On which island did Hiroo Onoda surrender in 1974 after hiding since World War II?

Hiroo Onoda surrendered on Lubang Island in 1974 after hiding there since World War II.

Onoda was a second lieutenant in the Imperial Japanese Army who continued guerrilla activity in the Philippine jungle for nearly 29 years after Japan’s 1945 surrender. He and several companions distrusted leaflets and other messages saying the war had ended, believing them to be Allied deception.

One companion surrendered in 1950, while the others died in separate encounters. Onoda remained alone after his final companion was killed in 1972. In February 1974, Japanese adventurer Norio Suzuki located him on Lubang, but Onoda refused to surrender because his wartime orders required him to continue until formally relieved.

Major Yoshimi Taniguchi, Onoda’s former commanding officer, traveled to Lubang and issued that order. Onoda surrendered to Philippine forces on March 10, 1974, handing over his sword, rifle, ammunition, and grenades. He was not the last Japanese holdout overall: Private Teruo Nakamura was arrested in Indonesia later in 1974.