Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters

In 1944, a system of underground tunnels dug up by Japanese naval engineers with pick axes was called the Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters. These tunnels were dug all throughout Okinawa as means of hiding from invading Americans and transporting materials without being seen by the enemy. 


The Battle of Okinawa was the last battle of WWII and was the bloodiest.  From April 1, 1945 through June 22, 1945 American and Japanese forces fought for only one reason: to utterly destroy their opponent. 


When the battle was over, over 76,000 Japanese casualties and over 62,000 American casualties, of whom over 12,500 were dead or missing.  On an island that's 67mi long and 2-17mi wide, you can just imagine how horrible Okinawa must've looked. 


The Japanese Naval Headquarters is where Admiral Ota and "over 4000 Japanese soldiers committed suicide". You can still see the shrapnel marks in some of the walls where someone committed suicide using a hand grenade. 


The headquarters was pretty much left alone from 1945 (when the war ended) until 1970 when the bodies and debri were removed and opened up as a historical museum. 


It was a somber trip, walking thru the halls of a hidden Japanese command bunker where so many men died. 

Before committing suicide, Admiral Ota sent out one last telegram:


Sent at 20:16 on the 6th of June, 1945: "Please convey the following telegram to the Vice-Admiral. While the Governor should be the person to relay this report on the present condition of the Okinawa prefectural inhabitants, he has no available means of communication and the 32nd Division Headquarters appears to be thoroughly occupied with their own correspondences. However, due to the critical situations we are in, I feel compelled to make this urgent report though it is without the Governor's consent. Since the enemy attack began, our Army and Navy has been fighting defensive battles and have not been able to tend to the people of the Prefecture. Consequently, due to our negligence, these innocent people have lost their homes and property to enemy assault. Every man has been conscribed to partake in the defense, while women, children and elders are forced into hiding in the small underground shelters which are not tactically important or are exposed to shelling, air raids or the harsh elements of nature. Moreover, girls have devoted themselves to nursing and cooking for the soldiers and have gone as far as to volunteer in carrying ammunition, or join in attacking the enemy. This leaves the village people vulnerable to enemy attacks where they will surely be killed. In desperation, some parents have asked the military to protect their daughters against rape by the enemy, prepared that they may never see them again.

Nurses, with wounded soldiers, wander aimlessly because the medical team had moved and left them behind. The military has changed its operation, ordering people to move to far residential areas, however, those without means of transportation trudge along on foot in the dark and rain, all the while looking for food to stay alive.Ever since our Army and Navy occupied Okinawa, the inhabitants of the Prefecture have been forced into military service and hard labor, while sacrificing everything they own as well as the lives of their loved ones. They have served with loyalty. Now we are nearing the end of the battle, but they will go unrecognized, unrewarded. Seeing this, I feel deeply depressed and lament a loss of words for them. Every tree, every plant life is gone.

Even the weeds are burnt. By the end of June, there will be no more food. This is how the Okinawan people have fought the war. And for this reason, I ask that you give the Okinawan people special consideration, this day forward".


Between 42,000 and 150,000 Okinawan civilian casualties were recorded (over 100,000 casualties according to Okinawa Prefecture).