Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has attended a joint Japan-US memorial ceremony on the Pacific island of Ioto, also known as Iwojima, to honor those who perished in a fierce battle 80 years ago.



The ceremony took place on Saturday on Ioto, one of the Ogasawara Islands located approximately 1,000 kilometers south of Tokyo Bay. Ishiba is the first sitting Japanese prime minister to attend a joint memorial on the island.



Towards the end of World War Two in 1945, the battle left about 21,900 people dead on the Japanese side and some 6,800 on the US side.



Ishiba said in a speech that he is "overwhelmed with sorrow" thinking of those who perished on the island, longing for their country and worrying about their loved ones. Ishiba said Japan must sincerely face history and continue efforts to pass down the lessons of the tragic experience of the war to future generations.



He said that Japan and the US were once at war with each other but have deepened relations through reconciliation. He added the two countries are now trusted allies and are the cornerstone for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. Ishiba renewed Japan's pledge for peace and expressed his resolve to raise the Japan-US alliance to new heights.



After the ceremony, Ishiba observed sites where the search continues for the remains of soldiers. He also visited Mount Suribachi where Japanese and US forces fought a fierce battle.



Ishiba told reporters it was a meaningful day that confirmed Japan and the US will work together for world peace by further strengthening their alliance.



He also said the government will make every effort to collect the remains of 11,000 people still on the island and return them to their families as soon as possible.