Okinawa Memories Part IX

Okinawa Beaches

This one was a local fishing village.

Notice the painting on the canoe.

Another Okinawa Beach

These two high land masses with the little inlet leads to the sea and offshore islands.

Okinawa is the largest island in the Ryukyu Island Chain

The Ryukyu Islands long ago had its own king although the king gave tribute to China.

Then Japan conquered the Ryukyu Islands as a defense against China in the 1800's but treated these island people like second class citizens.

Most Famous Attraction on Okinawa

Suicide Clift

This is the site where the two Japanese commanding generals committed hari kari on a white sheet symbolizing death when they realized that the Battle of Okinawa was over and the American navy, marines and army had defeated the Japanese royal navy, army and air force. I read that the the generals donned their dress uniforms, prayed for themselves and for the continuation of the homeland of Japan, stabbed their mid-sections with a knife and then had their military subordinates finish the suicide task by using a sword to decapitate them. One general went first while the other watched. Then the other general followed suit.

Tomorrow I'll finish my week long post on Okinawa Memories by writing about the Battle of Okinawa.