I had visited Shimukugama a few times earlier in the year. After I bought my bicycle, I rode around looking for it and unknowingly rode right past it. You go down a small path with tall grass on either. In my imagination, it looked exactly that way 60 years ago during World War 2. During WW2 approximately 1000 villagers hid inside that cave as the US Army landed in Okinawa. An Okinawan who had recently returned from Hawaii told the 1000 people hiding in the cave that the Americans will not kill you and that it is safe to come out. Because of those words, all 1000 people's lives were spared.
The view from the outside
The view out from the inside
Just a short way down the road lies another cave - the chibichirigama. I had been searching for this one for a few times but finally stumbled upon it today. This cave is known as the sad cave and is off limits to go inside. In this cave approximately 120 hid during the war. When they realized that the US soldiers were outside the cave, many of the people decided it was better to kill themselves instead of surrender, as they were taught by the Japanese Imperial Army. They used poison and set fire to futon inside the cave. Around 84 people died in that cave and more than half of those were children.
The entrance to the cave with the story of what happened in the cave and origami cranes.
A shrine set up to remember the victim.
2 caves - 2 different stories. Both stories of fear and war.
We need peace. We need Christ.
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