Loss of Innocence: The Battle of Okinawa – Mr. Shihou Toma

In Japan, as those who experienced World War II firsthand grow older, opportunities to hear directly from them are decreasing each year. The Battle of Okinawa in 1945 left enormous damage and deep scars on the local community. This battle was the largest ground battle fought in Japan during the final stage of the war, and not only soldiers but also many civilians were involved. As a result, memories of the war still remain deeply rooted in the lives, education, and peace studies of the local Okinawan population today. However, as the generation that directly experienced the war continues to decline, how to pass these memories on to future generations has become a major issue.

The Battle of Okinawa began in late March 1945 and lasted for approximately three months. U.S. forces landed on Okinawa to secure a base for advancing to mainland Japan, and intense fighting took place between them and the Japanese military. The battle started around Yomitan Village and Kadena Town in the center of the island and gradually spread to the south. Many residents were forced to evacuate, suffering from food shortages, heavy bombardment, and disease. Some people lived in natural caves called gama, using them as shelters. However, even these caves, which were thought to be safe, were sometimes attacked. Civilians experienced many tragedies, such as forced group suicides and students being forced to help – or even fight – in the war. Many people were afraid of being killed by the U.S. military. Some families killed each other or committed group suicide. In many cases, it was the father’s role to kill his family members.

In addition, residents felt a strong fear not only of the battles but also of the Japanese military.  There are several reasons for this. First, they felt pressure to follow orders. Second, they were afraid of being seen as spies. Third, they believed that they should not become prisoners of war. Also, while living in caves, there were situations where people had to make very difficult and dangerous decisions. For example, because of the baby’s crying, their location could be found by the enemy, so they had to kill the baby or be forced to leave the shelter of the cave.

Under these conditions, people suffered from great mental stress. Okinawa was used to slow down the enemy in order to protect mainland Japan, which led to many sacrifices. Because of this, Okinawa is sometimes called a “sacrificial stone” for national defense. These situations suggest that the Japanese military may have cared more about defending the mainland than the lives of local people in Okinawa. In fact, about one in four Okinawan people died, and this tragedy still affects Okinawan society today. For example, unexploded bombs from the war are still found. In addition, about 70% of U.S. military bases in Japan are located in Okinawa.  

After the war, many war-related sites and memorials remained in Okinawa. Places such as the Peace Memorial Park, the Himeyuri Monument, and the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters are still visited by many students and tourists as sites for peace education. Students visiting Okinawa on school trips learn about the Battle of Okinawa through these places. They also have opportunities to listen to talks by war survivors, allowing them to understand experiences and emotions that cannot be fully conveyed through textbooks alone. Such peace education plays an important role in understanding the tragedy of war and the value of life.

However, in recent years, there are fewer chances to hear directly from people who experienced the war because they are getting older and many are passing away. Therefore, it is becoming more important to record and keep their stories through interviews. The experiences of these people include things that cannot be fully understood only through books or videos. For example, we can better understand their fear during evacuation, the sadness of losing family members, and the difficulties of life after the war by listening to their own words.

We believe that interviewing survivors of the Battle of Okinawa is important for passing the history on to the next generation and for thinking about peace. Through this research, we hope readers will learn about the history of the Battle of Okinawa and the impact of war on people’s lives. We also hope that learning about the thoughts and experiences of those who lived through the war will encourage people to reflect on the importance of peace. Therefore, we conducted an interview with Shihou Toma, who experienced the Battle of Okinawa.

Interviewee’s Background

Mr. Shihou Toma is from Awase in Okinawa City in the central area of Okinawa. He was five years old at the time of the war, and his family consisted of his grandmother, mother, father, and two older brothers. As he was very young at the time, he remembers only a limited number of experiences. However, he kindly agreed to this interview because of his strong desire to share the tragedy of the Battle of Okinawa with younger generations.

Interview

Q: Can you explain what was happening in Awase before and during the war?

Before the war started, our daily life was centered around sweet potatoes. In Awase we ate sweet potatoes for almost every meal. We could only eat rice on special occasions, like New Year’s or the Obon festival. Life was really hard, and most people lived in poverty. Before the battle started, the Japanese military was spread throughout Okinawa and used local elementary schools as military bases and living quarters. They set up living quarters in Jinjo Koto Elementary Schools [similar to modern-day elementary and junior high schools]. Soldiers stayed in the schools, while higher-ranking officers often lived in the homes of wealthy local families. The homeowners had to use small rooms in the back of the house while the officers used the larger rooms. People believed it was their duty to support the soldiers because they thought the military was protecting Okinawa. When food was served, local families served the best food to the soldiers and ate simpler meals themselves.

Q: Where did you evacuate to during the war, and what was life like for you?

During the war I stayed in Awase with my mother, my siblings, and my grandmother. The people of Awase dug shelters in the hills behind Yogi as places to hide during the war. One day, U.S. soldiers came to our shelter and told everyone to come out. My grandmother said that she was old and that it would not matter if she died, but she could not let the children be killed. She went outside first. She couldn’t speak English; she used gestures to ask the soldiers if they were going to kill us. An interpreter with the U.S. military said, “We do not kill civilians. You are safe, so please come out.” After hearing that, we all came out of the shelter and were gathered together in one place.Then the U.S. military told us that they needed the area for operations against mainland Japan and that we had to leave. We were moved to a place called Kinaka, where Gushikawa High School stands today. I was only five years old at the time, but I still remember that.

