CONTRIBUTED BY HEATHER NORDELL
World War II ended on August 15, 1945. In Japan the day is known as Shuusen-kinenbi (終戦記念日), which literally means the "Memorial day for the end of the war". In 1982 the Japanese government issued an ordinance that designated August 15 to be "the day for mourning of war dead and praying for peace”. What better way to commemorate this day than visiting the Peace Memorial Museum?
So if you can’t tell from the intro. this post was meant for last Friday. I had planned to visit the museum during the week prior and then post on it in time for the holiday. Life got in the way and we were unable to make it to the museum until yesterday. I am so glad that we took the time to visit the museum and surrounding park. The drive there was beautiful but a little long. Maps can be very deceiving. On the map it looked very close but when you are driving 40km even things that are close can take awhile to get to. I will admit that we added an extra hour onto the drive by missing the park and heading too far up the coast.
The museum and surrounding park are beautiful. The surrounding park is large and right on the coast so there are many breathtaking views of the ocean. We decided that the park itself would be worth a trip back. We could have spent the entire day roaming around the park. After spending some time exploring the park we decided to head inside to see the museum.
The museum was an amazing, thought provoking, and at times heartwrenching experience. It shed so much light on what the Okinawans endured during and after The Battle of Okinawa. I learned so much about the history of this island and the things that led up to the battle. The displays were very well done and even my 5-year-old daughter was interested in them, although she did prefer The Children’s Exhibition Room downstairs. The Children’s Exhibition Room is full of wonderful hands-on exhibits that help nurture peace and understanding.
I have been looking forward to visiting this park and the museum since we arrived on the island. I love that I was able to take my daughter and teach her more about the role this island played in WWII. I truly believe that we must learn from our past in order to create a better future.
For more information including a map and admission prices please visit The Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum
But if you loved them and have never...
August 15 is commemorated as Victory over Japan day, on which in 1945 the Emperor of Japan (Hirohito) spoke directly to the Japanese people for the first time. In a radio broadcast he announced that Japan had accepted terms of surrender to end World War II. The formal surrender and end of WWII occurred in Tokyo Bay, Japan aboard the battleship USS Missouri on September 2, 1945 when the surrender documents were signed.
In Okinawa the more important day commemorating WWII is June 23, known as Irei no Hi (慰霊の日) or roughly translated as ‘The Day to Console the Spirits’. Every year on June 23, Okinawa Prefecture commemorates the end of the 82-day Battle of Okinawa with a formal ceremony at the Peace Memorial Park. The ceremony reflects on the sacredness of life, the primacy of peace and the futility of war.
The Prime Minister of Japan (currently Naoto Kan) attends the ceremony along with some U.S. Military commanders and various government officials. Most of the attendees are survivors of the battle and their descendants, who are there to honor those who died in the gruesome fighting.
Most schools and some businesses in Okinawa are closed for this holiday.
Even though this is an Okinawan memorial day, it honors all those who died in the battle of Okinawa from all nationalities; soldiers, military personnel including POWs, conscripts and more importantly civilians.
More people died in the nearly 3-month Battle of Okinawa than in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, combined.
Nearly one-third of all Okinawans at that time died (about 100,000).
Every year, names of people are added to the memorial when they are identified to have died during the battle, and that number exceeds 240,000, all carved into the stone cenotaphs.
Many survivors of the battle, now elderly, gather at the Peace Park this time of year with their family to pray and express their desire that future generations know how terrible the battle was and that all wars should be avoided. Within the past week I have also seen several gatherings at small local monuments and shrines.
Live TV coverage of the memorial ceremony on June 23 starts at 11:35am on the primary NHK channel (General). After the noon news on NHK the ceremony telecast will continue at 12:20pm. There will also be news stories about the event on the local TV channels starting at 6:15pm and NHK News 7 (at 7:00pm) and NHK News Watch 9 (at 9:00pm, with English translation.
If you have not visited the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, you should take time to see the memorial and museum, walk the now peaceful and calming grounds of the park overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and contemplate the meaning and symbolism of the park and its monuments.
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Hi! Does anyone know if Peace Prayer Park is doing anything for the New Year?
I was wondering if I could get directions, the link above didn’t help, there was no map or directions :/ Thank you!
I’m with Melissa ^ i’m looking everywhere for driving directions online, i can only find for bus or taxi… i have a car….
Melissa & Christy — I just added the map here for you. Hope that helps.
I’ve found the map on google Earth to be more helpful! I believe the road signs you’ll want to follow actually say Himeyuri Monument, or something very similar.
It sits off of 331 a little ways, so you won’t see it before you turn off of that road. But once you turn, you’ll see the triangle roofs! Hope that helps! Here’s another site, that will translate to English in your browser! http://www.himeyuri.or.jp/info.html