For the first time in three years, a memorial service was held on Iwo Jima in the Ogasawara Islands, which became the site of a fierce battle at the end of the Pacific War.
Iwo Jima, about 1,200 kilometers south of Tokyo, became the site of fierce battles at the end of the Pacific War, killing about 21,900 Japanese and about 6,800 Americans.
The memorial ceremony hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has been held on the island every year, but due to the influence of the new coronavirus, the last two times were held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office, and on the 19th it was held locally for the first time in three years.
About 20 people, including the bereaved families, attended the ceremony, and after offering a moment of silence, each person offered flowers and mourned the victims.
Rumi Matsumaru, 82, who lost her father on behalf of her bereaved family, said, "War was cruel, and it was too hard and unbearable for my mother, who lost her irreplaceable father, and for us. Many lives have been lost in the military invasion, including children in Ukraine.I sincerely hope that peace will come soon.We bereaved families will pass on the lessons to the younger generation."
Naomi Homma, 48, who lost her grandfather, said, "My heart aches when I think about my grandfather getting injured in such a hot place and dying without water or medicine. I want to pass it on to the next generation," he said.