Pakistan, June 23 -- TOKYO - Okinawa commemorated the 80th anniversary of the end of one of World War II's deadliest battles on Monday, pledging to preserve its tragic history and promote peace amid rising global tensions.

Governor Denny Tamaki led the memorial at Mabuni Hill in Itoman City, where many war victims are buried. He emphasized Okinawa's mission to educate future generations about the devastating impact of war, especially as the world faces new conflicts.

The Battle of Okinawa, which began on April 1, 1945, resulted in around 200,000 deaths - including over 188,000 Japanese and 12,000 American troops. Half of the Japanese deaths were civilians, many of whom were schoolchildren and victims of forced suicides under Japan's mil...