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Jun 17, 20261
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Former Senator Itokazu Presents Book of Teacher's War Experiences to Okinawa Mentor
Former senator Itokazu Keiko presented a published book documenting her elementary school teacher Nakama Takeko's wartime experiences to Nakama on June 15th. The book, titled "Speaking and Listening: Okinawa's War Years," was published by Okinawa Times Company and comprises approximately 12,000 characters chronicling Nakama's Battle of Okinawa experiences and her postwar struggles to become a teacher.
Quick Facts
Who
Itokazu Keiko (former upper house member, age 78)
What
Presentation of published book on war experiences
When
June 15, 2026
Where
Yomitan village, Kina, Okinawa, Japan
- Presentation of published book on war experiences
- Itokazu served as listener/interviewer for war testimony project
- Documentation of Okinawa wartime and postwar experiences
- Itokazu Keiko (former upper house member, age 78)
- Nakama Takeko (Itokazu's elementary school teacher, age 97)
Itokazu Keiko, a former member of the upper house of the Japanese parliament, presented a newly published book to her elementary school teacher Nakama Takeko on June 15th in Yomitan village. The book, titled "Katari, Kiku: Okinawa no Ikusa-yu" (Speaking and Listening: Okinawa's War Years), was published by Okinawa Times Company through Misuzushobo publishers. Itokazu, aged 78, served as the listener and interviewer in the project, while Nakama, aged 97, shared her experiences as the primary speaker.
The published work comprises approximately 12,000 characters documenting Nakama's experiences during the Battle of Okinawa and her subsequent struggles as she pursued a career in education following the war. The project represents an effort to preserve and record significant personal testimonies from Okinawa's wartime period. The book brings together the voices of those who lived through one of Japan's most significant military campaigns and their efforts to rebuild their lives in its aftermath.
The presentation ceremony took place in Kina, Yomitan village, where Nakama currently resides. The initiative reflects growing efforts in Okinawa to document and preserve first-hand accounts of wartime experiences for future generations, ensuring that personal narratives of historical significance are not lost to time.
Why This Matters
This book project preserves critical first-hand testimonies from the Battle of Okinawa, one of Japan's most devastating military campaigns. By documenting personal narratives from survivors like Nakama Takeko—who both endured wartime hardship and rebuilt her life through teaching—the initiative ensures that future generations have access to authentic historical records beyond textbooks. For readers interested in Japanese history, education, and intergenerational legacy, this demonstrates how personal relationships can become vessels for historical preservation and cultural memory.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 15, 2026
WireItokazu Keiko presented published book to Nakama Takeko in Yomitan village
Jun 17, 2026
WireOkinawa Times Company published article reporting on book presentation