On the 80th memorial anniversary of the sinking of the school children évacuation ship Tsushima Maru, the lament, “May such a tragedy never again occur!” (23au24)

Splendor of Okinawa: Raintree, beachside Mihama, 19au24


In August of 1944 during Word War 2, the Tsushima Maru, an evacuation ship for school children, set out from Okinawa, but was attacked and sunk by a US submarine.


It has been 80 years since more than 1,400, including children, perished on 22 August 1944. At the Little Cherry Blossom Memorial Monument in Naha, a memorial ceremony was held. About 410 relatives and others participated to offer prayers of mourning.


Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki and Cabinet Minister for Okinawa and the Northern Territories Hanako Jimi participated, as the whistle sounded for all to offer a moment of silence.


Chairman of the Tsushima Maru Memorial Association Public Interest Corporation Masakatsu Takara (84), who survived, but lost a total 9 family members, including parents and siblings in the sinking, pleaded in his address of mourning, “It is unpardonable for such a tragic event to occur again. I beg that the chain of retribution be expunged from this world.”


The Tsushima Maru set out from Naha Port on the evening of 21 August 1944 with 1800 passengers aboard, bound for Nagasaki. However, on route the following day, during the night of 22 August, off the coast of the island of Akusekijima, she was torpedoed and sunk in waters 870 meters deep. Her hull was discovered in deep sea research in 1997. However, now 80 years after the tragedy, the Government is planning to inspect the site again.


Sachiko, the little sister (about 11 at the time) of Soutetsu Aka (94) died in the sinking. Neither her body nor belongings have ever been found. With the expectation of a re-inspection, Mr. Aka notes, “If they find my little sister’s remains, I want them used to convey the tragedy of war.”


Original Japanese article: Mainichi Shimbun, published Thursday 22 August 2024 at 18:26. Byline Hiroshi Higa.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/02ae3dc76add1e21e8cfad4aa171e0f2e1035b8f



Denny in the News:


Denny Tamaki is the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Although Okinawa is important as an international tourist destination and a key element in strategic US Military Forces, its governor receives very little coverage in the Japanese press and almost none in the English language media. 


This blog hopes to  translate one news article a day on the governor.  It is unsponsored and unauthorized. The translator simply hopes to improve his skills and perhaps give the governor an English speaking audience. 


Any suggestion on improving my translation will be gratefully accepted. However, please leave political comments for another forum.


Where they occur, words and phrases in Ryukyuan (the Okinawan language) are rendered in italics and translated in parentheses. Names  whose readings are uncertain are rendered as Name (=Kanji?) as in Nagayuki (=長行?). Any corrections in such instances would be gratefully appreciated.

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