Brief biography of the witness

After the war, she participated in local youth activities and postwar reconstruction, and also served as an officer of the he Okinawa Seinendan Council.
She also worked for the Japan Seinendan Council, a national organization, and participated in overseas training programs.
For many years, she was the host of the radio program "Dialect News" and devoted himself to the promotion of "Shimakutoba (Okinawan dialect).

Self-introduction in Okinawan

Hello everyone. My name is Noriko Ikari. I was born and raised in Gibo-cho, Shuri. One day I met Noboru Ikari, who was from Amami Oshima Island. We fell in love, got married, and I changed my family name to Ikari. Thank you for this interview opportunity. 

Returning home from evacuation and Seinendan youth group activities 

Evacuating to Kumamoto

All my friends, classmates, and older school mates went to battle as part of the Himeyuri unit. In my case, because my brother was a teacher. As the only daughter, my family always treated me specially. I remember my mother looking at me with fear in her eyes, saying, and “Run from here right now. “She only wanted to keep her daughter alive. My father stayed silent, with a stern face. I made it to the evacuation ship thanks to everyone's support. I didn’t have any teaching qualifications, but I assisted my brother the teacher on board the ship. It was a different ship from the Tsushima-maru which was sunk, so this saved my life. This experience gave me a rebellious spirit that will always protest against war, and will persist in this point no matter the challenges. We must teach all of Okinawa how to avoid ever being in another war. I returned from my evacuation site with these convictions. It's a weighty task for me to face alone, so I thought that finding someone like me would be great. Two heads are better than one, and three are better than two. This belief propelled me to join a group and work collectively. Seinendan youth group activities taught me the importance of unity.

Seinendan Youth Group Activities Collecting Remains

One of these activities involved collecting remains. Mere words like “I'm so glad to be alive” felt insufficient. In order to collect remains, our Seinendan youth group journeyed south with hemp sacks meant for vegetables. I'd never held one before, but I carried it around. I picked up someone’s remains, starting with their leg. I could see up to the shin, then I collect the thighbone, and ribs from their chest. Finally, I placed a skull on top. Today, I find it difficult to hold skulls because I'm squeamish about eyes.  But, back then, I was unafraid and cradled the skull, saying “You must have been so cold. “Looking back, I’m amazed at my own strength. I don't think I'd be able to do it now. In that moment, I thought, “They sacrificed themselves for us. “I couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman, old or young. Just a dead person. This is a story my parents told me. As time went on, there was no more food in Shuri to the south. In peacetime, people should have been able to find food, but there was nothing available. People survived solely on water, even from places where bodies were discovered. There was no room for gratitude; it was a matter of survival.  This is an unvarnished truth in wartime. They had to travel on foot to the south, because they had no vehicles. People trudged through remains without remorse, to keep themselves alive.  It's scary to think about, isn’t it? Stories like these left a permanent mark on me. Deep in my heart, I hold unwavering beliefs like “we must protest against war no matter what,” and “I won't give up no matter what people call me.”

Thoughts on Youth Group Activities

Back then, women involved in Seinendan youth group activities were often called “unwomanly, but I pressed on, believing I had no alternative. It was around then that my friend Yoko was chosen for a speech contest. Her presence served as a source of encouragement for me. People gain courage when they have someone to support them. I didn't have money to fly, but I took a ship to the mainland and made my way to the Japan Seinendan Council headquarters in Tokyo. 

Various experiences at the Japan Seinendan Council

Being Sent to the Japan Seinendan Council

The chairman was Sontoku Ninomiya at that time. The way I made it to their headquarters, back when their activities still weren't widely known, was through the help of the great teacher Sontoku Ninomiya, who had come to Okinawa. He told my parents, “I will take care of your daughter as the president with responsibility,” and “Please allow her to come.”

I told him that I wanted to study, and express the things I couldn’t in Okinawa. That was why I wanted to go. He later said that my endearing, unwavering determination moved him deeply." So I persuaded my parents, and finally went to the mainland.

