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Kerama Islands haunted by wartime mass suicides
By Shinya Hattori
NAHA — Kerama Islands, which are a popular sightseeing spot famous for their coral reefs and beautiful setting, were the scene of mass suicides of civilians orchestrated by retreating Japanese soldiers in the waning days of World War II.
"All were the slaves to death," said Shigeaki Kinjo, 76, a clergyman who witnessed a mass suicide on Tokashiki Island, the largest of the islands. "Men cut off the heads of their escaping children with sickles and hit their wives with stones while crying bitterly."
American forces stormed ashore the islands on March 26, 1945, to build a stronghold to launch the ground invasion of Okinawa's main island. The islands are located about 40 kilometers west of the Okinawa prefectural capital of Naha on the main island of Okinawa.
Since the islands were isolated, and there were no places to escape, and around 500 people committed mass suicide under pressure from the soldiers.
Japanese soldiers handed some of the residents two grenades — one to use against the American forces and the other to use kill themselves. They were afraid that if the residents were captured they would leak information.
Sumie Oshiro, who is now 85, remembers how she tried to commit suicide using a grenade that had been given to her the day the Americans landed on Zamami Island, one of the islands.
"On hearing that U.S. soldiers were approaching, I could not endure the terror," she said. "We were told they would cut off our noses and ears, and rape us."
Luckily, she survived and was captured. When she saw the American soldiers treating people who had failed to commit suicide, she couldn't believe her eyes, she said.
About 80% of those who committed suicide on Zamami Island were women and children.
"With the government's policy of forcing Japanese to be loyal to the emperor in the background, the patriarchy was pervasive," said Harumi Miyagi, 55, who is passing down the story of what her own mother experienced to the new generation.
"Women were indoctrinated with a consciousness that they had to protect families, and support soldiers and the state," she said.
As the ground war came to Okinawa's main island, mass suicides took place in the central Okinawa village of Yomitan, where some 130 people killed themselves, and in southern areas of the main island, where some 500 residents committed suicide.
Kinjo pointed out that these events tended to occur only in places where soldiers and civilians lived together.
"In an extreme situation in which residents had to escape with Japanese soldiers on the battlefield, there was silent pressure from the Japanese Imperial Army," he said.
"Although residents committed suicide, it was a slaughter" and referred to as "joint deaths with the Imperial Army," he said.
Nowadays on Kerama Islands, many young people living there who come from the Japanese mainland know little about what happened during the war. Only a few visit the sites where the mass suicides occurred.
"Those who are not aware of mass suicide are more dangerous than those using it as a moving story of ardent patriotism," Miyagi said. (Kyodo News)
April 2, 2005
Related Articles
 | We were told they would cut off our noses and ears, and rape us. |
Japan Today Discussion
| Kerama Islands haunted by wartime mass suicides |  |
jakes   (Apr 4 2005 - 08:37) | Rate | Report |
Um, let's just get this straight. This isn't ANY kind of suicide. This is mass murder.
| like | |
| takuan_18 (Apr 4 2005 - 08:46) | Rate | Report |
| This is mass murder | |
| tnstaafl (Apr 4 2005 - 10:58) | Rate | Report |
| Fanatical Military | |
| padlily (Apr 4 2005 - 18:12) | Rate | Report |
| More of the "things not taught" | |
| stu_gotts (Apr 4 2005 - 20:07) | Rate | Report |
I had to show here some timelines and history books to demonstrate that this is false, but she says that in 1975, this was in the ciriculum (Japan was attacked first). Of course, the story of the Kerama Islands makes sense (from a historical, not Japanese view)that Japan was just as ruthless as Hitler.
Blog bomb planted and will destruct in 5, 4, 3, 2...
| You're right onthe money | |
| stu_gotts (Apr 5 2005 - 06:53) | Rate | Report |
When the Japanese invaded and took control of the islands in the 1800's (correct me if I am wrong), they subjected the poor people to a life of imperial servitude. Great.
I really feel bad for these folks because Okinawa-ken (prefecture) receives the least per capita support from mainland, and it shows in the unemployment rate, wages etc... Hell, some of the outer islands (Kerama, Ie, Oishima) can't even pay to have a doctor to care for the people. They are being told to go to Nago for treatment.
Once again, thanks mother Japan for "helping you own"...
| THIS IS SICK!! | |
| tfchui (Apr 5 2005 - 11:55) | Rate | Report |
| This remember me... | |
| mareo (Apr 5 2005 - 12:20) | Rate | Report |
The japanese group of military officers "in charge of this nonsense" say: _...we protect the country raising an army of 10.000.000 of soldiers..._ Untrained-civilians against a profesional and veteran Army? Armed whit what? Spears against airplanes? At least the germans have real guns... When they realize they cant` fight looking so stupid; they start to think a way for "nation suicide", a cobard way of no face the shame of the truth.
| geez | |
| lordmanji (Apr 5 2005 - 14:06) | Rate | Report |
| tokashiki kerama islands | |
| skong222 (Apr 6 2005 - 10:23) | Rate | Report |
| Likely to | |
| gorwell (Apr 6 2005 - 13:13) | Rate | Report |
I`d shoot my commander in the back, any day!
gorwell
| "Women were indoctrinated with a consciousness | |
| Davy (Apr 6 2005 - 13:33) | Rate | Report |
In other words, brainwashed by the Imperial Japanese Army.
| Kerama Islands haunted by wartime mass suicides | |
| Jerry70 (Apr 8 2005 - 15:59) | Rate | Report |
Yeah, talk to the older folks that lived during WWII on Okinawa if you want to know the real story. I talked to a 90 year old guy about what he saw. Pretty amazing. He told me about how they had to eat bugs because the Japanese soldiers took away their rice and animals, etc. By the way, people his age have no problem with Americans being on their island.
Neat tid bit - Ever notice Okinawans like Spam? Ever wonder why? What was the main suppliment in sea rations for US forces back in WWII? Good guess.
Mental Note - The last governor of Okinawa (Ota?) had his rifle pointed at the Americans while they were incoming during WWII. He was a big "Yanki go home" type while in office too. Wonder why?
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