"... recognizing the Okinawans who chose death over defeat." Not really. First, Okinawans barely acknowledged themselves as Japanese. Second, they had been subject to epidemic of rape by Japanese troops. Third, Japanese convinced them they'd be raped and tortured by Americans if they didn't kill themselves, horrifying them so much that many of them jumped off a cliff.
@1 The film goes into more detail than I did, and I think you'd find it of great interest. For one thing: it wasn't really a "choice." They felt they had to do what they did. The interviewees include a man who murdered his parents with his brother's assistance. He's spent the rest of his life feeling pretty fucking miserable about it. The film also addresses the cliff-jumping.