ITOMAN, OKINAWA PREF. ¨C A memorial ceremony was held in Okinawa on Tuesday to mourn some 200,000 people who died in a fierce ground battle fought in the southernmost Japan prefecture 81 years ago in the late stage of the Pacific War, part of World War II.
Bereaved relatives and other participants renewed their pledge for peace in the ceremony held by the Okinawa Prefectural Government at the Peace Memorial Park in the Mabuni district in the southern Okinawa city of Itoman. The Battle of Okinawa between Japan and the United States was the most savage ground battle staged in Japan during the war, and Mabuni was the site of the last fierce fighting.
Ceremony participants also included Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and the heads of both chambers of the Diet, the country¡¯s parliament. Attendees offered silent prayers and flowers to the victims.
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