Okinawa Marks 77th Anniversary-- Part 2

Many in Okinawa are worried about the growing development of Japanese missile defense and amphibious capabilities on outer islands that are close to hotspots like Taiwan.

At a ceremony marking the June 23, 1945, end of the battle, about 300 attendees in Okinawa, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other officials offered as moment of silence and placed chrysanthemums for the war dead.  The number of attendants was scaled down because of coronavirus worries.

At the ceremony in Itoman City on Okinawa's main island, Gov. Denny Tamaki spoke of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, saying the destruction of tons, buildings and local culture, as well as the Ukrainians constant fear, "remind us of our memory of the ground battle on Okinawa that embroiled citizens 77 years ago."

"We are struck by unspeakable shock," he said.

Tamaki also vowed to continue efforts to abolish nuclear weapons and renounce war "in order to never let Okinawa become abattlefield."

--GreGen