Haha-jima

Haha-jima (Hahashima) is the second-largest island of the Ogasawara Islands or Bonin Islands south of the Japanese main island chain. It is about 21 km² in area. The highest points are Mt. Chibusa (Chibusa-yama), approximately 462m, and Mt. Sakaigatake (Sakaigatake), 443m. The largest island of the group, Chichi-jima ("Father Island") is approximately 50km to the North. Together with nearby smaller islands like the Elder and Younger Sister Islands Ane-jima and Imōto-jima and Mukō-jima, Haha-jima forms the Haha-jima Rettō, Haha-jima Group, or in former times, Baily Group. The island is within the political boundaries of Ogasawara Village, Ogasawara Subprefecture, Tokyo, Japan.

Haha-jima was originally called Coffin Island or Hillsborough Island and settled by Europeans before becoming part of Japan. In World War II, the Japanese government removed the locals and fortified the island; it was the target of several attacks by US forces during World War II. What is left of the defense works is now one of the tourist attractions of the island. The island can be reached by ferry in about 2 hours from Chichi-jima. The economy of Haha-jima is based on fishing, as well as a state-run rum distillery.

Today Haha-jima has a population of 440, but the population was 1,546 in 1904 and 1,905 in 1940. There is one road from the (now-abandoned) village of Kita (Kita-mura) at the north end of the island to the village of Oki (Oki-mura) at the southern end of the island, where the harbor is located. Ogasawara Village operates the island's public elementary and junior high schools. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education operates Ogasawara High School on nearby Chichi-jima.