Memorial Ceremony Marks 81 Years Since Tsushima Maru Sinking by U.S. Submarine Killing Over 1,400 Including Schoolchildren

On August 22, 2025, a memorial ceremony was held in Naha, Okinawa, to mark the 81st anniversary of the sinking of the Tsushima Maru evacuation ship during World War II. The ship, carrying schoolchildren and other evacuees from Okinawa to Nagasaki, was torpedoed by a U.S. submarine, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,400 people, including hundreds of children. Survivors and relatives gathered to honor the victims. The tragedy is being preserved in public memory through citizen theater performances and the addition of five children's portraits to a dedicated memorial museum, which continues to seek more photographs to commemorate the victims. Additionally, a 97-year-old Japanese war veteran recalled the loss of comrades in Okinawa, noting that only four out of 54 survived. The event underscores ongoing efforts to pass the history of the Tsushima Maru disaster to future generations.