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ISHIMURA, SACHIKO Statement of Ishimura (420, 9 May 1947) [Marginal Note: 19-28 March ] Home Fukuoka, receptionist camera shop, age 22. Worked Western Army Headquarters from May 1944 to September 1945, as secretary in propoganda section under Colonel Keiji Machida. Also working there: Superintendent of LS, Major Tadaaki Ano (?) Recalls 3 executions of American flyers. 1 June 1945 at Aburayama. Heard of it from POs in Western Army Headquarters in last of June, who said several POs took part in beheading. Heard of it from PO Momota of Guerilla Squad. Also present: POs Narazaki and Masuzaki of Guerilla Unit. Momota said he was there, 10 other POs there also. At time Masuzaki was demonstrating how to behead a person. Also present: PO Nishida. POs, Including Momota, went on truck'. Momota and other PO told Ishimura that one doing ’’kessagiri” — cutting thru shoulder down to chest— very good. Now states this stated in early August, 2-3 days after execution. Ishimura not at Western Army from 19 to 28-29, June. Around May 1945 heard from Sato of KIU. Sato was going to see Ishiyama, he said, about American flyers to be used at KIU, but Sato said he could not give her reason. Ishimura met Ishiyama at Western Army Headquarters after war when he came to see Sato, but Sato had gone to KIU to meet Ishiyama. Middle of May Ishimura then decided that flyers to be used for guineau pigs, but she doesn*t know how she comes to this conclusion. Then she relates that the next night Sato told her that the American Flyers were given Masui - anaesthetic - to drink, that he, Sato, saw this- that they were doing something big and different, but secret. Sato and Ishimura were having affair. Sato told her that Ishiyama had done a good thing for the country, that the flyers died at the hospital, that experimental operations were performed on the chest, abdomen and head, at KIU. Ishimura heard from Mrs. Koshin Sato, his legal wife, that Sato had told her that Komori proposed to use the American flyers for experiments at KIU Hospital. 1330, 15 August 1945, Sato told Ishimura that American flyers were then being beheaded at Aburayama. At noon on same date, all ordered to gather in former staff office to hear Emperor’s broadcast-, then ordered to burn all documents. At 1300 Sato told her to help him clean out his desk; a bit later Aihara came in, told Sato everything ready, left. Then Sato told Ishimura that some Prisoners to be' beheaded, said he did not want to go, then suggested they both go, waited for car, invited Lt. Nakayama, who went, departure at 1430, about 50 minutes to get there, arrived about 1530. On top of slope, on level ground, 7-8 blindfolded Prisoners. Many people watching. About 4-5 soldiers washing bloody swords; Maeda, Yamanaka, Hashiyama, Akamine. Ishimura 15 yards away, Prisoners brought out one by one - about 7 executed - Ishimura saw 4. View obstructed as to 1st 3, but saw their bodies lying. First executioner, unknown Non-commissioned Officer from operations section. Ishimura -2- 4th executioner - Sergeant Major Inoue. Clean cut. 5th executioner - Naval Lt. from operations section. 2 swings to finish him. 6th executioner - Lt. Hiroji Nakayama. 2-3 persons called him, Sato told him to go, explained to others how it should be done, swung - blood spurted from his neck, beheaded him. 7th - Nakayama: 2 blows to finish him. Sato then told others to keep it secret. Sato then told Nakamura, 2d Lt, to cremate bodies; told too many, so stated that if impossible, then bury them. Sato had left scene at no time. |