<<For non-Japanese speakers>> In contrast to its melodious beauty, this emotionally touching song was born, being inspired by a dreadful tragedy which occurred in the islands of Okinawa in Japan at the end of WWII in 1945. The Okinawa islands are situated farthest south in the Japanese Archipelago, and became the battlefields between Japan and USA. In the spring of 1945, the Japanese military fascist was desperate for the final counter-attacks, and ruthlessly exploited Okinawa as the defensive shield against the powerful USA forces which had advanced northward from Guam, and as the result of fierce battles, more than 90,000 non-combatant citizens were killed. Furthermore, it must be memorized that many of the native casualties were ordered by the Japanese military to commit massive suicide, rather than surrender. This beautiful but sorrowful song is dedicated to the innocent deceased souls in Okinawa.
