The island famous for its role in WWII has now taken on a new identity.  Time to forget everything you once knew:  Iwo Jima has officially changed its name to Iwo To.

I took Spanish in high school, so I have absolutely no idea how this works.  In Japanese, the two names (Iwo Jima, Iwo To) apparently have the same look and meaning (‘Sulfur Island’) but come with (natch) two different pronunciations.  Unfortunately, Japanese naval officers who took over the island during the war mistakenly gave it the now widely known name.

Natives forced to flee were obviously disturbed by what had happened to their island—and the incorrect name has just poured salt into their wounds after all these years.  Having to see movies like Clint Eastwood’s Letters from Iwo Jima and Flags Of Our Fathers have only reinforced that anger spurring many of the former inhabitants to finally push for the change.  To right what had been wronged, the Japanese Geographical Survey Institute agreed to adopt the new name.

School kids still reeling from the loss of planet Pluto will be in for another rude awakening when they return this fall…