‘Unforgiveable desecration’ of Okinawa’s shrine to war dead who chose suicide over surrender
The cave is seen as a symbol of the tragedy that befell civilians on Okinawa, with an estimated 10,000 people visiting to pay their respects every year
A cave in Okinawa Prefecture that was turned into a shrine in memory of 83 local civilians who committed suicide in 1945 rather then surrender to the invading US forces has been vandalised.
A villager from the nearby community of Yomitan visited the secluded cave on Tuesday with a foreign journalist and discovered water bottles that had been taken into the cave by the local people 72 years ago had been smashed and strewn over their remains.
Signs had also been torn down and destroyed, along with dozens of strings of origami paper cranes, a symbol of peace.
“This is an unforgivable act of desecration,” said Norio Yonaha, the head of a group of families that takes care of the cave. “I cannot understand why someone would do this. We, the bereaved will not tolerate such an act, but we will continue to appeal for peace.”
This is an unforgivable act of desecration. I cannot understand why someone would do this
Known as Chibichiri-gama, the cave was used as a refuge during the fierce fighting for the islands in the closing stages of the second world war.
To ensure they did not surrender, troops from the Imperial Japanese Army told island residents the invaders would rape the women before torturing and killing all the civilians. They were told the best way to avoid such a dishonourable death would be to commit suicide for the emperor.
