Who Is Iva Toguri D'Aquino? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Iva Toguri D'Aquino was born on July 4, 1916, in Los Angeles, California. As of 2025, she would have been 109 years old, had she lived. Iva is best known for her role during World War II as a radio broadcaster, popularly known as "Tokyo Rose." Despite her American citizenship, she was accused of treason, which led to a highly publicized trial in the United States.
| Occupation | Republicans |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 4, 1916 |
| Age | 90 Years |
| Birth Place | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Cancer |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 26 September, 2006 |
| Died Place | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
Popularity
Iva Toguri D'Aquino's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While detailed measurements of Iva Toguri D'Aquino's height and weight are not readily available, she was noted for her presence on air. Her physical appearance during the war years has been described as average for her height, which contributed to her relatable persona during her broadcasts.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Iva Toguri D'Aquino was married to Felipe D'Aquino, a Portuguese-American man, in 1949. Their relationship was filled with challenges, particularly due to Iva's controversial past. Together, they navigated a life that was often scrutinized, especially during Iva's later years after her trial. They remained married until Felipe's passing in 1999. There are no widely reported details of Iva having any other public relationships.
Her father, Jun Toguri, had come to the U.S. in 1899, and her mother, Fumi, in 1913. Iva was a Girl Scout, and was raised as a Christian. She began grammar schools in Calexico and San Diego before returning with her family to complete her education in Los Angeles, where she attended Compton High School.
Toguri graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1940 with a degree in zoology. In 1940, she registered to vote as a Republican.
Net Worth and Salary
Due to the complexities surrounding her life, Iva Toguri D'Aquino’s net worth is not definitively established. During her lifetime, much of her income stemmed from her work in radio before the war, and later, legal battles and negotiations related to her legacy. In 2025, her contributions to American culture and history are often valued more for their historical significance than for monetary wealth.
Toguri performed in comedy sketches and introduced recorded music, but never participated in any newscasts, with on-air speaking time of generally about 2–3 minutes. She earned only 150 yen per month, or about $7, but she used some of her earnings to feed POWs, smuggling food in as she did before.
She aimed most of her comments toward her fellow Americans ("my fellow orphans"), using American slang and playing American music. At no time did Toguri call herself "Tokyo Rose" during the war, and there was no evidence that any other broadcaster had done so.
The name was a catch-all used by Allied forces for all of the women who were heard on Japanese propaganda radio and was in general use by the summer of 1943, months prior to Toguri's debut as a broadcast host.
Toguri hosted about 340 broadcasts of The Zero Hour under the stage names "Ann" (for "Announcer") and later "Orphan Annie", in reference to the comic strip character Little Orphan Annie.
Career, Business, and Investments
Iva's career took a notable turn when she started working as a broadcaster for radio stations promoting Japanese propaganda during World War II. This controversial role led to her notoriety, yet she claimed that she was attempting to entertain and provide relief to American prisoners of war. After the war, Iva faced numerous legal challenges and eventually became a symbol of the complexities of dual identity during wartime.
Post-war, her life involved multiple endeavors, including writing. She faced obstacles reintegrating into society in the U.S. after her return from Japan. Ultimately, her story became a catalyst for discussions around treason and national identity.
On September 29, 1949, the jury found D'Aquino guilty on a single charge: Count VI, which stated, "That on a day during October, 1944, the exact date being to the Grand Jurors unknown, said defendant, at Tokyo, Japan, in a broadcasting studio of The Broadcasting Corporation of Japan, did speak into a microphone concerning the loss of ships." She wa
s fined $10,000, given a 10-year prison sentence, and stripped of her citizenship, with Toguri's attorney Collins lambasting the verdict as "Guilty without evidence".
She was sent to the Federal Reformatory for Women at Alderson, West Virginia. She was paroled after serving six years and two months, released January 28, 1956, and moved to Chicago.
Social Network
Iva Toguri D'Aquino was not known for having a prolific online presence, especially given that her prime years occurred well before the digital age. However, her life story has been discussed in various documentaries and books over the years. Many social media users reminisce about her legacy on platforms like Instagram and Twitter, sparking conversations about her impact on American history.
Toguri was pressured to renounce her United States citizenship by the Japanese central government with the beginning of American involvement in the Pacific War, like other Americans in Japanese territory. She refused to do so, and was subsequently declared an enemy alien and was refused a war ration card.
To support herself, she found work as a typist at a Japanese news agency and eventually worked in a similar capacity for Radio Tokyo.
Education
Iva was educated at the University of California, Berkeley, where she pursued a degree in zoology. This academic background may seem unusual for someone in her line of work but it illustrates her diverse interests and capabilities. Despite her educational pursuits, Iva's life took a significant detour during World War II, affecting her career path and the trajectory of her future endeavors.
The case history at the FBI's website states, "The FBI's investigation of [D'Aquino's] activities had covered a period of some five years. During the course of that investigation, the FBI had interviewed hundreds of former members of the U.S.
Armed Forces who had served in the South Pacific during World War II, unearthed forgotten Japanese documents, and turned up recordings of [D'Aquino's] broadcasts." Investigating with the U.S. Army's Counterintelligence Corps, they "conducted an extensive investigation to determine whether [D'Aquino] had committed crimes against the U.S.
By the following October, authorities decided that the evidence then known did not merit prosecution, and she was released".
Conclusion
Iva Toguri D'Aquino's life journey is a complex tapestry of identity, perception, and legacy. From her early years in California to her controversial role during World War II, she remains a fascinating figure in modern history. As we reflect upon her life in 2025, it's important to recognize the broader implications of her story, shedding light on issues that resonate to this day.
