The U.S. flag flies during World War II on Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima, or Iwo To, as the island has now officially been renamed by Japan. Iwo Jima is circled on a map of Japan. Iwo Jima , a Japanese island known for one of the deadliest World War II battles and an iconic raising of the United States flag by U.S. soldiers, is now known by another name, or its old name to be exact. Renamed Iōtō (pronounced "ee-woh-toh") as preferred by the island's original residents, the official designation was adopted on Monday by the Geographical Survey Institute of Japan and the Japan Coast Guard, the Associated Press and  other news outlets have reported. Meaning " Sulfur Island", the small volcanic island's name was changed in 1944, ahead of the U.S. invasion, when civilians were evacuated. Some officers of the Imperial Japanese Navy arrived to fortify the island ahead of U.S. forces, and mistakenly called it Iwo Jima. In Japanese , "jima" is an alternative word for island. In kanji script, the writing of Iwo Jima and Iwo To is the same; only the pronunciation is different. U.S. forces took the name Iwo Jima when they made the island their first toehold in the Japanese Home Islands , and after a fierce battle and an iconic flag raising on Mount Surabachi, the island's highest point, the name of Iwo Jima was burned into popular-culture consciousness. Last year, American actor-director Clint Eastwood released a pair of films depicting the World War II battle, Flags of Our Fathers , telling the American side of the battle, and Letters from Iwo Jima , from the Japanese viewpoint. The films further cemented the island's name, and made original residents more resolved to change the name back to Iwo To. During the war, about 22,000 Japanese troops dug into heavy fortifications, and fought against the 100,000-strong U.S. forces. Fewer than 1,000 of the Japanese soldiers survived, and about 7,000 U.S. troops were killed. During the battle, the raising of the U.S. flag by group of Marines was photographed by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal . The image went on to become one of the most iconic of the war, and was used to create a memorial to U.S. Marines in Washington . After the war, local residents were not allowed to return to the island. The U.S. continued to occupy the island until 1968, and today it is used as a base for Japan Self-Defense Forces and visiting U.S. Navy personnel. The island is part of the Ogasawara Islands chain, which are mostly uninhabited. Only Chichi-jima and Haha-jima support local populations. Though it is about 1,120 kilometers (700 miles) south of Tokyo , the island chain falls under the administration of the Tokyo metropolitan government. In March, officials adopted the resolution that changed Iwo To's name, after Ogasawara residents and descendants of Iwo To evacuees submitted a petition. The Japanese central government agreed, and an official map with the new name will be released September 1. Retired U.S. Marine Major General Fred Haynes, who was captain in the Marine regiment that raised the U.S. flag on Mount Suribachi, said the island's name change saddens him.
The U.S. flag flies during World War II on Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima, or Iwo To, as the island has now officially been renamed by Japan. Iwo Jima is circled on a map of Japan. , a Japanese island known for one of the deadliest battles and an iconic raising of the United States flag by U.S. soldiers, is now known by another name, or its old name to be exact. Renamed Iōtō (pronounced "ee-woh-toh") as preferred by the island's original residents, the official designation was adopted on Monday by the and the , the and other news outlets have reported. Meaning " Island", the small island's name was changed in 1944, ahead of the U.S. invasion, when civilians were evacuated. Some officers of the arrived to fortify the island ahead of U.S. forces, and mistakenly called it Iwo Jima. In , "jima" is an alternative word for island. In script, the writing of Iwo Jima and Iwo To is the same; only the pronunciation is different. U.S. forces took the name Iwo Jima when they made the island their first toehold in the , and after a and on Mount Surabachi, the island's highest point, the name of Iwo Jima was burned into popular-culture consciousness. Last year, American actor-director released a pair of films depicting the World War II battle, , telling the American side of the battle, and , from the Japanese viewpoint. The films further cemented the island's name, and made original residents more resolved to change the name back to Iwo To. During the war, about 22,000 Japanese troops dug into heavy fortifications, and fought against the 100,000-strong U.S. forces. Fewer than 1,000 of the Japanese soldiers survived, and about 7,000 U.S. troops were killed. During the battle, the raising of the U.S. flag by group of Marines was photographed by Associated Press photographer . The image went on to become one of the most iconic of the war, and was used to create a memorial to U.S. Marines in . After the war, local residents were not allowed to return to the island. The U.S. continued to occupy the island until 1968, and today it is used as a base for and visiting personnel. The island is part of the chain, which are mostly uninhabited. Only and support local populations. Though it is about 1,120 kilometers (700 miles) south of , the island chain falls under the administration of the Tokyo metropolitan government. In March, officials adopted the resolution that changed Iwo To's name, after Ogasawara residents and descendants of Iwo To evacuees submitted a petition. The Japanese central government agreed, and an official map with the new name will be released September 1. Retired Major General Fred Haynes, who was captain in the Marine regiment that raised the U.S. flag on Mount Suribachi, said the island's name change saddens him.
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Iwo Jima
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World War II
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Geographical Survey Institute of Japan and the Japan Coast Guard, the Associated Press
A
the , the and
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Sulfur
D
volcanic
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Imperial Japanese Navy
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Japanese
D
kanji
D
Japanese Home Islands
R
fierce battle and an iconic flag raising
and
D
Clint Eastwood
D
Flags of Our Fathers
D
Letters from Iwo Jima
D
Joe Rosenthal
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Washington
R
Japan Self-Defense Forces and visiting U.S. Navy
and visiting
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Ogasawara Islands
R
Chichi-jima and Haha-jima
and
D
Tokyo
D
U.S. Marine