The villa, owned, occupied and modified by several entities after Napoleon, including being used as a headquarters during German occupation in WWII, was restored before being opened as a museum.

BBC: Following Napoleon��s trail on Elba

He overcame early Dutch wariness -- in a country where the German occupation in WWII was still fresh in the national memory -- to become one of the most popular members of the Dutch royal family .

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

It was during last year's election campaign that Mr Abe and his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) proposed the event to mark the day in 1952 when the San Francisco Peace Treaty took effect, formally ending WWII and the allied occupation.

BBC: Japan marks 'return of sovereignty' day