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Bonin Islands
Bonin Islands , Jap. Ogasawara-gunto, volcanic island group, c.40 sq mi (100 sq km), in the W Pacific Ocean, c.500 mi (800 km) S of Tokyo; part of Tokyo prefecture, Japan. The largest and principal island is Chichi (formerly Peel Island), c.10 sq mi (30 sq km), the site of Omura, the capital of the group, and Futami-ko (Port Lloyd), the chief harbor. The principal products are timber and fruit, such as bananas and pineapples. The majority of the inhabitants are Japanese; there are some Koreans and Taiwanese. The islands were claimed by Japan from the British in 1875 and placed under the Tokyo prefecture in 1880. In World War II the islands formed a major Japanese military stronghold until they were occupied by the U.S. navy in 1945. The islands were administered by the U.S. military until 1968, when they were returned to Japan. |
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"Bonin Islands." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Bonin Islands." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-BoninIsl.html "Bonin Islands." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-BoninIsl.html |
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Bonin Islands
Bonin Islands (Ogasawara Guntō), Japan Discovered by the Spanish in 1543, they were annexed to Japan in 1876. They were not inhabited and the Anglicized name comes from Munin Tō ‘No Man Islands’ from mu ‘no’, nin ‘man’, and tō ‘islands’. The Japanese name, adopted in 1675, comes from the name of the first Japanese explorer to see them in 1593 with guntō ‘islands’. They were returned to Japan in 1968, having been under American military control since the end of the Second World War in 1945.
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JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Bonin Islands." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Bonin Islands." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-BoninIslands.html JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Bonin Islands." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-BoninIslands.html |
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Bonin Islands
Bonin Islands, the Japanese Ogasawara Gunto chain of 27 islands lying between Japan and the Volcano Islands some 965 km. (600 mi.) south of Tokyo. They figured in US strategy as being one way of approaching Japan's home islands and their garrisons were attacked in September 1944 by a US Navy task force and were frequently bombed thereafter. They were administered by the USA from 1945 to 1968.
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Cite this article
I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "Bonin Islands." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "Bonin Islands." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O129-BoninIslands.html I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "Bonin Islands." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O129-BoninIslands.html |
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