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S/D (9-11 August 1948 by Sartiano and Baba) Alias Shuji Uyeno, Air Defense Unit. WAH Staff Sec from April 1944, demobilized in December 1945 (Sgt. Maj.), under Col. SATO with immediate superior 1st Lt. Ichiro MAIDA, also in Air Defense Unit: 1st Lt. Teruo AKAMINE, 1st Lt. Nobour HASHIYAMA, 2 unknown 2nd Lts. Sgts. Maj. TSUCHIYAMA, Yoshio MICHIKUPA, Suekatsu MATSUKI, Mitsushige INOUYE, Yoshio OHTSU, Sgts. MIAYSHITA and Miyeki NAKAMURA and one unknown and Cpl. Masaji NAGOAKA. At noon 15 August, all WAH personnel assembled in staff room to hear Emperor except commissioned Os. Defendant then went back to 2nd floor of air defense building with colleagues and MAIDA stated there was to be an execution of PCS’ named TSUCHIYAMA, MATSUKI, INOUYE, NAGAOKA and Defendant to be there, to entruck at detention barracks, where they went at 1330. There were 16 - 17 pcs blindfolded, hands tied in back, plus 3-4 POs from the Guerrilla Unit, HASHIYAMA, MAIDA, AKAMINE and Ensign HIRAHATA plus 7 - 8 guards totaling 35-38 persons on the truck. They left about 1400, arrived at Aburayama about 1430, lined in single row at field at which time SATO, 1st L t . Nakayama and Sachiko Ishimura arrived. The Prisoners and Japs separated into four groups. MAIDA directed the execution. The 1st group was headed by AKAMINE, included MATSUKI and TSUCHIYAMA. The 2nd group was headed by MAIDA, included HIRAHATA and NAGAOKA. The 3rd group was headed by HASHIYAMA, included INOUYE and Defendant. The 4th group had 3 - 4 POs. The flyers and POs in their group went to the wooded section of the South side. In Defendant’s group, he believes HASHIYAMA was the 1st beheader at the SE corner of the field. MAIDA's group was in thevooded section at the edge of the field. AKAMINE's group was in the middle of the field. Defendant believes the other groups started the executions simultaneously. Defendant could not see MAIDA's group or the PO group. HASHIYAMA paid his tribute to the PCS, did not entirely decapitate him, but he died instantly. HASHIYAMA beheaded the 2nd, Defendant then lowered his head to pay tribute to the flyer and completely decapitated him. (No pit) INOUYE decapitated the 4th, not quite severing the head. Before Defendant performed, NAKAYAMA gave an exhibition as to how it should be done, at which time SATO said all should watch explained the short, fast, jerky swing, beheaded the PCS (head not quite completely decapitated.) NAKAYAMA followed him. After the execution, all assembled and. SATO told MAIDA he would leave the rest up to him. On the way back a PO said karate had been used on some of the Prisoners. Executioners Defendant actually saw behead: NAKAYAMA, HASHIYAMA, INOUYE, AKAMINE. Executioners Defendant knows of but didn’t see perform: MAIDA, TSUCHIYAMA, MATSUKI, NAGAOKA, 3-4 POs. MAIDA said he killed two; TSUCHIYAMA and MATSUKI said, the POs killed 3-4. NAGAOKA said HIRAHATA killed 1. TSUCHIYAMA said he executed 1, MATSUKI executed 1; NAGAOKA said he killed 1; Defendant saw HASHIYAMA kill 2; NAKAYAMA 2, INOUYE 1. Defendant believes AKAMINE executed 2; Defendant killed 1, total of 17-18. Defendant was ordered by MAIDA to execute a B-29 flyer, did not protest. KUBOYAMA - 2 In August 1946 TSUCHIYAMA told Defendant he was going into hiding. Before Defendant went into hiding, INOUYE, NAGAOKA, MATSUKI and Defendant assembled at house of NAGAOKA and decided to leave separately. |