Civilians, caught in the crossfire, bore the highest toll -- perhaps as many as 100,000 to 150,000 Okinawan men, woman, and children lost their lives during the nearly three months of fighting.

As a volunteer cave digger, Takamatsu Gushiken has unearthed the remains of several hundred people killed in one of the bloodiest battles of World War II.

a newspaper based in Okinawa Prefecture. In another photo, two men--one with a decidedly muscular figure and the other with a large build donning a belly band--perform in a karate exhibition match ...

Takamatsu Gushiken turns on a headlamp and enters a cave buried in Okinawa's jungle. He gently runs his fingers through the gravel until two pieces of bone emerge. These are from the skulls ...

ITOMAN, Japan (AP) — Takamatsu Gushiken turns on a headtorch and enters a cave buried in Okinawa’s jungle. He gently runs his fingers through the gravel until two pieces of bone emerge.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - On Jan. 8, 1900, 26 men arrived in Hawaii from Okinawa, Japan, as contract laborers for the sugar and pineapple plantations. This year marks the 125th anniversary of ...

ITOMAN, Japan — Takamatsu Gushiken turns on a headtorch and enters a cave buried in Okinawa's jungle. He gently runs his fingers through the gravel until two pieces of bone emerge. These are ...

Takamatsu Gushiken uses a hoe to move dirt while searching for the remains of those who died during the WWII Battle of Okinawa on Itoman. (Hiro Komae/AP) ITOMAN, Japan — Takamatsu Gushiken turns ...