Okinawa Studies Research Guide: Battle of Okinawa

Peace Memorial Park  Photo: ©OCVB

Haebaru Culture Center / 南風原文化センター     (English /Japanese)

• The Center displays documents and artifacts on the Battle of Okinawa in Haebaru Town.
• On site, visitors can visit the Okinawa Army Hospital Haebaru Moat Group 20 (沖縄陸軍病院南風原壕軍2号).
• Location: Haebaru, Okinawa

Hansen Heiwa Shiryokan House of nuchidutakara Anti-War Peace Museum /反戦平和資料館 ヌチドゥタカラの家  (English / Japanese)

• The House displays artifacts collected during as well as after the Battle of Okinawa by Mr. Shoko Ahagon (1901-2002) . Mr. Ahagon is remembered as "Ghandi of Okinawa."
• Location: Iejima, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa

Himeyuri Peace Museum / ひめゆり平和祈念資料館 (English / Japanese)

• Dedicated to the Himeyuri Students Corps during the Battle of Okinawa, the Museum exhibits artifacts and testimonials. 
• New! Latest English-language newsletter No.1 2018.12
• Location: Itoman City, Okinawa
• GW Okinawa Collection holds a number of Himeyuri-related resources. 

Yaeyama Peace Memorial Museum / 八重山平和祈念館 (Japanese)

• The Museum focuses on wartime malaria that killed approximately 3,000 Okinawans. They were forced to evaluate into the malaria-infested areas. See more details on the Museum's English-language guide.
• Location: Maeyama island, Ishigaki City, Okinawa

Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum / 沖縄平和祈念資料館 (English / Japanese)

• Comprehensive guide on the Battle of Okinawa - how it started and what the situations during the battle was through some permanent exhibit
• Promote peace learning
• Location: Itoman City, Okinawa

The Cabinet Office Okinawa Development and Promotion Bureau / 内閣府沖縄振興局 沖縄戦関係資料閲覧室 (Japanese)

• The reading room holds books and resources on the Battle of Okinawa, owned by the Japanese government
• Digitized materials include resources from US Marine Corps History Center, US National Archives, Japanese government and Japanese municipalities.
• Location: Tokyo

The Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarter / 旧海軍司令部 (English / Japanese)

• Originally bult in December, 1944, 450 meter men-made underground was used by the former Japanese Navy.
• The exihibittion includes: History of the Navy Underground, Chronological table of events, a famous telegraph (both English and Japanese) by the Commanding Officer Minoru Ota. (The content of the original telegraph, Translation into modern Japanese)
• English pamphlet availalbe.
• Location:　Komigusuku City, Okinawa

Tsushima-maru Memorial Museum / 対馬丸記念館 (English / Japanese)

• Digital Archives of Tsuhima-maru/対馬丸デジタルアーカイブ　 (Available only in Japanese)
• 対馬丸祈念館YouTube Channel (Available only in Japanese)
• GW Okinawa Collection holds a number of books on Tsushima-maru.

Battle of Okinawa Historical Display (Camp Kinser) / 沖縄戦資料館 （キャンプ・キンザー) 

Located in Camp Kinser, Urasoe City, the Battle of Okinawa History Display museum, operated by volunteers, is filled with memorabilia, photos and artifacts of both US military and Japan Imperial. Admission fee is free, but an appointment is required. This is not a typical sightseeing spot. Therefore, they may accept reservations only from groups who wish to visit for educational purposes. For information, please visit Urasoe City Hall website.

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沖縄県史　資料編 （編集沖縄県立図書館史料編集室）

1. 資料編３　"Coverages of the Battle of Okinawa in U.S. Newspaper (English)
2. 資料編3 「米国新聞にみる沖縄戦報道」 和訳編
3. 資料編4　10thArmy Operation Iceberg (English)
4. 資料編12　「アイスバーグ作戦　沖縄戦５」　和訳編
5. 資料編23　「沖縄戦日本軍史料」

沖縄県史　各論編 (Japanese only)

1. 各論編6 沖縄戦 

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沖縄市　

　　沖縄市民平和の日 (Japanese only)

• 沖縄戦の実相
• 沖縄市における沖縄戦

　　沖縄戦後資料デジタルアーカイブ　

• ウェブヒストリート/Web Histreet (Also available in Korean & Chinese)

座間味村史 (Japanese only)

• 　上・中・下巻　（座間味村史編集委員会，1989年）
• 　沖縄戦体験記　第16号～　（宮城恒彦著，2004年～）

那覇市　

      Naha City Library / 市立図書館 (Google Translation available)

• 沖縄戦関係資料所蔵目録

      Naha City Museum of History Digital Archive / 那覇市歴史博物館デジタルミュージアム (Google Translation available)

• - Museum website
• - Collections of photos (approximately 20,000 items) pre-war, middle of war and post-war around Naha City. 
• - Available in Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean and Spanish

読谷村史 (Japanese only)

• 第五巻資料編4 『戦時記録』 上巻　（正誤表）
• 第五巻資料編4 『戦時記録』 下巻　（「公開するにあたって」）
• 「平和の炎　v.1~13」（電子ブック）
• 「激動　第一章～十章、付録」（電子ブック）

Footage "Tbe Battle of Okinawa" from Okinawa Media Library    ©OCVB 

Okinawa Prefectural Archives/沖縄県公文書館「映像」

• 232 footages available
• Follow the following instruction: (Each footage has a short description in English. 

1) Click the link to the video footages.  2) Choose 'View on cell phone (left bottom)' or 'View on desktop' (right bottom).

Smithsonian Channel "Battle of Okinawa in Color"　(English)

NHK 沖縄戦　映像。証言アーカイブズ　(Japanese)

• Chapter 1 through 12 cover the events starting on April 1, 1945 through June 23, 1945, including some testimonials.
• Introduction of the archive

旧海軍司令部ホームページ冒頭ビデオ

• 「”壕”は語る　戦争の悲惨さと平和の尊さを」 (English narration)

世界遺産座喜味城跡　ユンタンザミュージアム (Japanese)

• ミュージアム制作(2018) 「生と死を分けた二つのガマ」

シネマ沖縄ドキュメンタリー (Japanese)

• 「やーさん ひーさん しからーさん -集団疎開学童の証言-」

沖縄チャンネル！Okinawa BBTV (Japanese)

• 「動画で見る沖縄戦』