We started off our day nice and easy by meeting in the hotel lobby at 10 am and taking the coach bus to Sakima Art Museum. The purpose of this museum is to create a space where one can think and find peace amongst all the destruction and pain that occurred from the Battle of Okinawa. When we arrived at the museum, we all took our time silently wandering around and absorbing all the artwork that the museum had to offer. The main piece was the 14 panel artwork that was created by Maruki Iri and Toshi Maruki, which focuses on themes of life and death as well as suffering and relief. Hidden amongst the artwork were deeper stories that further contributed to these themes such as the color palette only consisting of five colors, how the eyes were drawn to represent lost souls, butterflies to represent an Okinawan soul returning to the land, and more. We also got the chance to speak with Mr. Michio Sakima, the Director of the Sakima Art Museum, who was able to further explain the process and meaning behind the museum and the art work. Not only was the inside riddled with beautiful work, but the rooftop also further contributed to the meaning behind the museum. June 23 (6/23) was the day the Battle of Okinawa ended and is also a holiday called "Irei no Hi", a day dedicated to remembering those who lost their lives during the battle. For the staircase leading up to the top of the roof, the first set of steps had 6 steps and the second set of steps had 23 steps, and on 6/23 the sun shines through the window at the top. Additionally, the top of the roof is a place to also find peace and pray.
After the museum, we headed down to Okinawa International University, a college that is located right on the edge of the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma base and was the location of a military helicopter crash in 2004. We watched a short video that showcased the accident and some of the pain that it caused. We talked to some students who gave us some insights on their lives and what it was like to go to Okinawa International University, where we heard some very compelling stories and got to learn a little bit more about Okinawa. We then checked out a location in the library dedicated to what had happened and visited the landmark for where the helicopter crashed.
Some of us had a quick discussion on if we thought there would be a difference in response to the military helicopter crash if it were to have happened at a university in the United States. We hung around and talked with our new buddies from the university and then hopped on the bus where many of us fell asleep, exhausted from the fun and eventful day.
Our quick naps got us through our last stop at the American Village, an outdoor mall with shops, malls, and other exciting places. Here, a few of us explored the beaches, checked out the Bokunen Museum, and ate some delicious taco rice to finish off the night.
One thing that caught my attention on our bus ride up to the museum was just how prominent the Futenma military base is. The base is right in the middle of the community, separating the towns from easily getting to each other. The large fence around the base lined with barbed wire at the top and the egregious signs stating “unauthorized entry prohibited and punishable by Japanese law” further separates Okinawans from their land. Additionally, we found that some of the family tombstones were located inside the base, and we learned that the families needed to get permission in order to visit the tombs. Throughout our time in Okinawa we’ve heard very loud helicopters and fighter jets fly by, causing an enormous amount of sound pollution. One of the students from Okinawa International University stated that oftentimes they’ll have to pause class until the noise disappears. The barriers to building community, education, and other rights are the results of having the military bases in Okinawa. It is disappointing that the operations of the military base seems to be taking precedence over the wellbeing of Okinawans. This land is someone’s home and potentially has deep roots and history to it, but it appears that the American view of the land is simply a strategic location for military operations. It is additionally upsetting that many of the people on this island have a tragic history with war and all they want is peace. But how can one find peace in a home surrounded by themes of death and destruction? Although I wish the U.S could remove their presence from the island, I understand that such a thing would be very unlikely at the moment. Until that occurs, I hope the U.S can learn to listen to Okinawans and find a way to co-exist together more peacefully.
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