Statements Concerning Ito

Statement of Akita (12-22 Aug 1947) In the latter part of October 1945 Inada was investigating the 20 June execution, and Ito, Sato, Inada (and Fukushima ?) were at the Futsukaichi dormitory.

Statement of Wako (25 Aug - 5 Sept 47) Wako,as head of the detention barracks, was responsible for its operation to the CG and Chief of Legal Section (Ito).

If a Prisoners escaped or died, he would report to the CG and Chief of LS (Ito). Likewise if a guard were involved in a crime. Once a month Wako made an offi­cial report to the Chief of LS (Ito) as to the number confined and the number released.

After a prisoner was put in a cell, a report was made to Shimsaki or Wako by the highest ranking guard, Shimasaki reporting to Wako immediately if report first made to him, and Wako would make a daily report to the Chief of LS (Ito.)

The report would have the names of each Prisoner, type of crime for which suspected. This report was then forwarded to the CG. If Prisoner were to be released, the Prosecutor, under direction of Chief of LS (Ito) would submit a request to the CG for release of a Prisoner,on approval Prosecutor would make out a release order, given to highest ranking guard.

Usually the KT conducted an investigation as to indiscriminate bombing, which was turned over to LS, reviewed by Chief of LS (Ito) for errors, and if he approved of the investigation, would notify the KT, which would send the PCS to the LS. Thus, on approval that there was a basis for suspecting the PCS of indiscriminate bombing or strafing, the Chief of LS (Ito) would appoint a prosecutor to conduct an investigation and confine the Prisoner.

The Chief of LS (Ito) directed Murata, the prosecutor, to determine the charges on which the 4 flyers (received in May 1945) would be tried by a military com­mission.

In late May or early June a meeting was held in the office of the Chief of LS. Attending were Ito, Sato, Murata, Wako, and another, concerning the punishment of the 4 PCS. Ito requested Sato and the person who came with Sato to have the investigation of the 4 flyers as complete as possible so that when they denied indiscriminate bombing there would be ample evidence,to complete it as soon as possible, that as soon as the evidence was complete, it would be possible to try them and sentence them to death.

Sato was not responsible for making the investigation, but was staff officer in charge of Air Intelligence. Ito, as chief prosecutor, could ask anyone to compile information. Wako believes that Sato came to Ito’s office 2-3 times.

Several days after the above mentioned meeting, Ito, Sato, Wako, and perhaps Murata had a 2nd meeting. Wako believes that Ito said that if the PCS were going to be tried, he would ask Sato to head the Commission, that the PCS must be executed as soon as possible. Wako believes that it must have been said at this meeting that the flyers should be executed without trial.

Several days after the message was received from the War Minister approving the trial, Sato came to the LS to attend a meeting called by Ito. Ito, Sato,

Statement of Wako (25 Aug - 5 Sept 47) Cont’d ......... Wako and perhaps Murata attended— this is the 2nd meeting described above. Ito said that if there was a trial he would ask Sato to be head of the commission. Ito and Sato said that if the air raids increased and conditions became more chaotic, the PCS would be executed without trial.

Wako believes that if was at this meeting that Sato told Ito that it was no longer necessary to send PCS to Tokyo and they were instructed to take appro­priate measures locally, Sato then told Ito that the staff section would have to dispose of their PCS. Sato said that he wanted Ito to know that the staff section was going to dispose of the PCS. Wako believes that Ito then told Sato that the staff section should take the action deemed appropriate. Ito meant that he would not interfere with whatever the staff section was going to do.

Wako recalls that during this meeting or a previous one, he said that the trial of the 4 PCS sent to the LS by the KT would be very difficult, that therefore they did not want any more such cases in the future. Wako believes that he then opined that the PCS should be turned over to the staff section by the KT instead of turning them over to the LS. Ito and Sato then decided in favor of Wako’s opinion, that the staff section should receive the PCS from the KT.

Then, sometime in May, Ito told Wako that whenever the PCS were tried he would recommend the death sentence. Wako believes he meant he would so recommend regardless of the evidence. It was decided at the meeting of Ito, Sato and Wako that the PCS were to be executed without a trial if they thought there was not enough time to carry out a trial.

20 June after heavy air raid, Sato told Wako that the staff section was going to execute their PCS'. Wako then went to Yokoyama and asked permission for the LS to execute their 4 prisoners. Yokoyama gave approval, Wako then went to Ito.

Wako told Ito that he had obtained the C G 1s approval to execute the 4 PCS held by LS, without trial. Ito replied “alright.“

After 3rd flyer had been executed Wako noticed Ito present, standing away from the rest of the spectators, about 20 meters from the pit.

