Every June 23, Okinawa marks the anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa, a defining conflict of the Pacific War that claimed approximately 240,000 lives. According to Naomi Machida, representative of the “Cornerstone of Peace” name-reading project, this annual commemoration has evolved into a global movement where participants from 34 countries read the names of the fallen to transform historical remembrance into active peace education.
How the Global Name-Reading Movement Began
The project originated in 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as organizers sought a way to emphasize the human cost of conflict. Naomi Machida, who coordinates the initiative at the Okinawa Peace Memorial Park, stated that the group drew inspiration from German projects commemorating Jewish victims of the Holocaust. By April 2022, the group began organizing, and by June, they launched the first reading of names inscribed on the “Cornerstone of Peace” monument. Machida reports that the initiative has grown from 1,500 participants in its inaugural year to over 5,800 in 2023, with involvement expanding from five schools to approximately 45 across Japan.
The “Cornerstone of Peace” monument in Itoman City contains the names of all who died in the Battle of Okinawa, regardless of their nationality, including both Japanese and American soldiers, as well as civilians and conscripted laborers from the Korean Peninsula.
Why Naming Victims Shifts Peace Education
Traditional peace education in Japan has long relied on passive listening to the stories of war survivors. Educators participating in the name-reading program report a shift toward active engagement. According to Machida, students who once held vague desires for peace now express specific intentions to contribute to conflict resolution. When participants encounter names of individuals who share their own age or name, the abstract casualty count of 240,000 becomes a personal reality, prompting students to ask, “What would I have done in that situation?” This transition from passive learning to active reflection is a core objective of the project.
The Challenges of Verifying Historical Records
Organizing the reading of 240,000 names presents significant logistical hurdles. The “Cornerstone of Peace” lists are extensive but historically lacked a standardized, phonetic database for reading. Machida explains that a team of 33 volunteers has spent years using AI tools to generate initial phonetic readings, which are then manually verified by the group. Despite the time-intensive nature of this work, the organizers maintain the effort because of the profound impact on participants, including families who use the reading events to reconnect with the history of lost relatives.
How Okinawa’s History Influences Modern Geopolitics
Okinawa’s status as a site of both intense suffering and ongoing military presence creates a complex identity for its residents. Machida notes that while residents remember the “iron storm” of 1945, they also witness the current use of local bases, such as Kadena Air Base, for modern military operations. This duality—being both victims of past wars and observers of current ones—fuels the urgency of the movement. Machida emphasizes that their mission is to promote the “Mankoku Shinryo” spirit, a historical Okinawan ideal of serving as a bridge between nations, by rejecting the silence that often precedes conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the “Cornerstone of Peace”? It is a memorial in Itoman City, Okinawa, that lists the names of all who died in the 1945 Battle of Okinawa, irrespective of whether they were soldiers or civilians, or which side they fought for.
- Who can participate in the reading project? The project is open to anyone. Organizers state that the initiative is non-partisan and welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, including those associated with self-defense organizations, to join in the act of remembrance.
- How does the project involve international participants? Through cooperation with organizations like JICA, trainees from various conflict zones have joined the readings. To date, participants from 34 countries have contributed to the effort.
To learn more about the project or to view upcoming memorial schedules, visit the official Okinawa “Cornerstone of Peace” Name-Reading website.
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