Overview - The Battle of Okinawa

Overview

The Americans are swiftly closing on Okinawa, an island just south of the Japanese mainland. The Imperial command sends top generals and several army divisions to defend it at all costs. The mission quickly degenerates as vital resources and troops are diverted to other islands. After a civilian evacuation ends in tragedy most of non-combatants are forced to remain on the island. Many convert to soldier status. Tokyo sends mixed messages that squander time and resources, as when they order the defenders to build an airstrip for aircraft that never come. The truth soon becomes obvious: the high command decides that the island cannot be held and effectively abandons the Okinawan defenders. When the Americans land many troops are deployed in the wrong places. As the slaughter mounts, a suicidal attitude takes hold. Okinawa becomes a death trap, for civilian volunteers and non-combatants as well.

Cast

• Name: Keiju Kobayashi

  Character: General Ushijima

  Popularity: 1.9439

  

• Name: Tetsuro Tamba

  Character: Lieutenant General Isamu Cho

  Popularity: 5.5068

  

• Name: Tatsuya Nakadai

  Character: Colonel Hiromichi Yahara

  Popularity: 2.7668

  

• Name: Yūsuke Kawazu

  Character: Naomichi Jin

  Popularity: 1.6188

  

• Name: Ichirō Nakatani

  Character: Chief of Staff Ueno

  Popularity: 1.4132

  

• Name: Ryō Ikebe

  Character: Rear Admiral Ota

  Popularity: 1.8605

  

• Name: Shigeru Kōyama

  Character: Akira Shimada

  Popularity: 2.5051

  

• Name: Kunie Tanaka

  Character: Barber Higa

  Popularity: 2.2439