TOKYO: Ceremonies to mark the 50th anniversary of Okinawa Prefecture’s return to Japan from post-World War II US occupation were held simultaneously in Tokyo and the southernmost Japan prefecture on Sunday afternoon.

Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio vowed to reduce Okinawa’s heavy burden of hosting many US bases, while Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki called for efforts to make Okinawa “peaceful and prosperous.” Okinawa returned to Japanese rule on May 15, 1972.

In the past half century, Okinawa developed thanks mainly to its robust tourism industry. Still, 70 pct of the facilities in Japan for exclusive use by the US military are in the island prefecture, which accounts for only 0.6 pct of Japan’s total land area.

The ceremony in Tokyo took place at a hotel in Minato Ward in the Japanese capital, and the event in Okinawa at the Okinawa Convention Center in the city of Ginowan. The two venues were linked online. The ceremonies, which started at 2 p.m. (5 a.m. GMT), were jointly hosted by the Japanese government and the Okinawa prefectural government.

Participants at the ceremony in Okinawa included Kishida and Tamaki. Among those attending the event in Tokyo were the heads of both chambers of the Diet, Japan’s parliament, the chief justice of Japan’s Supreme Court and US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel.

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attended the ceremonies online from the Imperial Palace in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward.

In his address, Kishida said, “Taking seriously the fact that Okinawa still faces a heavy burden of hosting US bases even 50 years after its reversion to Japan, we will put full effort into reducing the burden.”

Tamaki said, “Our goal of making Okinawa ‘peaceful islands,’ which is shared with the government, has not been achieved 50 years after its return to Japan,” adding, “We want the government to work sincerely to realize a peaceful and prosperous Okinawa, where all residents can truly feel happiness.”

Emperor Naruhito said, “I sincerely hope that the thoughts of people and the efforts they have made will be handed down for sure to build a prosperous future in Okinawa.”

Masakatsu Takara, 82, who survived the US attack on the Tsushima Maru evacuation ship and serves as head of a group of survivors of the incident, delivered a speech as a representative of Okinawa residents.

“I hope that peace will be delivered throughout the world from Okinawa,” Takara said.

The Tsushima Maru, carrying a number of schoolchildren, sank off Akuseki Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, in August 1944, during the Pacific War, part of World War II, due to a torpedo attack from a U.S. submarine while the evacuation ship was heading for the southwestern Japan prefecture of Nagasaki after its departure from Okinawa. Nearly 1,500 people were killed in the attack.

Shinya Futenma, 31, and Miyabi Heshiki, 20, read out their message, representing youths in Okinawa. “Youths in Okinawa will unite to pass down a better Okinawa to the future,” they said.

At a reception, Fusako Shida and Yukiko Miyagi, who are both designated as living national treasure, performed Okinawa’s traditional Ryukyu dance.

Ryo Kiyuna, the first Olympic gold medalist from Okinawa, showed a karate martial arts performance. Kiyuna grabbed gold in the “kata” event in men’s karate at last year’s Tokyo Olympics.

The ceremony in Okinawa was attended by 781 people, and the event in Tokyo by 516 people.

JIJI Press