Iwo Jima: Where Japan rules but the memory of war dead still reigns | The Japan Times

Fascinating read. I am glad no one lives there anymore. It is a strange place where our memories conflict with those of the Japanese.

Good afternoon, my friend CW5 Jack Cardwell and thank you for posting an insightful perspective by COLIN P.A. JONES focused on his trip to Iwo Jima under ISSUES | LAW OF THE LAND.
That island's name concurs up vivid images for many based on accounts from those who fought there, books, movies and for a few memories of actually fighting there.
It is noteworthy that all "of Iwo Jima is a Maritime Self-Defence Force base and off-limits to visitors, Japanese or not." i expect that makes sense for many reasons including safety of potential visitors since I expect un-exploded ordnance is still a threat

Images
1. 1945 Contour map of Iwo Jima, showing Japanese defense installations as observed from ground study during the period of 19 Feb-19 Mar 1945
2. Natural landmark - Mount Suribachi is located on Iwo Jima, an island that was given the name.
3. 1945-04-08 Flame thrower in use against Japanese holding out in a cave along Iwo Jima's northern coastal cliffs, 8 April 1945
4. X Markes the spot at the place U.S. Marines famously hoised the American flag on Iwo Jima.jpg

"The dress code explains why were able to be there in the first place. All of Iwo Jima is a Maritime Self-Defence Force base and off-limits to visitors, Japanese or not. When the island (now officially Ioto) was returned to Japanese sovereignty in 1968 together with the Ogasawara islands, American access to the memorial at Suribachi had been a sticking point right up to the last moment. Some American negotiators had wanted access rights to be covered in the reversion agreement, and had envisioned a massive monument and an American flag flying year-round. The compromise was that access to the Suribachi was not mentioned in the 1968 U.S.-Japan Ogasawara Reversion Agreement of 1968 but promised in a side letter from Japan’s foreign minister. The Japanese had always objected to a permanently flying U.S. flag, which in any case would have required a permanent U.S. military presence just to maintain it. The Americans ultimately relinquished.
We Americans were thus there under the aegis of a memorial service for the war dead held near the invasion beaches below Suribachi. This was a somber affair, with high-ranking military officers and civilian dignitaries from both countries in attendance. Music was performed by a joint U.S. Marine-SDF band.
Some in our group, including several American veterans of the battle, now well into their 90s, as well as family members and descendants of the many now deceased attended this event. One of them, Roger Clemens said of his wartime experience in an interview in the Guam Daily Post: “I did what I signed up to do. I didn’t like it, but that’s what I did.” I liked him immensely.
While the veterans, family members and dignitaries were shuttled around in the few micro-buses available, younger tourists like me were told we could either go up Mount Suribachi — a 19-kilometer round trip on foot — or participate in the ceremony, but would not have time for both. We only had five to six hours on the island, a function, we were told, of Federal Aviation Administration regulations on how long the pilots of our United charter flights from Guam could stay on the clock.

Thank you my friend SP5 Mark Kuzinski for mentioning me.

FYI LTC Orlando Illi Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price CPT Jack Durish Capt Tom Brown CMSgt (Join to see) MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SGT (Join to see) Sgt Albert Castro SSgt Boyd Herrst] SSG Ray Adkins SGT Charles H. Hawes SSG Martin Byrne PO1 William "Chip" Nagel CPT Gabe SnellLTC Greg Henning

Powerful article