地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

nd Army Underground Headquarters

The 32nd Army Underground Headquarters (32nd Gun Shirei Bugo) is a series of tunnels underneath Shuri Castle that were constructed during World War II by the Japanese Imperial Army in preparation for the invasion of Okinawa by US Forces. Construction started in December of 1944 and continued until shortly before the Battle of Okinawa began in March 1945. The headquarters was used for about a month until the Japanese military retreated to the southern part of the island in late May. This headquarters complex is important in understanding the fate of Shuri Castle during the Battle of Okinawa, and the immense sacrifice and loss of life suffered by the Okinawan people.

Why It Was Located at Shuri

Shuri Castle was made a Japanese military garrison in 1879, when the Kingdom of Ryukyu was abolished and Okinawa became a Japanese prefecture. Decades later, as the war in the Pacific brought Allied forces closer to Japan, the Japanese military anticipated the need for deeply entrenched defenses against the expected invasion. Underground defensive complexes were built on many of the Japanese-occupied Pacific islands, as well as on Okinawa and the Japanese mainland. The extensive underground headquarters complex here was constructed to capitalize on several advantageous characteristics. The hill on which the castle stands is formed of solid Ryukyu limestone, and was deemed capable of withstanding even heavy naval and aerial bombardment, while the high elevation of the castle site provided good views of the surrounding terrain. No consideration appears to have been given to the risk this military base would pose to Shuri Castle and the other priceless historical sites when the base would inevitably be targeted during the invasion. The intensive bombardment by US Navy ships in April and May focused on destroying the underground headquarters and—together with subsequent ground and aerial attacks—soon destroyed almost everything above ground in Shuri. The Japanese military garrison was able to escape south to Mabuni in late May. The underground headquarters remains partly intact, but is too dangerous to be opened to the public.

Layout and Facilities

The underground complex is composed of five tunnels that branch from a long central tunnel, with a total length of about one1 kilometer. The complex stretches from a concrete entrance at Hantanyama and continues under Shuri Castle all the way to Kinjo-cho on the opposite side. Its greatest depth is about 30 meters below the castle. There were five main entrances, most of which are no longer visible. The tunnels housed facilities for about 1,000 officers, enlisted soldiers, workers, students, and others—including, by some accounts, conscripted Korean laborers and sex workers. In addition to armories and technical facilities, there were numerous offices, kitchens, and mess facilities, as well as living quarters. Larger suites and conference rooms were provided for the commanding officers.

Abandonment and Postwar Significance

As the Japanese army retreated from the site, explosives were detonated to render it unusable by the invading forces. This caused several sections to collapse, though other sections were left unscathed. After the war, those portions still accessible were shored against collapse with steel columns and beams, and the entrances were closed for safety purposes. Over time, appreciation of the site has grown for the light it sheds on the Battle of Okinawa and Shuri Castle.

第32軍司令部戰壕

第32軍司令部戰壕是位於首里城地下的一處地道群，由日本陸軍在二戰期間建造，以防備美軍對沖繩島發起進攻。工程於1944年12月動工，在次年3月沖繩島戰役爆發之前停工。5月底，日軍退守沖繩島南部，司令部的使用時間總計不超過一個月左右。但司令部戰壕的存在別具意義，有助於後世理解沖繩島戰役中首里城所遭遇的命運，以及島上眾多居民傷亡的慘狀。

選擇首里城的理由

早在1879年，首里城就曾作為日軍軍營。當時，琉球王國覆滅，成為了日本的沖繩縣。幾十年後，太平洋戰爭爆發，盟軍逼近日本。日本軍隊意識到有必要深挖戰壕，以備勢必到來的戰爭。因此，多個日占太平洋島嶼上都修建了地下防禦工事，其中就包括了沖繩島和日本本島。

選擇在首里城下修建如此龐大的地下司令部，主要基於島上的幾大天然優勢：首里城所在的小山為堅硬的琉球石灰岩山體，被認爲能經受住來自海上和空中的猛烈轟炸；居高臨下的地勢，可確保視野一覽無餘。可惜建造者似乎並未考慮過，一座軍事基地可能為首里城和其他無價的歷史遺跡帶來怎樣的風險。畢竟，一旦戰爭打響，司令部所在地必定會成為主要攻擊目標。1945年4月到5月間，美國海軍的集火炮擊摧毀了地下司令部，緊隨其後的地面戰爭和空襲更幾乎將整個首里地區夷為平地。5月下旬，日本駐軍撤退至南部的摩文仁地區。

