NHK has learned that the remains of some 20 people believed to have died in World War Two have been found on Iejima Island in Japan’s southern prefecture of Okinawa. This is the first discovery of its kind on the island in about 20 years.
The remains were found last year while a movie was being made about a six-day ground battle that followed the landing of US forces on the island on April 16, 1945.
About 2,000 troops from the now-defunct Imperial Japanese military died on the island. About 1,500 residents, or roughly half of those remaining on the island, either died in the fighting or in mass suicides because they had no way to evacuate.
Officials of Okinawa Prefecture and Ie Village told NHK that the bones were discovered last August when a hole was being dug during landscaping work for the film. The apparent belongings of Imperial soldiers, such as helmets and canteens, were found at the same location.
Japan’s health ministry says the remains are thought to be from about 20 people.
Chinen Hiroki, who made the discovery, said he kept digging as he felt he should return the remains to the bereaved families as soon as possible.
Okinawa saw the one of the bloodiest battles of World War Two. The search for war remains in the prefecture continues 80 years after the war ended.
AloJapan.com