Japan's Emperor, Empress Honor War Dead In 1st Okinawa Visit Since Enthronement
Japan's Emperor and Empress have visited the southern prefecture of Okinawa for the first time since the Emperor's enthronement in 2019. They paid tribute to the war dead there.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako went to Okinawa on Saturday. The last time that they traveled to the prefecture together was in 1997.
The Imperial couple visited Peace Memorial Park in Itoman City. The city was the site of the last fierce ground battle between Japanese and US troops in Okinawa during the closing days of World War Two.
The couple offered prayers and laid flowers at the National Cemetery for the War Dead. The cemetery holds the remains of more than 180,000 people who died during the Battle of Okinawa.
The Emperor and Empress spoke with some bereaved family members before they stopped at the Cornerstone of Peace. The names of the victims are inscribed at that site.
The Emperor and Empress also visited the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum. There, they read testimonials written by people who lost family members during the battle.