Japan-US Joint Memorial Service

People from Japan and the United States have attended a memorial service for soldiers who died in fighting near the end of World War Two on the Pacific Island of Ioto.

The remote island was the site of fierce battles in 1945. About 21,900 Japanese troops and some 6,800 US servicemen lost their lives there. Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro was among about 140 bereaved families and government officials from both countries at the event held on Saturday.

President of the Iwo Jima Association of Japan heads a group of families of Japanese soldiers who died on the island. He said he is deeply concerned that the memories of fierce battles have been gradually fading.