Japanese emperor visits Iwo Jima to honour war dead

Japanese emperor Naruhito, left, and empress Masako are escorted by a member of Japan's self defence force as they arrive at the island of Iwo Jima, now officially called Iwo To. Picture: Kim Kyung-Hoon/AP

Japan’s emperor Naruhito visited Iwo Jima on Monday to pay tribute to those who died on the island where one of the Second World War’s harshest battles was fought 80 years ago.

The visit by Naruhito and his wife, empress Masako, both born after the war, is their first to the island.