Q: As a child at that time, how much did you understand about what was happening around you?

When I was five or six years old, I did not really understand the war. I was simply trying to survive. It was only later, when I started elementary school, that I began to understand what had happened. I heard adults talking about the war and began to understand how frightening it was. Adults didn’t talk much about the war to children. Maybe it was because the war was so frightening or because they didn’t want to make children worry.

Q: What was school life like after the war? Do you remember what kinds of things you were taught in school?

The older generation received what is called “Imperial Education.” But we belong to the wartime generation, and we were among the first to receive a new kind of education after the war. People who were born before around 1935 received the old Japanese education. In that system, English was not taught because it was considered the language of an enemy country, so it was not even included in textbooks. But people in my generation were taught English in school.

Q: How do you think the war changed Okinawa and the lives of the people who experienced it?

When I was young, all I could see was the negative side of the war. It was frightening, and those memories stayed with me for a long time. But as I got older, I started to think about it a little differently. After the war, American culture came into Okinawa, and many new ideas and ways of life were introduced. In a way, that became part of Okinawa’s mixed culture. Okinawa accepted many things from different cultures, and I think that is one reason why Okinawa is the way it is today. Of course, I am not saying the war was a good thing. It brought a lot of suffering and sadness. But at the same time, it is also true that Okinawa changed a great deal after the war. The generations before us lived through very difficult times. They experienced war, poverty, and hunger. But because of their hardships and sacrifices, we are able to live the lives we have today. 

I experienced both the poor times and the prosperous times that came later. In that sense, maybe I am a lucky generation. We know what it was like when people had very little, and I can also see how much life has improved. Today, people still have their own worries, but compared to those days, I think we live in a very peaceful time. So, I don’t think we should take this peaceful life for granted. The generations before us suffered a lot, and I think we should remember their sacrifices and pass these stories on to the next generation.

Q: What would you want younger generations to learn from your experience?

Back in the Meiji Era [1868~1912], Japan began interacting with other countries. People went abroad to learn new things and brought back foreign ideas, technology, and culture. That is one reason Japan was able to develop and move forward. I would like young people today to go out and see more of the world. It is good to study in mainland Japan, but I hope they will also go overseas. When you spend time in another country, you can look at your own home from a different perspective, and you begin to notice the differences between cultures. 

People of my generation lived through war and many old customs, so in some ways our view of the world could be quite limited. You could say you need to expand your horizons. If you never leave your own surroundings, it is difficult to understand what the rest of the world is like. So, what I want to say to young people is simple: spread your wings and go out into the world. Look beyond Okinawa, look beyond Japan, and gain as many experiences as you can. At the same time, don’t forget that peace is not something we should take for granted. I hope you will remember the suffering caused by war and continue to pass those lessons on to future generations.

Reflections

Through this interview, we were able to learn more about the reality of war and the suffering people experienced by listening directly to someone who went through the Battle of Okinawa. We came to realize that there are many things we cannot understand only from books or videos. In addition, we had a good opportunity to think not only about the tragedy of war, but also about the strength of people who helped each other and lived through such difficult situations, and the importance of peace. 

Although war happened in the past, its effects still remain in people’s hearts today. Through this interview, we felt that the history of war is closely connected to our local community. What impressed us the most was Mr. Toma’s message to young people: “Go out and see more of the world.” We think this message shows a strong wish that people understand each other better so that war never happens again. It also encourages young people to think for themselves, make good decisions, and understand information correctly.

Also, many war survivors do not want to remember what happened at that time. Even so, they still share their stories with us. We believe this shows their strong hope that we will pass on the importance of peace to the future. We should respect their feelings, continue to learn about war, and share what we learn with the next generation. We will not forget what we learned from this experience, and we want to keep thinking about the history of Okinawa and the importance of peace.

References

Cabinet Office, Government of Japan. (n.d.). Retrieved May 11, 2026, from https://www.cao.go.jp/

Heart of Okinawa. Sharing the Peace-Seeking Heart of Okinawa with the World: Remembering the Battle of Okinawa and Delivering the Message to Realize Peace. (2025). The Peace and Subnational Diplomacy Promotion Division, Okinawa Prefectural Office.

Okinawa Prefectural Archives. (n.d.). Retrieved May 11, 2026, from https://www.archives.pref.okinawa.jp/

Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2026, from https://www.peace-museum.okinawa.jp/

Researchers

Hello everyone! My name is Miku Fukuhara. I was born and raised in Okinawa, Japan. I am a student at Okinawa Christian University, majoring in English Communication. Last year, I studied abroad in Australia for 6 months. It was a valuable experience because I improved my English and learned about different cultures. Since then, I have become even more interested in communicating with people from different backgrounds. I enjoy traveling, watching movies, and visiting cafés with my friends. I hope to travel to many more countries in the future and continue learning about different cultures.

Hello. My name is Yuna Tamai, and I am a student at Okinawa Christian University. I was born and raised in Okinawa, Japan.My hobbies are taking walks while listening to music and playing with my cats. Last year, I stayed in New Zealand for one year on a working holiday. Living in another country helped me see how special Okinawa is. It also made me realize that I should learn more about Okinawa’s history and culture. I hope to use what I learn to help pass on Okinawa’s history and culture to future generations.