Professor Eizo Nakaza's research results on boulders and bullet holes from the Battle of Okinawa were covered by various media, including "NHK" "Okinawa Times," "Ryukyu Shimpo," and Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting Corporation.

2/14 2024

Professor Eizo Nakaza of the HCEE lab in Civil Engineering Design Course, Department of Engineering, Faculty of Engineering at University of the Ryukyus summarized new research results regarding large boulders found on the coasts of southern Okinawa and Kudaka Island. These boulders are believed to have formed from the destruction of coral reefs by naval artillery bombardment during the Battle of Okinawa. Previously, these boulders were thought to have been broken and moved by high waves from typhoons, and were called "typhoon boulders." Professor Nakaza and his team conducted aerial surveys using drones and on-site investigations. They concluded that it is difficult to believe that these boulders were formed by natural processes. Instead, they are the result of coral reefs being destroyed by naval artillery bombardment during the Battle of Okinawa. They named the boulders on the reefs and the holes in the reefs "Boulders of the Battle of Okinawa" and "Traces of the Battle of Okinawa," respectively. These series of valuable research results on war relics were introduced in various media outlets such as NHK, Okinawa Times, Ryukyu Shimpo, and Ryukyu Asahi Broadcasting.

A boulder with a height of 2.5 meters at Komesu Coast.

Bullet marks believed to have been destroyed by shelling.

Cliffs along the coast near Mabuni Hill.