Students release dove-shaped balloons as a symbol of peace.

Today is the 71st anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, and the 26th Nishihara Peace Music Festival is the lighter annual addition to official ceremonies that take place the same day at the Peace Memorial Park in Mabuni, Itoman.

The motto of the Thursday evening concert-festival is “Pray Our Peace Forever.” The music begins at 18:00, and runs to 21:00 at Nishihara Athletic Park, 956 Onaga, Nishihara. Admission is free, but organizers say the festival will be canceled in the event of rain.

Nishihara High School Marching Band opens the festival.

The program starts with the Nishihara High School Marching Band, followed by the Nishihara Elementary, Junior High and High Schools’ Joint Brass Band.

Following the formal greetings by the mayor and the Ryuhou Youth Association, Dance group Gettou under the lead of Mirei Hayashi performs dance incorporating sign language. Later in the evening husband-wife duo Aimoco from Higashi Village will take the stage, followed by rock band Sky’s the Limit and solo performer Yutaka Umisedo’s acoustic live. Nishihara Town mascot character Sawarin is also present through the music festival.

This outdoor field event is performed as an enterprise to appeal for peace on Jun. 23rd. Since the event is in the evening, visitors can enjoy the time in a more comfortable environment rather than participating in the hot daytime ceremonies at Mabuni.

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