The Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum is the official title to the open-air museum monument dedicated towards the Battle of Okinawa, which took place towards the end of World War 2 from April of 1945 to June. Over 200,000 people lost their lives from this dark historic time, regarded by many as one of the bloodiest battles in Japan. Although a great number of monuments exist throughout the main island of Okinawa, visitors can view the vast majority in the south where the most intensive battles took place. At the “Cornerstone of Peace”, visitors can see the names of those who passed away from war inscribed on massive stone plates including both soldiers and civilians. The “Himeyuri no To” is another important monument dedicated towards the 240 female high school students and teachers who joined together to form a special nursing unit for the Japanese Army. Only a hand full of students survived the fate of warfare, with most of which ending their own lives towards the end of war. Visitors today can tour the underground Naval Headquarters, which expand for serval hundred meters filled with varies corridors and rooms. Many locals gather here annually to pray to those who have fallen in the Battle of Okinawa and hope that warfare never strikes again.
