滝本 匠 
June 7, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Ayaka Kanamori
On June 6, the executive committee of the "gathering for reading aloud the names on Okinawa’s Cornerstone of Peace" during which the names of 240,000+ people who died in the Battle of Okinawa are to be read aloud, held a press conference at the Okinawa Prefectural Office and explained an overview of the event. Naomi Machida of the secretariat eagerly stated: "We want to share our thoughts (for those who died) by reading out their names. The bereaved families are also pleased with this. We will do our best to meet their expectations."
The first occurrence of this gathering was organized by local volunteers. Choko Takayama, who worked as the Chief of Staff during the time of the Ota administration when the Cornerstone of Peace was erected, voiced his support for the gathering with the words: "I want us to read while turning our thoughts to the death of each person and wondering how things would have been had they lived. I want to convey proof that they lived."
The reading aloud of the names starts on June 12, and the final day will be on June 23 at the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman City. The names of 240,000+ people engraved into the Cornerstone of Peace will be read aloud. The gathering will be streamed online. Currently there are approximately 1,500 people, from nursery school pupils to people who experienced the Battle of Okinawa, planning to participate in reading the names aloud. The opening event is set to be held at the Yomitan Village Cultural Center starting at 9:00 a.m. on June 12.
(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)
