Hello, everyone! My name is Mako Iwamoto, and I am a third-year student in the Department of Global Tourism. Today, I’d like to share my experience participating in the Okinawa Study Tour, Hear Me Okinawa, which took place this September.

If you’re interested in learning more about Hear Me Okinawa and last year’s activities, I encourage you to check out the department blog!

This year’s Okinawa Study Tour was guided by local experts, allowing us to explore and reflect on the history and culture of Okinawa over two days. A total of 14 students joined the project under Mr. Hara’s leadership: seven first-year students, six third-year students, and one final-year student, all from the Department of Global Tourism.

In this story, I’ll focus on the places visited by the third-year students, as we explored locations different from those visited by first-time participants.

Day 1: Exploring Okinawa’s History and Natural Beauty
On the first day, we visited the Himeyuri Peace Museum, the Peace Memorial Park, the Cornerstone of Peace, and Sefa-utaki. Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend the morning activities, so I asked my fellow students about their impressions.

Himeyuri Peace Memorial Museum
• "Last year, I was overwhelmed by the tragic stories, but this time I felt calmer and could ask more questions."
• "I’m grateful for the new insights I gain each year."
• "Experiencing the Gama made the song Shima Uta feel even more profound, as it was inspired by these events. I understood more deeply this year how much suffering the Battle of Okinawa caused."
• "I was touched by the guide’s story: ‘In the old days, children would write love letters on leaves and give them to their crushes.’"
Peace Memorial Park
• "It was chilling to hear the guide say, ‘The sea in front of us looks beautifully blue now, but during the war, it was stained red with blood. Even today, some people cannot bear to look at it.’"
Sefa-Utaki
• "I was awestruck by the breathtaking beauty of nature—it felt like something from another world."

These experiences reminded us that no matter how many times we visit, there is always more to learn and new perspectives to gain.

Day 2: Free Exploration and Reflection
The second day was a free bus tour around Okinawa City. We visited the Okinawa City Postwar Cultural and History Historeet museum, Rycom, and concluded with a review of our two-day experience.

Okinawa City Postwar Cultural and History Historeet
This museum focuses on reexamining postwar Okinawa. Through rare photographs, newspaper articles, and historical artifacts, we gained a deeper understanding of Okinawa’s journey from the past to the present. It was a powerful opportunity to reflect on history.

Rycom
Rycom has become so well-known that it’s even a place name, as in AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom and Rycom Intersection. The name originates from the “Ryukyu Command Headquarters” that was once located here. Having watched the play Rycom de Mattoku in Kyoto this summer, visiting the actual location of its setting was fascinating. At the same time, it was sobering to recall the emotions and messages from the play.

Reflection
Looking back on this year’s Okinawa Study Tour, the words and stories I encountered continue to resonate with me. Learning about Okinawa has reminded me of the importance of understanding history. By learning, reflecting, and keeping these lessons in mind, we can connect with more profound messages and share them with others.

I hope to continue learning about Okinawa’s culture and history through my own experiences and observations. There is still so much to explore and understand.

Finally, I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to help make this year’s Okinawa Study Tour possible. Thank you so much!

◎ Announcement:
From December 9 to December 13, an exhibition will be held on the first floor of Building No. 4! Along with the usual panel displays, we’re also preparing quizzes, shisa-making workshops, and other fun activities. If you have time, please stop by during your break!