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Okinawa Times publishes 'Speaking and Listening: Okinawa's War Years' to mark 80 years since end of World War II
The Okinawa Times published 'Speaking and Listening: Okinawa's War Years' on June 10, 2026, as part of its 80th anniversary commemoration of the end of World War II. The book compiles narratives from 30 volunteer interviewers who documented personal accounts of Okinawa's wartime experiences.
Quick Facts
Who
Okinawa Times (沖縄タイムス社)
What
Publication of book 'Speaking and Listening: Okinawa's War Years'
When
June 10, 2026 (publication date)
Where
Okinawa, Japan
- Publication of book 'Speaking and Listening: Okinawa's War Years'
- Serialized feature converted to book format
- Collection of oral histories and personal wartime accounts
- 80th anniversary commemoration project
- Okinawa Times (沖縄タイムス社)
The Okinawa Times has published a book titled 'Speaking and Listening: Okinawa's War Years' (語り、聞く 沖縄の戦世), based on a serialized feature marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The publication, released on June 10, 2026, by Mizuzu Shobo in Tokyo, compiles oral histories and personal accounts related to Okinawa's wartime experiences.
The project featured 30 volunteer interviewers selected through public recruitment who collected and shared narratives about the war era. The book is an adaptation of the original serialized column titled 'Okinawa Life History: Speaking and Listening to the War Years' (沖縄の生活史～語り、聞く 戦世), which the Okinawa Times ran as part of its commemorative programming for the 80th anniversary milestone.
Why This Matters
This publication serves as a crucial historical record that preserves first-hand testimonies of Okinawa's wartime experiences for future generations. By converting oral histories into a widely accessible book format, the Okinawa Times ensures that personal narratives of resilience and suffering during WWII reach a broader audience beyond the original newspaper serialization, contributing to historical understanding and collective memory of this significant period.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 10, 2026
WireBook 'Speaking and Listening: Okinawa's War Years' published by Mizuzu Shobo
Jun 18, 2026
WireBook released in Okinawa bookstores