The site of Chibi Chiri Gama (or Chibichiri Cave) was one of the earliest incidents of civilian death in the Battle of Okinawa, which started on April 1st 1945. Chibi Chiri Gama is in Yomitan directly north of where the American landed their forces. As the Americans took over the nearby airfield and moved into Yomitan, the residents of Yomitan all ran into the cave for shelter. The US army sent a translated message into the cave to come out and you'll not be harmed, but they did not believe them. The Japanese army had indoctrinated all citizens of their violent and torturous outcome if they were captured.
On April 2nd, as the US army was returning to try and get them out, the Japanese army stuffed the entrance of the cave with gasoline soaked futons, and lit them on fire, killing all 80+ civilians in the cave to avoid their capture.
Now, at the cave, are statues memorializing the suffering of their townspeople and the consequence of the radicalization of war.
Note: This post was made in Feb 2025 and back-dated to the time of the events
