In late March 1945, a fierce battle such as has rarely been seen in history took place on Okinawa The "Typhoon of Steel" that lasted for ninety days disfigured mountains, destroyed much of the cultural legacy, and claimed the precious lives of upward of 200,000 people. The Battle of Okinawa was the only ground fighting fought on Japanese soil and was also the largest-scale campaign of the Asia-Pacific War. Even countless Okinawan civilians were fully mobilized.
*Also included--photos of the GLASS FACTORY in Itoman. Skilled artisans carefully move around a crucible burning at 2,372 degrees Fahrenheit, while delicately manipulating a glob of glowing glass that will soon be made into one of Okinawa's most unique craft works - Ryukyu glass.