Some number of both latter groups may have been suicides who preferred death to surrender. I understand that horrifies many Westerners, but not me. My view: your life is your own, to end if you choose to do so.
The museum associated with the peace memorial is interesting but was hard to enjoy since it was overflowing with Japanese schoolchildren in matching t-shirts. Our guide says they are here on a school fieldtrip from "the mainland" which means something different to Okinawans. To them it means the four major islands of Japan, not the continent of Asia.
On our way back to the ship we visited a glass factory and its associated factory store. Watching the glassblowers was fun but they don't make decorative paperweights, the one thing we might have been tempted to buy. Interestingly, all of their glass was labeled as not safe for dishwashers or for boiling water.
Okinawa's capital Naha looks prosperous, apparently tourism is the number one "industry" for this southernmost prefecture of Japan. I suspect most of those are Japanese tourists who come south in winter to warm up.
Speaking of which, as we've gone north the temperature keeps dropping. I'm wearing a light jacket today for the first time since we approached Hawaii. Japan may still be quite cool.