After executions were over Wako reported to Ito of them, who said he knew about it, would report it to Yokoyama. The following day Wako heard Ito say that he had made a report to the CG. Wako took the false report received from Sato to Ito, who read it put his han on it, and Wako then sent the report to the Adjutant Section and from there it went to the Chief of Staff (Inada) and the CG, then returned to Wako, Wako then sending it to the Minister of War.

Between 16-18 August Wako believes that a guard of the detention barracks told him that there was some English writing on the walls of the rooms he lent to Sato. Wako examined it, didn’t have it translated, reported it to

Statement of Wako (25 Aug - 5 Sept 47) Cont'd. ...... to, Sato, and Fukushima, told Sato and Ito that the writing would have to be taken off the walls; they both agreed. They tried to erase the writing by planing the walls, were un­successful, and Sato and Ito agreed that the building should be burned down; also Fukushima. Wako then ordered the guards to tear it down and burn part of it.

The stockade was also torn down on Wako's recommendation with the approval of Sato, Ito, and perhaps Fukushima.

Statement of Yakumaru (18 August 1947) 20 June execution - Present at the execution: Sato, Murata, Wako, Ito, Toji, Onishi, Aihara, and other officers of the Legal Section.

Sato received permission verbally from Ito to order the false report (about flyers), according to Murata, who was Ito’s aide.

Statement of Yokoyama (18 Aug and___ Aug 1947) Ito was Chief of Legal Affairs at both the Headquarters at Fukuoka and at Yamae.

Ito (Maj. Gen.), chief of LS, was responsible for the housing, feeding;, and care of the captured enemy airmen held at WAH. In July 1945 Yokoyama asked him why no investigation reports on captured airmen had been given to him; he replied, MI am still investigating,” Ito said the flyers were difficult to interrogate.

Yokoyama received no reports at Yamae (arrived there 27 June 1945) on the number of flyers captured and held.. Yokoyama received no reports on investi­gation of flyers or courts martial from Ito. Ito could not have approved the release of the captured flyers from the compound for their execution, without first consulting Yokoyama.

Captured enemy flyers held at WAH were under the jurisdiction of Ito. The LS was informed about the change in policy as sent from Tokyo Headquarters.

Statement of Sato (ATIS translation of Sato statement) After Ito told Sato that the Prisoners were to be executed, Sato did not convey the message to Wako as Yokoyama's order because he already knew of Yokoyama's plans. Sato merely agreed with him.

After the execution Ito reported to Yokoyama and Ito would have said something if the execution had not conformed to Yokoyama's ideas.

Statement of Fukushima (18 Aug - 25 Aug 1947) On 24-25 June Ito told Fukushi­ma that several Prisoners had been executed a few days before, Ito was judge advocate of the Kurume Division, was in Fukuoka getting ready to go to Kurume when the division was moved to Yamae, passed through Fukushima's office, said "I heard that some B-29 flyers were executed the other day." Fukushima was very busy, said, "Is that so ?"

Back in Fukuoka about 20 November Inada thought that all atrocities should be reported; Ito did not give Fukushima a definite answer. Kusumoto said it was alright with him if they stuck to the plan, did not appear to be enthusiastic.

Statement of Fukushima (18-25 Aug 1947) Cont'd ....... In June 1945, the headquarters was split and part went to Yame. There was no officer specifically in charge of all activities at WAH. Fukushima stayed in Fukuoka; they were semi-independent with no one put in charge, although Lt. Gen. Isa was the highest ranking officer remaining in Fukuoka, Lt. Gen. Nara next highest, Maj. Gen. Ito 3rd, and Fukushima 4th.

Statement of Kusumoto                       In November 1945 Ito told Kusumoto that Sato, acting on orders of Yokoyama, had ordered Wako to execute 8 flyers at the jail behind the LS, that Wako then went to the CG, reported that he would now perform the executions, that Yokoyama said, "alright", that he, Ito, had gotten to the scene when the executions were almost over, that on the evening of the execution, 20 June, he had gone to Yokoyama and reported that the executions had been carried out as ordered.

17-18 August Murata told Kusumoto that the bodies of the flyers executed (26) (sic) June had been buried behind the headquarters grounds at Kaminohashi, that on 16 August, on order of Ito these bodies and those buried at Abura­yama after the 12 July execution had been dug up and cremated along with the bodies of the flyers executed on 15 August 1945 at Aburayama crematory, that Nakamura had tended to this, that he and Nakamura had put all of the bone ashes from the flyers executed on 20 June, 12 July and 15 August into one large box, brought them back to LS.