at u toshi nishikawa, johannesburg, south african. >>> in the final stages of world war ii, fierce fighting broke out in the okinawa islands in the far south of japan. later this month, events will be held to commemorate the end of the battle and to remember those who died. young okinawans are taught little about what happened in their homeland after the war, but one young teacher has been trying to find out with the help of his students. we have the story. >> reporter: this man has been teaching at this elementary school in the south okinawa main island for five years. although he was born and raised in okinawa, he studies u.s. history where they still have military base. but a recent event made him re-examine what happened in his homeland. on april 28th, the central government held a ceremony to commemorate the end of the u.s.-led occupation. it was on that date in 1952, seven years after the end of the war, that japan began its sovereignty. however, the u.s. continued to administer okinawa for another 20 years until 1972. many okinawans have protested on april 28th calling it a date of h