Hachijojima in the Showa Era
- Until the End of the World War II -

1945: 20th year of Showa

February
Hachijojima is bombed by US aircraft

Hachijojima was directly under the bombing course of B29 formations based in Saipan and Tinian, and was bombed a total of 26 times by the end of the war, with 11 islanders killed or injured.

February
Islanders are ordered to evacuate to the mainland

April
Evacuation ship "Toko Maru" is sunk by a US submarine

The Toko Maru, carrying 160 people including 113 of the last evacuees and wounded soldiers from the island, was hit by two torpedoes from a US submarine and sank in the sea south of Mikurajima. All 55 islanders, including those from the branch office, village office, and teachers, died, and only 11 were rescued.

August 15
Japan surrenders unconditionally, ending the Pacific War

October
US forces land on the island and begin destroying gun batteries, positions, and explosives

Until the end of the year
11 repatriation ships arrive, and returnees arrive one after another

1941: 16th year of Showa

Elementary schools become national schools

Based on the National School Ordinance aimed at nationalistic public education, the country's elementary schools became national schools from 1941.

December 8
The Pacific War breaks out

1944: 19th year of Showa

May
Seiryu Maru is sunk by a submarine, killing 57 young people from Hachijojima

On May 11, the Seiryu Maru, a ship carrying sick and wounded soldiers, was sunk by a US submarine near Torishima, killing 57 people from Hachijojima who were on board (15 rescued). The victims were young people who had been sent to build a defense base on Chichijima and were on their way back.

June
Army, navy, and air force are stationed one after another, seizing public facilities

July
The first evacuation of Hachijojima residents begins

An order was issued to evacuate to the mainland by November, and about 6,500 people evacuated to the mainland.

Construction of a new airfield

The construction was carried out by many Korean laborers who were forcibly brought to the island

1927: 2nd year of Showa

In September 1927, the first electric lights were lit in Okago Village, followed by Kashitate Village and Nakanogo Village the next year, and Sueyoshi Village in 1929. Mitsune Village had a separate power plant built and its lights were lit in 1928. Hydroelectric power came to an end after 45 years of history when the waterway was destroyed by the 1972 Hachijojima East Offshore Earthquake.

Opening ceremony of Hachijojima Naval Airfield held

A naval airfield was built in the Fujimi and Okazato districts in front of the current Fuji Junior High School, a celebration was held on October 3, and two airplanes and a flying boat made their first landing on the 4th, with the islanders all watching the landing.

1933: 8th year of Showa

Hachijojima's first telephone is installed as telephone exchange services began at each post office on the island.

At the time of opening, there were 61 subscribers, including government and village offices, fishing cooperatives, and clinics.

1934: 9th year of Showa

Construction of Kaminato Port begins

Through the efforts of Mr. Motegi Yaoichi from Mitsune Village, the repair work of Kaminato Port began as a project of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and it became a designated port of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

1936: 11th year of Showa

A tour group of 460 people visits the island on the Tokai Kisen Tachibana Maru

Against the backdrop of the development of regular shipping services, tour groups began to visit the island around 1933-1934. In 1936, a tour group of 460 people, and in 1938, a tour group of 700 people, visited the island on the Tokai Kisen Co., Ltd.'s Tachibana Maru.

1939: 14th year of Showa

New wooden one-story Hachijo Branch Office building is constructed (now the Hachijojima Island History and Folklore Museum)

A new wooden one-story Hachijo Branch Office building was constructed on the site of the old office building (now the Hachijojima Island History and Folklore Museum).