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Monday 23rd June, 03:51 PM JST

Okiwanans pray at Peace Memorial Park in Itoman on Monday during a ceremony marking the 63rd anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa.

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viking68 at 10:53 PM JST - 23rd June

I can imagine it is the shrine for the Okinawans and not a shrine for the Japanese soldiers (there are many there), who also helped to invent Okinawan Karate by banning weapons and therefore encouraging the "open hand"ed technique.
def at 11:32 PM JST - 23rd June

I was there today. Some of these comments are ignorant/offensive. The place is called "peace park", and the names of Okinawan, Japanese and Americans are all written there. It's not about any type of nationalism/patriotism.

Japan doesn't talk about the suicide, because it has been working hard to write it out of history, and not as "More propaganda against the US". Japan fought tooth and nail as their enemy entered their homeland. That is nothing most Americans wouldn't promise to do, no? Regardless of who struck first, that was the patriotic action of the time.

And karate started long before Japan was involved with Ryukyu... The Ryukyu nobility outlawed weapons in the 13-1400s. Nothing to do with Japan.

I really liked the peace park, and appreciated its purpose. Okinawans know what it's like to suffer at the hands of two world powers, who couldn't care less about the casualties, and built the park in hopes that it never happens again. This photo has nothing to do with American or Japanese nationalism. Just the opposite it seems.
yabits at 11:48 PM JST - 23rd June

def writes:

Okinawans know what it's like to suffer at the hands of two world powers, who couldn't care less about the casualties, and built the park in hopes that it never happens again. This photo has nothing to do with American or Japanese nationalism.

I really appreciate your comments. Would that more people could think like you do.
def at 12:22 AM JST - 24th June

Thanks. Perhaps it's easier to cultivate that opinion living here since I'm not American or Japanese. Some people just prefer to be human.
yabits at 12:39 AM JST - 24th June

Some people just prefer to be human.

My sentiments exactly. I pulled down my own personal American flag years ago.
VoXman at 05:27 AM JST - 24th June

I pulled down my own personal American flag years ago.

Showing your lack of patriotism and anti-american feelings won't win you any points with the average Japanese and/or Okinawain who is proud to be Japanese/Okinawain and a bit confused by the likes of your type of poster. They can hate what their government does or their military has done in the past without hating their country and what it stands for throughout history. You should consider doing that as well.
Taka313 at 06:38 AM JST - 24th June

Youdontknow,

There's an old expression, "damned if you do and damned if you don't." It applies perfectly to the situation the Okinawans were put in during the war.
I would say on this issue, you may want to do a bit more reading.

Taka
rjd_jr at 07:26 AM JST - 24th June

I agree with you Ossan.

And THANK YOU Def, a most beautiful and enlightened post, one of the best I have seen here. How sad that no topic is beneath people to make their own insulting agendas. Okinawans suffered at the hands of the Japanese military also, they have every right to honor their memory.
yabits at 10:23 PM JST - 24th June

Voxman writes:

Showing your lack of patriotism and anti-american feelings won't win you any points with the average Japanese and/or Okinawain who is proud to be Japanese/Okinawain and a bit confused by the likes of your type of poster.

It is natural to be confused by things you don't understand. Why not go back and consider what it first means to be a human being before deciding to raise a flag and parade around with it? I tried the flag-thing for awhile and am now glad to have put that unnecessary weight aside. If you actually believe that carrying NO flag means I am anti-American, you really have missed the point.
lipscombe at 10:29 PM JST - 24th June

well said yabits
def at 03:01 AM JST - 25th June

Yeah, Voxmans opinion struck me as a little insane too. The notion that an American who doesn't promote the flag is anti-American is pretty fascistic. As long as people obsess over flags, peace will be a distant fantasy.

My experience in Japan is that people here are 98% peaceful, but unfortunately my my experience here with Americans hasn't been the same.

Here's hoping the young soldiers start buying less propaganda.
Blue_Tiger at 10:23 AM JST - 25th June

The sad thing about the battle of Okinawa? It didn't have to happen.
Zen_Builder at 10:28 AM JST - 25th June

Easy to talk afterwards by people that were not involved.
Blue_Tiger at 08:20 AM JST - 26th June

Zen_Builder - Just so you know, I had a cousin and an uncle who were involved, and my uncle, before he passed away some years ago, said those same words that I posted above: "It didn't have to happen"...
def at 01:00 AM JST - 28th June

So America didn't have to invade Okinawa? America didn't have to fight Japan? Japan didn't have to fight the American invasion? Wise words... :p