An interesting article at The Asahi Shimbun describes the story of a church’s cross that managed to survive — though significantly damaged — the US invasion of Okinawa during World War II:

In the closing days of World War II, a vast area of the Shuri district was reduced to ashes. But the cross of the Shuri church, which belongs to the United Church of Christ in Japan, barely withstood the destruction.

When the community built a new church tower in 2008, the congregation voted to rebuild a replica of the damaged cross, rather than a new one.

“People’s memories of the war have been fading,” said Kazunari Takehana, 67, a pastor at the church. “We, as members of a Christian church in Okinawa, have a responsibility and a mission to stop the tragic history from being forgotten.”

In an interesting contrast in attitude, when Americans attempted to memorialize 9/11 with images of a steel-beam cross from the rubble of the World Trade Center, atheists had the gall to file lawsuits to prevent it. They lost.

Japan did have a Christian community even before the war — and US troops also brought their faith with them.

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