Okinawa, Japan | Gunholes at Sefa Utaki: War Memories Beneath the Greenery of a Sanctuary

Quietly nestled in the jungle surrounding Sefuutake in Okinawa, a sign explains the history of the "gun craters." During the 1945 Battle of Okinawa, even this sacred site was not spared from the ravages of war, with fierce bombardments known as the "Iron Storm" reaching all the way to the site. The scars left by many of the craters have even carved deep pits within the crater, a reminder of the pain this island once endured. The sign mentions that some of the gun craters were later filled in, but some remnants remain as a memory of the war. Today, visitors approaching the site are enveloped in greenery, lush ferns, and taro leaves, making it almost impossible to imagine the roar of the artillery fire. Yet, precisely because of the contrast between natural restoration and history, this site has become a "dual space"—both a gateway to a sacred place and a scar of war.