Okinawa marks battle anniversary
News On Japan via Yomiuri -- Jun 24

Okinawa Prefecture on Saturday marked the 67th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa during World War II. This came after the recent celebration of the 40th anniversary of the prefecture's reversion to Japanese sovereignty.

At a memorial ceremony in Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, southern Okinawa Prefecture, where the last fierce battle was waged, Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima spoke about the burden of hosting U.S. military facilities. He urged the central government and the United States to curtail the burden and consider relocating the U.S. Marine Corp's Futenma Air Station in Ginowan to somewhere outside the prefecture.

"Okinawa still hosts a large concentration of U.S. military facilities, forcing its people to shoulder a heavy burden," he said.

The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and about 5,500 people, including the bereaved families of those whose lives were claimed during the battle.

Source: Yomiuri



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