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Southern Okinawa

Peace Prayer Park

Written by John

Wednesday, 12 March 2008 03:00

Peace Prayer Park

Peace Prayer Park (Okinawa Heiwa Kinen Koen), located on and around Mabuni Hill (Hill 89) on the southern portion of Okinawa, Japan, is a large complex dedicated to the memories of those that died during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. After Okinawa reverted from American to Japanese control in 1972, construction of the park began. The park is at once a destination for visitors and a sacred location for prayer and reflection. It is comprised of four zones: the Peace Zone, the Prayer Area, the Peace Ceremony Zone, and the Recreation Zone. Peace Prayer Park

The Peace Zone
This area is comprised of the Peace Memorial Museum, the Peace Memorial Hall, the Cornerstone of Peace, and the Flame of Peace.

Peace Memorial Museum (Heiwa Kinen Koen no Shiryokan)
Focused largely on the impact of the battle on the lives of Okinawan civilians, the Peace Memorial Museum is intended to teach the public about the horrors of war. Permanent exhibits explain the history of the battle from beginning to end and include audiovisual aids such as films, historical objects, 3-D maps, and even a replica cave. Particularly notable is Room 4, in which audio and written testimonies from battle survivors are displayed. The final exhibit chronicles the post-war occupation and struggle for reversion.

Admission is 300 Yen for adults and 150 Yen for children. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except December 29-January 3).

Peace Memorial Hall (Heiwa Kinendo)
Peace Memorial Hall is best known as the home of the largest lacquered Buddha in Japan. Standing 12 meters high, spanning eight meters across, and comprised of 3.5 tons of lacquer, the Buddha is the magnum opus of renowned Okinawan artist Shinzan Yamada. Prior to World War II, Yamada left Okinawa to study art in Tokyo. Though he returned in 1940 and survived the horrors of the "Typhoon of Steel," he lost two sons during the battle. He constructed the Buddha statue to commemorate the souls of the war dead and espouse hope that such a tragedy would never again occur.

Yamada began constructing the Buddha using tsuikin lacquer techniques in 1957 at the age of 72. The enormous statue took more than 18 years to complete, with work stopping several times due to a lack of funding and twice because Yamada sustained serious injuries in falls from scaffolding. According to literature from the Peace Memorial Hall, the Buddha statue "differs from the usual Buddha in its basic concept. The traditional Buddha is usually placed on a lotus-shaped pedestal, symbolizing the future life, while the pedestal of this non-religious peace statue is decorated with a flower whose six petals represent the six continents. Thus this represents human harmony and world peace."

To get to Peace Prayer Park, head south on Highway 58 toward Naha. Highway 58 becomes Highway 331 near the airport. Continue straight on 331 and follow the signs to Peace Prayer Park.

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Battle of Okinawa

Cornerstone of Peace

Irei no Hi

Mabuni Hill

Peace Memorial Hall

Peace Memorial Museum

Peace Prayer Park

Shinzan Yamada

Southern Okinawa

japan

japan travel

okinawa

okinawa travel

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Peace Prayer Park
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
Peace Prayer Park Peace Prayer Park (Okinawa Heiwa Kinen Koen), located on and around Mabuni Hill (Hill 89) on the southern portion...

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