ISA, KAZUO, Lt. Gen. Statement of Isa (30 September - 2 October 1947) 57, RA since 1911, retired, Lt. Gen. 1941, at WAH from early May 1945 to end of war, then CG of Kagoshima Area Mobilization Unit Headquarters, reattached to WAH in late October, discharged 1 December 1945. Isa was transferred to WAH to become CG of one of the 3 armies into which WA was divided, the army stationed at Kagoshima; but was left without a position, so he served as liaison officer between the WAG and Ken government or civilian population. Was responsible for placing guards at proper places where military installations or goods were located, would sometimes conduct inspections to see that military regulations and laws were abided by. After the move to Yamae, Isa was highest ranking officer left at Fukuoka headquarters, and as such was responsible for the activity of personnel at the Headquarters, was responsible that nothing occurred contrary to army regulations. Yokoyama did not say Isa was to be acting CG, gave him no instructions; Fukuoka headquarters acted on orders received from Yamae Headquarters. As CG, Yokoyama directed the responsibility of his subordinates, was never responsible for education of his array, would approve or disapprove operational tactics of his staff section, was responsible for the warfare tactics as CG of 16th Area Army, was responsible for the supervision of the enforcement of army regulations throughout his army. Inada, as Chief of Staff, was responsible to direct the activity of the Staff Section and the Adjutant Section. He would conduct this duty and serve in an advisory capacity to the CG. Fukushima’s duties, as vice Chief of Staff, were not too definite. Acting on orders of Inada and Yokoyama, he would conduct the duties pertaining to the air defense directions, mostly as to defense of the civilian populations. He worked in close liaison with Sato on this. Akita, acting greatly on the advice of Staff Officer Haba, would construct the operational tactics, and, aided by Haba, would direct the army educational plans. Sato was the Operational Air Defense Officer; acting on orders of the CG, he would direct air defense. His duties were to instruct, by orders, the various air units in the WA area, to notify the public of an air raid, and to issue security orders and regulations to be followed out during an air raid. In his absence, or when Lt. Col. Yakumaru was for some reason unable to do so. Sato would take over his duties pertaining to POWs. Lt. Col. Yakumaru, under Fukushima, would carry out the duties pertaining to civilian defense. He was also responsible to see that army regulations were followed in the WA area, to see that guards were placed in proper places to protect the interests of the army, Isa used both Fukushima and Yakumaru to conduct these duties. Yakumaru was also responsible for the disposition of PWs - would decide where the PWs would be imprisoned and perhaps would conduct investigations of these PWs. Maj. Haba acted in an advisory capacity to Akita in matters pertaining to operational tactics and military education. ISA -2 - Major Harasaki was responsible for directing army mobilization in the PA area. Lt. Col. Jin as senior adjutant directed the adjutants section, was responsible for the personnel administration of the officers and those having an equal position to an officer in the WA area. He held the seal of the CG and the Chief of Staff, would, apply this seal to documents and orders in the name of the CG and Chief of Staff after checking the final document or order with the original rough draft of the same, He supervised military discipline within the headquarters, Isa didn't have any duties as to PWs, he thinks. Maj. Kusumoto was responsible for the personnel administration of the EM and those on equal status in the WA area; also had many duties relating to documents. 1st Lt. Minami was in the Adjutant Section, was Aide-de-camp to the CG. Isa thinks that PWs were held at WAH while he was there; heard from newspapers or the radio that flyers were captured. From his past experience he knew that these flyers would be brought to the headquarters, and it seemed likely that they would be placed in the stockade in headquarters. PWs would be brought from overseas and placed in a PW camp; captured flyers were simply those who had been captured after their planes crashed. Isa believes that the Ministry of War or someone announced that flyers guilty of indiscriminate bombing would be severely punished— heard this or read it in a newspaper in early 1945. In July or August 1945, Isa heard that flyers held at WAR were probably killed; at that time WAH was located at Hirao. Isa, despite being the highest ranking officer, made no attempt to find out the details. Isa didn't take the responsibility of seeing that all accounts were according to Japanese army regulations very seriously; didn’t feel that the treatment cf flyers was his responsibility; received no report on it. Yakumaru never discussed the flyers with Isa. |