Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako Visit Iwo Jima

In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako arrived at the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Iwo Jima Air Base, located in the Ogasawara Islands, on April 7, 2025, to honor those who died in the Pacific War. This marks the first time in 31 years that a reigning Emperor and Empress have visited Iwo Jima.

At the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Iwo Jima Air Base in Ogasawara Village, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako were briefed on the Battle of Iwo Jima and the island’s background by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and Ogasawara Village Mayor Masaaki Shibuya.

Later, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako offered flowers and poured water over memorial stones as they prayed for the war dead at three sites, including the Ten'yama Memorial Monument in Ogasawara Village. The island is known as one of the fiercest battlefields of the Pacific War, where roughly 29,000 soldiers perished during intense ground combat between Japanese and American forces in 1945 (Showa 20).