Key Facts
• August 26, 2025: Emperor and Empress met former Iwo Jima residents in Nasu.
• Event held at Nasu Imperial Villa, Tochigi Prefecture, during their retreat.
• Two former residents, aged 94 and 95, shared wartime and postwar experiences.
• 1944: Around 1,000 Iwo Jima residents were forcibly evacuated to mainland Japan.
• Some evacuees later settled in Nasu, cultivating undeveloped land.
• Emperor expressed gratitude, saying, “Thank you for coming.”
• Discussion lasted approximately 50 minutes.
• Former residents described hardships, including air raids and resettlement challenges.
• April 2025: Emperor and Empress visited Iwo Jima to honor war dead.
• Former residents expressed gratitude for the opportunity to meet the imperial couple.
Summary
On August 26, 2025, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako met with two former Iwo Jima residents at the Nasu Imperial Villa in Tochigi Prefecture. The meeting, lasting about 50 minutes, was part of their retreat and aimed to hear firsthand accounts of wartime and postwar struggles. During World War II, approximately 1,000 residents of Iwo Jima were forcibly evacuated to mainland Japan, with some later resettling in Nasu to cultivate undeveloped land. The former residents, aged 94 and 95, shared their experiences, including enduring air raids and adapting to new lives. The Emperor and Empress, who had previously visited Iwo Jima in April 2025 to honor war dead, expressed empathy and gratitude during the discussion. The attendees conveyed their appreciation for the opportunity to meet the imperial couple and share their stories.
