Statement Concerning Michio Ikeda

Statement of Ikeda (23 - 25 June 1947)

38, doctor, has own hospital at Kiyama. Entered army in 38, discharged 1942 at 1st Lt., recalled April 1944, served to November 1945 at WAMS as 1st Lt., where he handled pension certificates for disabled soldiers at WA area, decided as to whether wounded soldiers would be hospitalized, reviewed the daily report of various hospitals as to deceased patients and their death certificates. Before Ikeda took the job there were some reports of death of PWs, but none during his time, since it was taken care of through the main PW camp. The only Prisoners at WAH were captured B-29 crew members; Ikeda has never seen their death certificates, although they did die at WA.

The main PW camp did not provide for medical treatment for the B-29 fliers— so the administrations section would request medical treatment from Medical Section. Ikeda treated them twice. The first time was before the Fukuoka bomb­ing in the first part of June. The Administration Section called and asked that someone come and treat a Prisoner who was hurt. Ikeda went to the PW compound and Capt. Yukino of the administration section met him and took him to the Prisoner. The Prisoner was sitting on a bench in one of the rooms; there were 2-3 other Prisoners there also. The Prisoner had a wounded leg; it looked as if he had scraped it in a fall. It was skinned on the right shin for about 8. It seemed to be a fresh wound, maybe 10 hours old. Ikeda cleaned the wound and bandaged it.

About a week later, Ikeda was called again to the PW compound to treat a dif­ferent Prisoner who had some skin disease; Ikeda didn’t have any medicine to treat him, so he told the NCO to have him treated at the Kaikosha Hospital. Ikeda conjectures that he then was either taken to the hospital or they had a doctor from the hospital come to the compound.

The doctor who usually came to the headquarters to treat the Prisoners was Komori; Ikeda knows that because he has seen him often; he also came often to see Horiuchi and Yoshimura.

It was perhaps the responsibility of the Chief of Medical Section, Horiuchi, to treat the Prisoners of the compound; he was responsible for the medical treatment in the WA area. However, unless the administration section told him that there were Prisoners in the compound, Ikeda doesn’t believe that he would know that they were there.

Kaikosha Hospital came directly under the administration section, and it would have to give permission through the adjutant before a Prisoner could be treated there. The medical section had only ’’supervision” of the hospital. While such orders should go through the Medical Section, they probably would go directly to the hospital from administration section.

Ikeda states that maybe he had the authority to order the treatment of the Prisoners at the hospital.

Though the Prisoners in other camps were treated and a report made, Ikeda be­lieves that the Administration Section did not consider the B-29 fliers as PWs, so they were not given the usual medical treatment and care. (Note: this damaging to theory as to holding Horiuchi on medical responsibility to the Prisoners.)

Ikeda -2-

Thus, the administration section did not call the Medical Section whenever any outside medical treatment was needed for the Prisoners held in the WA compound. If they had been considered as PWs they would have been placed in PW camps— and there would be no reason to execute them.

Either Horiuchi or Lt. Gen. Inada, chief of the staff section, would have to approve the treatment of the WA Prisoners at KIU. Inada would have to be so connected since he dealt with outside departments.

After the end of the war, Ikeda heard that there had been operations on B-29 crew members at the Ishiyama Clinic (general rumors of February or March 1946) Then Ishiyama was arrested. Also heard that Allied Forces heard about this through anonymous letters written by University students. [Marginal Note: No ]

After MS offices moved out of compound— the last part of May, there was a meeting held with outside personnel, but Ikeda wasn't there, doesn't know whether KIU professors attended or not. It was held in meeting room within WAH compound. [Marginal Note: " ]

Ikeda believes the B-29 fliers he treated were executed. He heard about an execution which took place during the bombing of Fukuoka, and he saw an exe­cution at Aburayama, he having to go because 2 Japanese soldiers were being executed at the same time as about 7-8 American Fliers.

In the first part of August 1945, Ikeda was told by Capt. Wako to attend the execution of 2 Japanese soldiers who were guilty of desertion and murder. Ikeda traveled to Aburayama in a truck with the convicts and their guard, Wako, and, he believes, two subordinate Officers. On arrival, Wako read their death sen­tences, they were blindfolded, made to sit before 2 crosses, tied, heads also tied to center posts, and they were shot with pistols by 2 Japanese soldiers, Ikeda pronounced them dead. The bodies were then cut down, and carried away on stretchers.

While Wako was reading the death sentence to the 2 Japanese, another group arrived and Ikeda noticed 8-9 blindfolded American Prisoners sitting on the ground and about 20 Japanese soldier guards, and a group of 20-30 PO's who were taking special courses at WAH.

After execution of the Japanese soldiers, one American Prisoner was led to the edge of a pit and made to kneel on the ground. No death sentence was read to any of these men.

A PO stepped forward and cut off first Prisoners' head. Ikeda witnessed be­heading of 5-6 fliers, and, "not feeling so good”, he turned his back, smoked a cigarette. Ikeda was about 15-20 meters away from pit during executions. While back was turned Ikeda glanced around once and a PO was striking one Pri­soner in the stomach with his fist; believes he was using Karate. The next time he turned around some soldiers were filling in the grave, so he knew the executions were over, went back to headquarters.

The man who seemed to be doing most of the work was Capt. Yukino. He gave the orders to the guards to bring the Prisoners from there they were sitting to the edge of the pit. He also was talking to the POs before the executions started. He again took charge and supervised the covering of the bodies in the pit.

Ikeda -3-

Col. Tomomori and Maj. Enatsu were present. Enatsu talked to the person who was using Karate onaa Prisoner and corrected his method. The Prisoner was then knocked to the ground twice again, and then someone stopped the use of Karate and the Prisoner was executed. (Ed. Is Ikeda confusing Yukino with Itezono?)

Two of the executioners were Officers from the Legal Section. 1st Lt. Yoshida executed the 4th or 5th flier. One of Legal Section Officers who executed a Prisoner was a short 2nd Lt.

Komori was under the supervision of Horiuchi; his duties were to examine and treat Officers, EM and their families at Kaikosha Hospital. Ikeda didn't know him until he came to Kaikosha Hospital, and had heard of him because he was quite a surgeon. Ikeda has entered Horiuchi*s office while Komori was there­ with papers for Horiuchi to stamp and would go right out. Komori came several times— office was then already outside compound.

Ikeda's feeling that chief of Medical Section would know if any B-29 fliers were released to the University for medical treatment. When Prisoners are taken outside of the compound, permission would have to be granted by the Administration Section in charge of the Prisoners, and, because it pertained to medical treatment, the chief of Medical Section would have to approve it. [Marginal Note: no ]

At the time, the Administration Section held a great deal of authority within Headquarters, Medical Section had very little. The Administration Section had been taking care of these B-29 Prisoners, and thus it was impossible for Ikeda in his low position to have had the authority to release tjie Prisoners for treatment at KIU. Ikeda doubts that Yoshimura could have done it without con­sulting [Marginal Note: Horiuchi ] [Marginal Note : " ]

Komori came to see Horiuchi often during April, May and June. Komori would have had to consult Horiuchi before he could do more on getting the Prisoners. [Marginal Note: " ]

In August 1945, after the surrender, Sato asked Ikeda to write out one death certificate for a B-29 crew member. From what Ikeda "gathers" this flier had been downed in Shikoku and had been sent to WAH and probably executed. It seemed that there had been some records stating that one PW was sent there; therefore he wanted to account for him with this death certificate. Sato had not ordered him to do this, merely requested it, and since Ikeda had never seen this Prisoner, he refused. Ikeda believes Sato came to him because he was the only medical Officer present at the time.