Additional Coverage:
- Japanese emperor visits Iwo Jima to honor the dead in one of World War II’s fiercest battles (nbcnews.com)
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako made a historic visit to Iwo Jima on Monday, marking the first time a Japanese emperor has visited the island. The Imperial couple paid their respects to the thousands of Japanese and American soldiers who perished in the brutal World War II battle.
At three separate memorials, dedicated to Japanese soldiers, islanders, and both Japanese and American war dead, the Emperor and Empress offered prayers, white flowers, and poured water over a cenotaph. This traditional ritual is meant to offer solace to the souls lost, who suffered immensely from heat, hunger, and thirst during the battle. They also planned to meet with families of the fallen and descendants of former island residents.
In February, during his 65th birthday address, Emperor Naruhito emphasized the importance of remembering World War II and educating younger generations about its tragic events. The Battle of Iwo Jima, a pivotal moment in the war, raged from February 19th to March 26th, 1945.
American forces, aiming to secure a strategic foothold for their advance on mainland Japan, encountered fierce resistance from Japanese troops entrenched in a network of underground tunnels. The battle, which lasted far longer than the Americans anticipated, claimed the lives of nearly all of the 21,000 Japanese soldiers and almost 7,000 US troops stationed there.
More than half of the Japanese soldiers’ remains are still unrecovered. The battle also resulted in the forced evacuation and tragic loss of many Iwo Jima residents.
The Emperor’s visit follows a recent memorial service marking the end of the battle, attended by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
While former residents and their descendants are permitted to visit Iwo Jima for memorial events, permanent residency is not allowed. Returned to Japanese control in 1968 after 23 years of US occupation, the island now houses approximately 380 members of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and serves as a site for US military aircraft landing exercises.