News

Himeyuri Peace Museum in Okinawa Creates Anime Short

The Himeyuri Alumnae Incorporated Foundation, which runs the Himeyuri Peace Museum in Okinawa, has produced an animated short film titled "Himeyuri." The short premiered at the museum on June 23 and is currently screening until August 15.

The 30-minute film centers around a group of high school nurses called Himeyuri who served during the Battle of Okinawa during World War II. The film's aim is to convey the experiences of those high school nurses, many of whom lost their lives during the battle, to children.

Around 120 third-year high school students from the Shimada Junior High school in Shizuoka Prefecture are providing the film's ending theme song "Wakare no Uta." The Himeyuri nurses had practiced to sing "Wakare no Uta" at their graduation, but many died before the graduation ceremony. The song is often sung at memorial services for war dead. Third-year students at Shimada Junior High take a field trip to the museum every year and perform the song at the museum during the trip. A recording from the class of 2002 is being used for the film.

The Japanese news source QAB News is currently streaming a segment on the museum that features a clip of the short.

Source: The Asahi Shimbun

Image © Himeyuri Alumnae Incorporated Foundation