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Remembering a Tragedy, Embracing Peace
In a solemn tribute to one of the most tragic chapters in Japan’s history, the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa is being marked with a deeply emotional and symbolic gesture: the reading aloud of over 240,000 names inscribed on the “Cornerstone of Peace” memorial in Itoman City, Okinawa. This massive commemorative event, held both in-person and online, aims not only to honor the lives lost but also to remind future generations of the value of peace and the painful cost of war.
Reflecting on the Original Story
On June 1st, a memorial event began at Okinawa Peace Memorial Park, located in Itoman City, where all the names of those who perished during the Battle of Okinawa are etched into the “Cornerstone of Peace.” This annual tradition will continue in relay style through June 23rd, marking “Irei no Hi” (Okinawa Memorial Day), the date when organized combat in Okinawa officially ended in 1945. The year 2025 marks exactly 80 years since that battle concluded.
The organizers emphasized their desire to speak the names of each victim individually as a way to feel empathy for the dead and to embody their unfulfilled hopes for peace. The ceremony included a significant event on Iejima Island, once labeled a “microcosm of the Okinawa battle” due to the fierce fighting and heavy civilian casualties that occurred there. Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki participated in the reading, including the names of his own family members who were lost in the conflict. He stressed that the devastating loss of over 200,000 lives has become the cornerstone of Okinawan people’s desire for peace.
Among the participants was Yui Tomoyose, a second-year middle school student from Ie Junior High, who expressed her sorrow after reading names that included infants as young as zero years old, reminding everyone of the wide and indiscriminate reach of war’s devastation.
The “Cornerstone of Peace” was established in 1995 to mark 50 years since the end of World War II. Unlike many war memorials, it includes not just Okinawans but people of all nationalities, military personnel and civilians alike, regardless of allegiance. New names continue to be added based on family requests. This year, 342 additional names were engraved, including crew members from the Japanese battleship Yamato, sunk by U.S. forces.
The event, started in 2022 by the “Okinawa ‘Cornerstone of Peace’ Name Reading Executive Committee,” has grown in scope. For the 2025 ceremony, around 6,000 people registered to participate. Applications came not only from other parts of Japan but also from overseas—including the U.S., South Korea, and Taiwan. Names are read via Zoom, with the readings broadcast live on YouTube, accompanied by details such as the age of the deceased and their place of death.
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A Digital Age Memorial Transcending Borders
The initiative to read aloud the names of all who perished in the Battle of Okinawa is not just a ritual—it’s a bold statement of remembrance in the digital age. Leveraging platforms like Zoom and YouTube allows for unprecedented global participation. This modern twist on memorialization shows how digital tools can enhance collective mourning and preserve historical memory.
From a sociological lens, this inclusive act of honoring both military and civilian casualties—regardless of nationality—presents a strong counter-narrative to nationalistic war remembrance practices. It sends a message of universal human loss, reframing the tragedy as not just a Japanese or Okinawan experience, but a global one.
Economically, Okinawa continues to wrestle with its wartime legacy, especially given its strategic importance to U.S. military presence in Asia. These commemorations may also serve as a soft power tool, boosting Okinawa’s image as a peace-seeking region in contrast to its militarized present.
Psychologically, engaging youth like Yui Tomoyose in these ceremonies roots historical consciousness in the younger generation. It may foster a sense of civic responsibility and emotional intelligence about the cost of conflict. The fact that even names of infants are read shows a deliberate effort to underscore the indiscriminate toll of war.
Culturally, the continuous addition of names (including from ships like the Yamato) reflects a society actively reconciling with its past. The openness to include names submitted by families each year indicates a living memorial—one that grows and evolves with the public’s memory.
Finally, the symbolic weight of 240,567 names being read over weeks reflects more than just a count—it conveys scale, human depth, and loss. That each individual is remembered aloud transforms history from abstract numbers into shared human grief.
🧐 Fact Checker Results:
✅ The total number of names on the memorial is confirmed at 240,567, including recent additions.
✅ The reading ceremony began in 2022 and now uses Zoom and YouTube for global access.
✅ The event accepts participation internationally, including from the U.S., Korea, and Taiwan.
🔮 Prediction:
As awareness of Okinawa’s unique wartime legacy continues to grow, this ceremony will likely gain more international traction. With rising global interest in peace-building and historical reconciliation, the Okinawa name-reading event may evolve into a global peace movement, drawing participation from educators, peace activists, and even governments seeking to use it as a model for remembering shared wartime histories.
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