Statement Concerning Itezono

Case
USA v. Kiyoharu Tomomori et al.
Statement Title Statement of Itezono
Record Type Statement
Subject of Statement Tatsuo Itezono
Statement Provided By Tatsuo Itezono

S/D (10 December 1946)

30, Maj. WAH from 16 June to 25 August 1945, when placed on reserve, at which time AKITA told him to assist in handling military supplies. On 18 July YOKOYAMA told- Defendant to work under YAKUMARU as his assistant in charge of guerrilla warfare. Selected soldiers and 10,000 civilians were trained, including bow and arrow train­ing. In mid June Defendant was ordered to study civilian rioting (if invasion) under Maj. OHASHI, who was under AKITA, continued until 13 August.

In August 1945 Defendant observed from the 2nd floor of WAH 4 - 5 flyers brought in by the Kempei Tai. One flyer was sitting on the ground with his head between his knees, another sitting with legs outstretched, and Defendant thought they had been beaten.

About 10 August 1945, AIHARA, who was in charge of American flyers, came to Defendant’s office, said there would be an execution of American flyers at Aburayama at 0900 the next day, and Defendant asked him where it was, said he would go. AIHARA said a truck would take the 8 Prisoners, asked Defendant if he would take part. Defendant told SATO this conversation, who told him that he must take some of his young guerrilla officers to the execution. Defendant said he had never attended an execution, asked that some experienced person go, but he said that NAKAMURA would make the preparations.

About 1020, Defendant told YAKUMARU, his superior, that he was ordered by SATO to take his Officers the next day, and that SATO told him to use bow and arrow and karate, to which YAKUMARU said "all right".

Defendant then told 1st Lt. Teruo ONO of the execution, then saw TOMOMORI, who worked directly under INADA about it, asked if he were going, and he said he would. TOMOMORI was the head of Defendant’s section.

Defendant then told KUSUMOTO of it, who said that if the execution were for 0900 the truck would leave at 0830.

KUSUMOTO was adj. to YOKOYAMA, didn’t seem to know of execution. Defendant believes that AIHARA actually arranged for truck. (Defendant then refused to sign this on the instruction of Mr. Seydel.)