The Battle of Okinawa

The Battle of Okinawa

149 mins | War, History | Aug. 14, 1971

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.

The Battle of Okinawa

149 mins | War, History | Aug. 14, 1971

The Battle of Okinawa
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.
IMDb rating 6.9
Producers Toho Company, Ltd.
Original title 激動の昭和史　沖縄決戦
Directors Yoshihiro Kawasaki, Kensho Yamashita, Kihachi Okamoto
Writers Kaneto Shindō

Cast

Keiju Kobayashi

as General Ushijima

Tetsurō Tamba

as Lieutenant General Isamu Cho

Tatsuya Nakadai

as Colonel Hiromichi Yahara

Katsuhiko Sasaki

as Communications Officer Miyake

Hideyo Amamoto

as Okinawa Regional Officer

Ryō Ikebe

as Rear Admiral Ota

Ichirô Nakatani

as Chief of Staff Ueno

Ren Yamamoto

as Sergeant Omori