A land of requiem beyond borders - the foundation of peace
The Foundation of Peace
The Cornerstone of Peace is a monument in the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman City, Okinawa Prefecture. It was built in 1995 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Pacific War.
1. Overview
It is a monument engraved with the names of all the people who died in the Battle of Okinawa. The biggest feature is that the names of those who died in the war are engraved, regardless of nationality, military or civilian.
2. Subject of inscription
The Cornerstone of Peace is inscribed with the names of the following people:
Everyone who died in the Battle of Okinawa (including not only Japanese but also people from the United States, the United Kingdom, the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan, etc.)
War dead from Okinawa Prefecture (including those who died in battlefields other than the Battle of Okinawa)
3. Design and Symbolism
Steles in the shape of folding screens: The steles lined up radially are designed with the hope that the wave of peace will spread around the world.
Fire of Peace: In the central square of the foundation, the "Fire of Peace" is lit continuously, which is a combination of fires lit in Aka Island, Zamami Village, the first landing site of the Battle of Okinawa.
4. Purpose of Establishment
* Memorial of the war dead
Passing on the lessons of war to the next generation
* Send a wish for permanent peace to the world
Every year on June 23rd, "Memorial Day," many bereaved families visit and you can see the sight of touching the engraved name and putting their hands together.平和の礎
The Cornerstone of Peace is a memorial locatedin Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, Okinawa. It honors all those wholost their lives in the Battle of Okinawaduring World War II, regardless of nationality or military status. Names of over 240,000 victims are engraved on stone monuments, expressing a wish for lasting peace and remembrance of the tragedy of war.
"The Foundation of Peace" is located in the Peace Memorial Park in Itotsu City, Okinawa Prefecture. It is a memorial monument built by all the victims during the Okinawa Campaign. The surnames of more than 240,000 people, regardless of nationality or civilian, are engraved on the monument, remembering the tragedy of the war and praying for world peace.
私が初めて沖縄の「平和の礎」を訪れた時、その荘厳な雰囲気と、一つ一つの名前に込められた歴史の重さに深く心を動かされました。石碑は屏風状に放射状に広がり、まるで平和の波が世界中に広がっていくかのようなデザインが印象的です。平和の礎には、沖縄戦だけでなく、それ以外の戦場で亡くなった沖縄県出身の方々や、米英、朝鮮半島、台湾など多国籍の犠牲者名も刻まれており、国境を超えた慰霊の場であることを実感しました。 中央広場の「平和の火」は、座間味村阿嘉島で採火された火など複数の火を合わせたもので、戦争の悲劇を忘れず、未来への平和を願う象徴です。私が訪問した際には、毎年6月23日の慰霊の日を前に、多くの遺族や観光客が深く手を合わせている姿が見られました。名前に触れ、過去の出来事と向き合うその光景は、平和の礎が単なる記念碑でなく、今も多くの人々の心の拠り所であることを示しています。 平和の礎は、単に戦没者を追悼するだけでなく、戦争の真実を次世代に継承し、世界に恒久平和の願いを発信する役割を持っています。私自身も訪問を通じて、戦争の悲劇と向き合いながら未来の平和の大切さを改めて考える良い機会になりました。沖縄旅行の際はぜひ立ち寄り、名前に込められた一人ひとりの命に思いを馳せてみてください。
