Eighty years ago, Okinawa was the site of a devastating battle during the Pacific War, leaving a death toll of over 200,000, including approximately 90,000 civilians. Many lost their lives not only in combat but also due to starvation or forced suicides instigated by the Japanese military. As the anniversary of the battle approaches, volunteers like Takamatsu Gushiken dig through caves to uncover remains, which symbolize the tragic past of the region, where many families sought refuge amid the chaos.
"When the fighting ended three months later, 200,000 Japanese and Americans were dead, including an estimated 90,000 civilians around a quarter of Okinawa's non-military population."
"I think it's from the hand of a young boy or girl, says Gushiken, a 71-year-old volunteer bone hunter who has spent decades scraping away at the hardened crust of Okinawa's cave floors."
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