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Japan renames island of Iwo Jima Japan renames island of Iwo Jima
(about 6 hours later)
A Japanese island that was the scene of one of the fiercest battles of World War II has been renamed to reflect the wishes of its original inhabitants.A Japanese island that was the scene of one of the fiercest battles of World War II has been renamed to reflect the wishes of its original inhabitants.
Iwo Jima has now become the island of Iwo To, as it was known before the war.Iwo Jima has now become the island of Iwo To, as it was known before the war.
The battle of Iwo Jima in 1945 saw 100,000 US troops attack 22,000 entrenched Japanese soldiers.The battle of Iwo Jima in 1945 saw 100,000 US troops attack 22,000 entrenched Japanese soldiers.
The battle produced one of the most enduring images of the war, showing US troops raising the Stars and Stripes on the island's highest point.The battle produced one of the most enduring images of the war, showing US troops raising the Stars and Stripes on the island's highest point.
Evacuated
The island was the first Japanese territory attacked directly by ground troops in the war.The island was the first Japanese territory attacked directly by ground troops in the war.
Most of the Japanese soldiers died in battle rather than be taken prisoner.Most of the Japanese soldiers died in battle rather than be taken prisoner.
The photograph is considered one of the most famous of WWII
The Americans occupied the island after the war, and returned it to Japan in 1968.The Americans occupied the island after the war, and returned it to Japan in 1968.
Evacuated In Japanese, the original name Iwo To is written as Iwo Jima and means the same thing - Sulphur Island - but is pronounced differently.
In Japanese, the original name Iwo To looks and means the same as Iwo Jima - or Sulphur Island - but has a different sound, the Associated Press news agency reports.
The civilians who lived there were evacuated in 1944 as US forces advanced across the Pacific.The civilians who lived there were evacuated in 1944 as US forces advanced across the Pacific.
Some Japanese navy officers who moved in to fortify the island mistakenly called it Iwo Jima, and the name stuck, AP says.Some Japanese navy officers who moved in to fortify the island mistakenly called it Iwo Jima, and the name stuck, AP says.
Joe Rosenthal - the Associated Press photographer who took the iconic Stars and Stripes photograph after the battle - died last year aged 94. The Associated Press photographer who took the iconic Stars and Stripes photograph after the battle, Joe Rosenthal, died last year aged 94.