Page 287 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

Photographs of victims of
the Battle of Okinawa at the
Himeyuri Peace Museum

Cape Kyan saw some of the
fiercest exchanges. Many locals
jumped to their deaths here.
To the northeast, the Himeyuri
no To Monument and the
Himeyuri Peace Museum are
mem orials to a group of young
women who died while working
as volunteer nurses during the
Battle of Okinawa. A total of
136 people died inside a cave
while trying to escape from the
carnage. Most perished from
Natural disasters and war on June 13, 1945. Many of the the effects of a gas bomb
have led to the constant officers killed themselves by fired into the cavern, others
re building of the 16th-century seppuku (ritual disembowel- com mitted suicide. Konpaku
Benzaiten-do temple, north ment); others used hand no To, 1 mile (2 km) south, is
of the castle park. grenades – scorch marks can a cliffside memorial where
still be seen on tunnel walls. 35,000 unknown soldiers
Tsuboya Pottery Museum and civilians were interred.
" ⌂ 1-9-32 Tsuboya One of the heaviest losses
§ (098) 862-3761 # 10am– 3 of life was on Mabuni Hill. Now
6pm Tue–Sun a memorial park, it is dotted
Okinawa Battle Sites with monuments dedi cated to
Shuri Ryusen 沖縄戦跡国定公園 both military and civilian dead.
⌂ 1-54 Shuri Yamakawacho ! F7 ⌂ 9 miles (15 km) S of Photos, memorabilia, and
§ (098) 886-1131 # 9am– personal accounts of the battle
6pm daily Naha @ Bus tour from can be seen at the nearby
Naha recommended
Peace Memorial Museum.
Okinawa Prefectural At the southern end of the
Museum & Art Museum island are various battle sites Peace Memorial Museum
" ⌂ 3-1-1 Omoromachi and memorials to victims and " ⌂ 614-1 Mabuni, Itoman
# 9am–6pm Tue–Sun (to 8pm those who committed suicide # 9am–5pm daily ¢ Dec 29–
Fri & Sat) ∑ okimu.jp/en rather than surrender to Jan 3 ∑ peace-museum.pref.
advanc ing American forces. okinawa.jp/english
2 " THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA
The Former Japanese
Navy Underground HQ Few conflicts in modern history have been fought with
such fero city as the Battle of Okinawa. It began when
旧日本海軍司令部壕 five American divisions landed on the island on April 1,
! F7 ⌂ 3 miles (5 km) S of 1945. Although outnumbered, the Japanese fought
Naha @ from Naha bus hard, utilizing flame-throwers, grenades, bayonets,
terminal to Tomigusuku and kamikaze pilots (Japanese suicide bombers). By the
Koen-mae or Uebaru end of the 82-day battle, 13,000 American soldiers and
danchi-mae § (098) 850- 250,000 Japanese soldiers and civilians had died.
4055 # 8:30am–5pm daily
(8:30am–5:30pm Jul–Sep)
Parts of the subterranean
rooms and tunnels where the
Japanese Navy conducted
the closing stages of World
War II are open to the public.
The Imperial Navy Admiral
was one of over 4,000 men
who committed suicide here
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