ITOMAN, Japan, June 25 (Xinhua) -- "Money should be spent on rice, not missiles," Kunio Aragaki, an Okinawan resident, told Xinhua on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa.

Japanese citizens have gathered here to memorize the war dead and voice strong opposition to the government's growing defense spending and military buildup.

Up to 80 years after the war in which about one-quarter of Okinawa's population died, the region continues to sit at the forefront of Japan's intensified security posture, bearing the heavy burden of hosting U.S. military bases.

During memorial events held in recent days, Japanese citizens urged the government to reflect on its security policies and avoid repeating the mistakes of war.

On Monday, a memorial ceremony was held at the Peace Memorial Park in Mabuni, Itoman City. Visitors from across Japan gathered before stone monuments etched with the names of the dead to mourn loved ones and pray for peace.

Chihiro Yoshinaga, a local Okinawan, came with his son to honor his great-grandfather, a schoolteacher killed during the battle. "I want my child to know how horrifying that war was. What matters most is never forgetting what happened," he told reporters.

At a separate ceremony the night before, Tomoko Nishizaki from Okayama Prefecture shared that her father-in-law died in the battle, and the pain it caused to the family remains. "We've been coming here for decades, I truly pray for peace," she said.

While remembering the past, many residents are alarmed by the Japanese government's recent moves that they believe risk turning Okinawa into a front line once again.

Japan has significantly increased its defense spending in recent years. In late 2022, it passed new national security policies, aiming to raise defense expenditures to around 43 trillion yen (about 296 billion U.S. dollars) between fiscal years 2023 and 2027, equivalent to 2 percent of GDP by 2027.

"This is very dangerous. Expanding the defense budget and military buildup will only cause concern among neighboring countries," said Okinawan resident Takamatsu Gushiken. "Peace should not be maintained through force, but through dialogue and diplomacy with our neighbors."

Gushiken also voiced concern over Japan's growing military presence in the southwest. "Self-Defense Force bases in Okinawa keep expanding. It's a dangerous trend, and it needs to stop."

In the Peace Memorial Park, resident Kunio Aragaki organized a sticker poll asking people whether they supported the deployment of long-range missiles in Okinawa. The response was overwhelmingly negative.

"As you can see, nearly everyone here opposes it. We are completely against military buildup in the southwest," he told Xinhua.

Aragaki added that the continued expansion of the defense budget is misguided. "That money should be spent on rice, not missiles. Rice prices have been soaring recently," he said.

Remembering history, citizens stressed, is essential to avoiding future conflict. "We need to think about why the country once went to war," Gushiken said. "And when we reflect on that, we must not only look from our own perspective, but also consider the viewpoint of others. If we don't, our understanding of history is incomplete."

"We must never forget the harm we've caused to others," he added.