the determination for peace. The imperial family later on Wednesday visited the Cornerstone of Peace memorial, which has the engraved names of about a quarter million war dead on the Mabuni Hill where the battle ended. They also visited a permanent war exhibit at the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum and met with the survivors and families of those bereaved in the battle. Wednesday's visit was Naruhito's seventh visit to Okinawa. He last visited in 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's reversion to Japan.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Japan's emperor and his family pray in Okinawa for the victims of the island battle 80 years ago
TOKYO (AP) — Japan's Emperor Naruhito and his family prayed on Wednesday in Okinawa for all the war dead in one of the bloodiest battles of World War II that was fought on the southern Japanese island 80 years ago. The commemoration comes as many residents of Okinawa and the nearby islands are increasingly concerned about the possibility of another war as regional tensions with China escalate. Naruhito's father, the 91-year-old former Emperor Akihito, cared especially about Okinawa because of its difficult history, setting an example for his son. The emperor and his wife, Empress Masako, asked their 23-year-old daughter, Princess Aiko, to accompany them on Wednesday's trip in an apparent effort to convey their attention for history on the next generation. It is Aiko's first visit to Okinawa. The three first headed to the island's last battlefield of Itoman and laid white flowers before an ossuary at the National War Dead Peace Mausoleum, where the remains of most of the victims are placed. The Battle of Okinawa began on April 1, 1945 when the U.S. troops, in their push for mainland Japan, landed on the island. It lasted until late June, killing more than 200,000 people. Nearly half of them were civilian residents of Okinawa, including students and victims of mass suicides ordered by the Japanese military, which waged the war in the name of Naruhito's grandfather, late Emperor Hirohito. On June 23, the island will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa, which led to heavy American troop presence on the island, even after the nearly 30 years of U.S. occupation ended in 1972. Naruhito, in his birthday remarks in February, stressed the importance of telling the tragedy of World War II to younger generations, pledging to contribute to efforts to promote the understanding of history and the determination for peace. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. The imperial family later on Wednesday visited the Cornerstone of Peace memorial, which has the engraved names of about a quarter million war dead on the Mabuni Hill where the battle ended. They also visited a permanent war exhibit at the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum and met with the survivors and families of those bereaved in the battle. Wednesday's visit was Naruhito's seventh visit to Okinawa. He last visited in 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's reversion to Japan.