如今，這處地下司令部仍有部分留存，但出於安全考慮暫時未對大眾開放。

佈局和功能

地道群由一條中心長坑道和五條與之相連接的岔道組成，全長逾1公里，司令部在「ハンタン山」（Hantanyama，即從龍潭、圓鑑池到首里城的陡坡）設有一個混凝土入口，坑道蜿蜒穿過首里城下方，直達另一側的金城町。戰壕最深處距離地面約30公尺。整個設施共有5個主要出入口，但大部分已消失。坑道內曾容納約1000人駐紮，包括軍官、志願兵、工人、學生及其他人員。此外，戰壕內除配備軍火庫和軍工技術設施外，還設有數量眾多的辦公室、廚房、公共休息室、起居生活區等，較大的套房和會議室則歸指揮官專用。

毀棄及其在戰後的意義

為了避免地下司令部被盟軍利用，日軍在撤離時炸毀了戰壕，不少坑段被毀，但仍有部分區域未受波及。戰後，人們在倖存的地道內支起鋼樑和支架，以免坑道繼續坍塌。只是出於安全考慮，依然封閉了所有出入口。隨著時間推移，人們漸漸認識到這處遺址在幫助後世瞭解沖繩島戰役和首里城歷史方面的意義，所以對戰壕的評價也越來越高。

第32军司令部战壕

第32军司令部战壕是位于首里城地下的一个地道群，由日本陆军在二战期间建造，旨在防备美军对冲绳岛发起进攻。工程于1944年12月动工，在次年3月冲绳岛战役爆发之前停工。5月底，日军退守冲绳岛南部，司令部的使用时间总计不过一个月左右。但司令部战壕的存在别具意义，非常有助于后世了解冲绳岛战役中首里城所遭遇的命运，以及岛上众多居民伤亡的惨状。

选择首里城的理由

早在1879年，首里城就曾被用作日军军营。当时，琉球王国覆灭，成为了日本的冲绳县。几十年后，太平洋战争爆发，盟军逼近日本。日本军队意识到有必要深挖战壕，以备势必到来的战争。因此，多个日军占领的太平洋岛屿上都修建有地下防御工事，其中就包括冲绳岛和日本本岛。

选择在首里城下修建这样一处庞大的地下司令部，主要基于这里的几大天然优势：城堡所在的小山为坚硬的琉球石灰岩山体，被认为能够经受得住来自海上和空中的重火力轰炸；居高临下的地势，可确保周遭环境一览无余。但建造者似乎从未考虑过，一座军事基地可能为首里城和其他无价的历史遗迹带来怎样的风险。毕竟，一旦战争打响，司令部所在地必定会成为主要攻击目标。1945年4月到5月间，美国海军的集火炮击摧毁了地下司令部，随后到来的地面战争和空袭更是几乎将整个首里地区夷为平地。5月下旬，日本驻军撤退至南部的摩文仁地区。

这处地下司令部如今仍有部分留存，但出于安全考虑，暂时还不适合对公众开放。

布局和功能

这处地下设施由一条中心长坑道和五条与之相连接的岔道组成，全长逾1公里。司令部在“ハンタン山”（Hantanyama，即从龙潭、圆鉴池到首里城的陡坡）设有一个混凝土入口，坑道蜿蜒穿过首里城下方，直达另一侧的金城町。战壕最深处距离地面约30米。整个设施共有5个主要出入口，但大部分已不可见。坑道内曾容纳约1000人驻扎，包括军官、志愿兵、工人、学生及其他人员。此外，战壕内除配备军火库和军工技术设施外，还设有数量众多的办公室、厨房、公共休息室、起居生活区等，较大的套间和会议室则供指挥官专用。

毁弃及其在战后的意义

为了避免地下司令部被登岛盟军利用，日军在撤离时炸毁了战壕。不少坑段被毁，但仍有部分区域未受波及。战后，人们在幸存的地道内支起钢梁和支架，以免坑道继续坍塌，只是出于安全考虑，依然封闭了所有出入口。随着时间推移，人们渐渐认识到这处遗址在帮助后世了解冲绳岛战役和首里城历史方面的意义，所以赋予它的评价也越来越高。