81 years on, Okinawa youth turn to Instagram to keep wartime memories alive

Students who are members of the group Sustainable Okinawa discuss posts for Instagram. (Photo by Yumiko Urasaki)KONATSU OCHI and YUMIKO URASAKIJune 23, 2026 03:40 JSTTOKYO/NAHA, Japan -- As Okinawa marks the end of a major battle at the end of World War II on Tuesday, younger generations born after the war have taken on the task of preserving memories from 81 years ago. TOKYO/NAHA, Japan -- As Okinawa marks the end of a major battle at the end of World War II on Tuesday, younger generations born after the war have taken on the task of preserving memories from 81 years ago.

TOKYO/NAHA, Japan -- As Okinawa marks the end of a major battle at the end of World War II on Tuesday, younger generations born after the war have taken on the task of preserving memories from 81 years ago. Read NextDefenseJapan lacks enough underground shelters to withstand missile attacksDefenseOkinawa's main airport is latest controversy in US military base relocationOpinionJapan should not abandon its peace brandOpinionTrump should push back on Xi's narrative on JapanDefenseJapan's closest garrison to Taiwan takes bigger role 10 years onJapan-China tensionsFormations of thousands of Chinese fishing boats stir worries in JapanDefenseChina's launch of 3rd aircraft carrier disrupts balance of power in PacificLatest on SocietySocietyChinese film stirs identity debate in Singapore amid shifting US tiesSocietyBlast in Myanmar village reportedly kills 55 and injures dozens moreSocietyWhy Japan has more libraries even though people are reading less Read Next Read Next DefenseJapan lacks enough underground shelters to withstand missile attacksDefenseOkinawa's main airport is latest controversy in US military base relocationOpinionJapan should not abandon its peace brandOpinionTrump should push back on Xi's narrative on JapanDefenseJapan's closest garrison to Taiwan takes bigger role 10 years onJapan-China tensionsFormations of thousands of Chinese fishing boats stir worries in JapanDefenseChina's launch of 3rd aircraft carrier disrupts balance of power in Pacific DefenseJapan lacks enough underground shelters to withstand missile attacks DefenseJapan lacks enough underground shelters to withstand missile attacks DefenseOkinawa's main airport is latest controversy in US military base relocation OpinionJapan should not abandon its peace brand OpinionTrump should push back on Xi's narrative on Japan DefenseJapan's closest garrison to Taiwan takes bigger role 10 years on Japan-China tensionsFormations of thousands of Chinese fishing boats stir worries in Japan DefenseChina's launch of 3rd aircraft carrier disrupts balance of power in Pacific Latest on Society Latest on Society SocietyChinese film stirs identity debate in Singapore amid shifting US tiesSocietyBlast in Myanmar village reportedly kills 55 and injures dozens moreSocietyWhy Japan has more libraries even though people are reading less SocietyChinese film stirs identity debate in Singapore amid shifting US ties SocietyBlast in Myanmar village reportedly kills 55 and injures dozens more SocietyWhy Japan has more libraries even though people are reading less Sponsored Content Sponsored Content