One of the most stunning sites we visited in Okinawa was the Peace Memorial Park whose theme is “Conveying our Hearts of Peace to the World.”  The Cornerstone of Peace was erected on July 23, 1995 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa during the Pacific War.

Okinawa was the site of the only land battle in Japan during World War II. Its residents were caught in the fighting, resulting in massive loss of precious lives and cultural assets. These wartime experiences must not be forgotten.  The names of all 240,000 people who lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa, military and civilian alike regardless of nationality, are inscribed on the Cornerstone of Peace as a prayer for eternal world peace.

The Flame of Peace is located at the center of the plaza. This flame is composed of flames from three other places: from Akajima Island in Zamami Village, the first landing site of U.S. forces in Okinawa; and from the Flame of Peace in Hiroshima and the Flame of Peace in Nagasaki, the sites of the two atomic bombings. The flame, which has been burning since 1991, was transferred to the Peace Plaza in 1995 on Irei-no-hi (Okinawa Memorial Day), June 23.

All the walkways meet at the Peace Plaza, an open area for people to gather. This location provides a spectacular view of the precipitous cliffs and the shoreline.

 

The Cornerstone of Peace passes on the lessons learned from the tragedy of War to future generations and serves as a place for us to appreciate the peace in which we live today, and pray for everlasting world peace.