Emperor Naruhito to Visit Okinawa in WWII Tribute, Reaffirming Peace

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Their Majesties Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will visit Okinawa Prefecture beginning June 4. The trip is part of a remembrance journey marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Later, on June 19, they will travel to Hiroshima, a city devastated by the atomic bomb.

His Majesty's tributes to those who perished in battle and the atomic bombings carry deep significance. It will be a time for the nation to come together in solemn reflection and mourning.

Memorial Visits in Okinawa

Accompanied by Empress Masako and their daughter, Princess Aiko, Emperor Naruhito will lay flowers at the National Cemetery for the War Dead in Mabuni, Itoman City. The site marks the location of the final and fiercest battle of the Okinawa campaign in 1945.

The Imperial Family is also scheduled to visit the Tsushima-maru Memorial Museum, which commemorates a school evacuation ship sunk by American forces in 1944. Its sinking resulted in the deaths of many children. During their visit, the Imperial Family will also meet with bereaved families.

Prayers in Hiroshima

In Hiroshima, Their Majesties will offer flowers at the Cenotaph for the Victims of the Atomic Bomb in Peace Memorial Park. The Imperial Household Agency is also making arrangements for a visit to Nagasaki, site of the second atomic bombing, later in 2025.

Many local residents are looking forward to welcoming Their Majesties. Near their hotel in Naha City, volunteers are organizing a lantern procession, and traditional Ryukyuan dance performances are also planned.

*Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko at the Himeyuri Cenotaph during their first visit to Okinawa. July 17, 1975.*

This remembrance journey follows the example set by Emperor Emeritus Akihito, who began such visits in 1995, the 50th anniversary of the end of the war. Together with Empress Emerita Michiko, he visited Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Okinawa, and sites affected by the Tokyo air raids to honor the war dead.

A Commitment to Peace

At a press conference in February, Emperor Naruhito reflected on the importance of remembrance, stating: "I hope it will be an opportunity to reflect deeply on the value of peace and renew our resolve to uphold it."

The Emperor is also engaging in remembrance activities at wartime sites overseas. In April, he and the Empress visited Iwo Jima. In July, he will make his first official visit to Mongolia as Emperor and may offer prayers for Japanese detainees once held there by the former Soviet Union.

However, political tensions have made such visits to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, and sites in China and Russia, difficult at this time.

After World War II, Emperor Hirohito visited Yasukuni Shrine eight times to honor the spirits of those who died in conflicts dating back to the late Edo period. However, amid opposition from China, South Korea, and domestic left-wing groups, no Emperor has visited the shrine since November 1975.

Author: The Sankei Shimbun

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