Statements Concerning Akira Ito

ITO, AKIRA           [Marginal Notes: (KIU) Sugamo 2 Sep 47 ]

Statement of Ito (10 July 1947)

In August 1945, sometime after the end of the war, at the Yamaie Branch of the Kaikosha Hospital, someone told Ito that it was a good thing that Komori had died because he had done a terrible thing at the University.

Statement of Ito (11 July 1947)

42, a dentist, was employed as a civilian dentist at the Kaikosha Army Offi­cers and Dependents' Hospital from 14 February 1945 to 5 December 1945. Knew Komori from 14 February 1945 until 19 June, when he was killed. Ito ate lunch in dining room at hospital with rest of staff, in room next to dental room. Denies ever eating human liver, states that if he had "I would never forget it."

Statement of Ito (11 July 1947)

States that he "suddenly recollected" that he had eaten human liver. It was in late May or early June 1945. At 1205 Ito left the dental office and went directly to the dining room used by only the Kaikosha Hospital Staff. It was a room about 8 meters long, 4 meters wide, and 3 meters high. In it were two tables joined together, of a total length of about 4 1/2 meters. There were 5 stools and 4 chairs to sit on. No person had a regularly assigned seat.

When Ito walked into the dining room this noon, already seated at the table were Kishi, Kanehisa, Miyamoto, Komori, Momota, Shinno and Sasaki. After Ito sat down Oda and Nurse Shiokawa entered and sat down.

There were 2 dishes in front of each person, one large dish already filled with rice, one smaller dish already filled with vegetables. There were flowers in the center of the table. To one side there were several empty tea cups, on the other side there was a large bottle of sake. On one side of the table there was a large plate of meat. Ito states that he believes that Komori brought the sake from his own house, that sake was not usually served.

Sake cups were distributed to each person and sake was poured in each cup by, Ito believes, Shiokawa. Everyone then drank his sake. Komori said a toast to the effect that everyone should work together and wished everyone good health.

Ito asked Shiokawa why the special food and wine were being served and she "just laughed" and didn't answer. Komori took a piece of meat from the meat plate, then gave Miyamoto and Momota a piece of meat, picking it up with chopsticks. Kishi then gave Kanehisa and Ito a piece of meat in the same manner, then took one himself. Shiokawa then got up, walked to the side of the table and got the plate of meat, gave Shinno, Sasaki and Oda a piece, then took one herself.

While the meat was being served, Momota, sitting next to Komori, asked Komori what the meat was. "I believe that Komori replied that it was the liver from a PW" Miyamoto then said that if it was the liver from a PW he wasn't going to eat it. Momota then asked Komori if what he had said wasn't a lie. Komori replied that it was the truth and that the liver was from a PW. Oda and Ito

Ito -2

then said that it couldn’t be true. Komori then said "Try it." Following this, everyone, except perhaps Miyamoto, ate the liver, Ito ate some of it. Ito thought that Komori was "kidding us" because he was always exaggerating or fooling people.

Ito believes that Miyamoto did eat of the liver. All ate the dinner, includ­ing the liver and occasional cups of sake. The liver was sliced thin and had been boiled in shoyu sauce. It tasted like regular animal liver.

Statement of Ito (14 July 1947)

Ito repudiates statement of ell July, states that prior to his investigation he had not slept for 2 days or 2 nights, was mentally tired, and under the pressure of interrogation, he fabricated a false story, thinking at that time that it was the truth. First learned that PWs had been sent to KIU for treat­ment in the newspapers in the summer of  1946.

Statement of Miyamoto (23 July 1947) At the meal given for Matake at OCH, fish, tomatoes, rice and sake were served by the nurses.

Present at this meal: Komori, Matake, Kanehisa, Ito, Shiokawa, Reiko, Takeehi, Kishi, Shinno, Asamizu, Momota, Tsurumaru. This was not an ordinary lunch, but a party given for Matake.

Statement of Ogawa (Shiokawa) (4 June 1947) The OCH was taken over by the army about 20 - 23 Feb. 1945. Hospital had 3 Section Chiefs:

        Internal Diseases                  - 2nd Lt. Kgpehisa

        Surgery                                 - PO Komori, assistant was 2nd Lt. Kishi.

        Dentistry                               - Dr. Ito, assistant Dr. Murakami.

Statement of Kamada (23 July 1947) About one week after Kamada was assigned to work at the Kaikosha Hospital, around 28 May, there was a special lunch for Matake, who visited the hospital at that time. Those attending: Miyamoto, Shinno, Kishi, Kanehisa, Komori, Matake, Ito, Sakai, Kamada. Oda might have been there; Kamada believes that Shiokawa served them. Kamada believes Tsurumaru came in late; does remember having a drink with him.

Believes that they ate fish; Kamada ate everything that was served, is quite evasive about human liver— states that he did not know about human liver, if he had known it was human liver he would not have eaten it.

Statement of Oda (16 July 1947) At the human liver dinner: Oda, Komori, Kanehisa, Shinno, Shiokawa, Miyamoto, Sasaki, Momota, Matake, Ito, and a sgt. maj. whose name Oda doesn’t recall. All of these persons ate human liver. PO KOmori said that it was human liver before everyone started to eat, that it was the liver of a PW.

Statement of Oda (17 July 1947) When Oda arrived at the Kaikosha mess hall (about 3 June 1945) there were present: Ito, Shinno, Komori, Matake, Miyamoto, Sasaki, Momota, Shiokawa, and an unknown sgt. maj. (In this statement he does not mention Kanehisa.)

Ito, A.

Statement of Kanehisa (21-22 July 1947) At lunch at OCH, the nurses and perhaps Oda, Asamizu, Shinno, Ito, and Nakamura, the woman dentist, all sat at the table nearer to the entrance.

Kanehisa knows nothing of liver being served at OCH. Kanehisa states that the dishes were simple, that there was not fish at this Matake lunch.

Statement of Ogawa (Shiokawa) (16-18 JUly 1947) Ogawa recollects that there was a special lunch in late May or early June when either Miyamoto or Matake came back frcxn the army for a visit. Ogawa helped serve at that lunch. Present: Komori, Kanehisa, Kishi, Ito, Shinno, Oda, Sasaki and Ogawa believes either Miyamoto or Matake.

Ogawa recalls not meat served.