June 23 and Okinawa

Sixty-four years ago, today was the day of ending of Okinawa battle in the World War II. Not many Japanese people, including me, have known this day, much less than the day of World War II end (Aug. 15) or start (Dec. 8).
About 100 thousand people were killed during the Okinawa battle, not only by US army but also Japanese army and indirectly by Japanese education at that time. The Okinawa people have been taught (or mind-controlled) to kill themselves rather than to become a captive of US army.
It is difficult for our age to understand with reality how horrible or nasty the battle was, but we have to keep the record, learn what happened and why that happened, in oder to prevent repeating any stupid war again, no matter win or loose.
According to a recent publication and a TV documentary, a song called "Shimauta", a big hit about 10 years ago, was written by a singer-song writer Mr. Miyazawa, who was inspired by the tragedy record of the Okinawa battle. So the "ShimaUta" is a story of the Okinawa batte. I have not imagined such a background of that song, but from now on, I will probably feel differently when I listen to that song or sing it in Karaoke.

The song, Shimauta (Island Song) is here.

Here is another Okinawa song of my favorite.