Being Called Ryukyuan

There’s one more thing I won’t ever forget.  The council included members from every prefecture. But there were very few women; mostly just men. When I was sent out, Okinawa required a passport. In Okinawa, people often asked me, “Why a woman?” When I got to the mainland, I initially thought, “time to take it easy. “But —And I won't say which prefecture —a representative asked, “Hey, how do you understand Japanese even though you're Ryukyu?” Those words stirred something within me. It sounds fake but it really happened. Today’s youth couldn’t imagine what it was like back then. In Tokyo, I could talk with people from various prefectures. I'm not afraid to speak my mind. When men from the mainland said things like “you're just Ryukyu, ”I would get angry and say, “We’re still Japanese,  so what gives you the right to insult the Ryukyu people?” or “Ryukyu used to be an independent country,  ruled by King Ushugana  Shime, ” or “We’ve even studied in China. ” “Do you know anything at all about Ryukyu history? “Don’t make fun of people when you don't understand things yourself. '”

Active Participation in Overseas Activities

My driving force was interacting with my compatriots in Okinawa. That gave me the strength I needed. So I ventured abroad. Looking back, I’m amazed. I didn’t have enough money. I used a tax advance to travel across the country. As a representative, I couldn’t just spend my time aimlessly. I had to dedicate myself to my studies, and delved into everywhere, thoroughly. 

Overseas Inspection and Women's Activities

Even though I don't know Chinese, I immediately set my sights overseas. Starting with Taiwan, I journeyed to Taipei, Taichung, and Tainan, and visited 14 cities in mainland China.  I wanted to explore foreign lands. There was no discrimination against women in other countries, and I even encountered a female school principal. Listening to her filled me with an indescribable excitement.  I resolved to do my best too. I might exaggerate a bit when I recount the hardships I faced in my youth, but wrote reports even though I had no money. Despite the challenges women faced traveling abroad, I managed to visit many places. This led me to emphasize building connections within the council. 

 Inheriting and passing on the Okinawan language

Kugani Kotoba (The Golden Words)　　

Uchinanchu, or Okinawan people, say “Icharibachodenuhidatenoagata,” which means that everyone we meet are like brothers and sisters. These are Kugani Kotoba, (the golden words) passed down by our Okinawan ancestors. Uchinanchu are very spirited and kind-hearted. I wanted to inherit this legacy, which inspired me to start Seinendan youth group activities. 

Becoming a Dialect Newscaster at a Radio Station

President Arakaki, Radio Okinawa's first president, said, “You know Okinawan dialect, so I'm making you the dialect newscaster. “Right after this, Gisho Funakoshi invited me to meetings. During the Radio Okinawa meetings, I would read the newspaper and write my own manuscript. I asked them to check the manuscript, and then I would translate it into Okinawan. Looking back, it’s hard to imagine, but back then, I understood Okinawan, allowing me to translate what people were saying. The broadcasting station was an organization, so I made sure to get approval from my supervisor, by showing how I wrote what people said. When I showed them in Okinawan, they didn't understand it, so I translated it afterward. So in those days, I routinely looked through the newspaper, noting people's sentiments and writing them down.  I was in charge of broadcasting like this for quite a long time.

Message to younger generations

Living is more than merely existing, more than just breathing in air. It means surviving. We must eat a lot, gain strength, and continue onward. The key is to keep moving forward. The strength to survive is absolutely essential. It calls for both courage and the capability to put theory into practice. Also, we need to understand our current position, so things don’t just pass us by. Engage your mind fully, consider why someone expresses a particular sentiment. If you're genuinely convinced, take action. Regardless of someone's stature, I can't agree with them unless it aligns with my own convictions. Some might call me a stubborn old woman. People approach life with different perspectives: some optimists, some pessimists. But you need money to do or buy anything. I recognize that life takes precedence over money, so I advocate for a mindset of sharing, even if it's just part of what's available. I am very proud of the kindness passed down by the ancestors of the Okinawan people. “Chimu” means “heart,” and “chimu fukui” means a heart to be proud of. I can't tell what tomorrow will bring, but having lived almost a century, I fully intend to see my 200th birthday. My friends, including Yoko, passed away without fulfilling their aspirations. I have fewer and fewer of them left. No matter what happens, I will survive for everyone. I’ll live.  Persevere.  Survive. I won't merely exist. What I want to teach young people the ability to survive and the ability to make decisions. Don't just join the crowd. Instead, reflect on the rationale behind people's words. If you really believe it, then proceed.  If you don’t, then oppose them. I think my family might be annoyed with the stubborn old woman I’ve become. I'm grateful for the way they preparing meals for me, but I can't remain silent on other matters. I would say, I’ve come this far, and I'll continue to grow. That's how stubborn I am. Thus, I continue to live. To young people, I encourage you to develop the strength to live, persevere, and survive.