The Okinawa Peace Memorial Museum chronicles Japan's entrance into World War II and the cost of following exceptionalism. The museum is located south on Naha island and you must take a bus (or drive) to visit it. This is one of Japan's three major Peace memorial museums. Although the peace museums in Hiroshima and Nagasaki often overshadow it.
Inside, relics of the war are displayed as well as the timeline of decisions that led to Japan's involvement in the war and the suffering its citizens endured because of it. Okinawa was the only place in Japan where soldiers actually fought on land. The Battle of Okinawa started in the north on April 1st 1945, and ended in the south on June 22nd 1945.
Outside on the museum, leading to the ocean and cliffs, memorials of all soldiers, from all countries, are displayed. Statues commemorating peace given as gifts from other countries are also displayed.
Following along the cliffs and the coast brought me to the location of the final battle on June 22nd 1945, where the remaining Japanese soldiers jumped off the cliff to their deaths rather than be captured.
Note: This post was made in Feb 2025 and back-dated to the time of the events
