Travel Photo: Things Were Looking Grim

General's Last Night

 

 

This cave was the final command post for the Japanese Army, during the Battle of Okinawa.

Generals Ushijima and Cho had their headquarters here and, knew the war was ending.

On the night of June 21, 1945, they made their final preparations.

The American forces, would soon overtake them and, surrender was out of the question.

The Generals, said their farewells and, ordered the troops to fight until death. 

Shortly after four, the next morning, they left the cave.

Spreading a sheet a little way from the cavern the entrance they did a samurai thing.

They had failed the Emperor so, poked their swords in their bellies.

If you enjoy morbid travel stories: Read It All in an Army History Book.

Okinawan Folktake: Iejima Handu-gwa

To the West of Okinawa Island

 

 

During the 18^th Century, a prince from Iejima arrived in Hentona Village, Okinawa.

He met a beautiful girl with long black hair and, they fell in love.

One day, he informed her that, he had to travel north, to Japan, on official business.

He promised, he would return, to the love of his life, Handu-gwa but, never did.

After a long wait, she became anxious and decided to travel by boat, to Iejima.

She spoke with the captain about, going to find out what happened to her prince.

Captain Tamaki, warned her, not to visit the residence of the royal family.

She ignored his advice and, went anyway.

She would discover, her charming prince, had a wife and a child.

In despair, Handu-gwa climbed the only hill on the island, where she committed suicide.

She hung herself from a tree, using her long hair to strangle herself.

Sketch by Atsushi Maezato

Her Spirit Would Return

 

  The lord of Iejima and prince would soon die early deaths, from undetermined causes.

The royal family lost their fame and fortunes.

The Tamaki family became successful, wealthy and lived long, happy lives.

At times, the ghost of Handu-gwa, would appear outside the homes of the prince's descendants.

When she showed, on the occasion of childbirth, the babies would be stillborn.

There would be black marks of strangulation on the child's neck.




See the statue of Handu-gwa on Ie-jima



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