ABSTRACT
Since around the time of Okinawa’s reversion to Japan in 1972, research and preservation of war sites in Okinawa have been the focus of attention from the perspective of peace education and learning, with the prefecture being the first in Japan to advocate ‘war archaeology’ targeting sites and artifacts from the Battle of Okinawa, and various initiatives have been implemented. In the area of cultural property administration, Okinawa Prefecture is taking a leading role in Japan by conducting distribution surveys of war sites throughout the prefecture and, although partial, record preservation surveys following their destruction. However, the number of cultural properties designated for permanent preservation is still not large. However, the number of cultural properties designated for permanent preservation is still not large. However, the number of designated cultural properties that measure permanent preservation is still not large. However, the number of designated cultural properties for permanent preservation is still not large. The author has been involved in the detailed survey of battlefield sites at the Okinawa Prefecture Archaeological Center, as well as in the record preservation survey of village sites seized by US military bases. Based on this experience, I would like to report on the current status of archaeological survey and conservation of war remains in Okinawa Prefecture and discuss future prospects.
