For people of Okinawa Prefecture, June 23 carries a special meaning. On that day in 1945, as the Battle of Okinawa entered its last phase, the Imperial Japanese armed forces ended organized resistance to the U.S. armed forces in the Mabuni area on the southern tip of the main island of Okinawa.
Okinawan people commemorate the day as one for consoling the souls of people who died in the battle. An annual memorial service sponsored by the Okinawa Prefectural Government was held Thursday in the Peace Memorial Park in the Mabuni area.
June 23 should be a day when all Japanese join Okinawans in remembering the cruel battle, which lasted from March 26, 1945, to early September. It should offer an opportunity for everyone to squarely face the ugly effects of war and renew a resolution to make the utmost efforts to never again put Japan on the path of militarism.