Bonin Islands (bō`nīn), 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.

Bonin Islands

Japanese Ogasawara-shoto

Island group, western Pacific Ocean. Administratively part of Japan and located about 600 mi (950 km) south of Tokyo, the group consists of islands with a total area of about 40 sq mi (100 sq km). The Bonins include some 30 mountainous Chichi (the largest), Haha, Muko, and Yome islands. They were colonized in 1830 by a group of Europeans and Hawaiians. The islands were formally annexed by Japan in 1876; they were administered by the U.S. in 1945–68.