Statement Concerning Kusumoto

Statement of Kusumoto (20 August 1947)

48, RA, made major in 1944, was junior adjutant of WA from 1942 to discharge in December 1945, then employed at Western Demobilization Bureau until arrested. Jin became senior adjutant at the end of April 1945. As ordered by the senior adjutant, Kusumoto handled the personnel administration, of NCOs and lower ranking officers of WA, the personnel administration of the civilians attached to WAH, was aide de camp to the Chief of Staff, was responsible for the handling of documents at Headquarters, was in charge of the incoming and outgoing mail, the army horses, the civilians attached to the army who guarded the entrances to the headquarters, the food supplies and sleeping quarters for headquarters personnel, was acting adjutant when the senior adjutant was absent.

The senior adjutant (Jin) was responsible for the adjutant section and internal administration affairs of headquarters, oversaw the work done in his section, was responsible for food and quarters for personnel of headquarters. The duties of internal administration are: The feeding and housing of headquarters personnel, the preservation of headquarters buildings, the cleaning of the headquarters area, charge of the headquarters automobiles, the handling and guiding of persons coming for headquarters interviews, housing of headquarters guests, prevention and extinguishing of fires started in headquarters by air raids.

Kusumoto had no duties or responsibilities regarding PWs or captured fliers, except for aiding and advising Jin, until 26 June 1945. 1st Lt. Goiyama was responsible for handling the adjutant section duties regarding PWs, was directly responsible to Jin. After 26 June 1945 Capt. Yukino was responsible directly to Kusumoto. Jin, who had gone to Futsukaichi with part of headquarters, still held the supreme responsibility in the adjutant section duties regarding PWs.

Duties of Adjutant Section regarding PWs and captured fliers; Provision of a prison and guards, military and civilians attached to the army; feeding of the Prisoners, provision of proper medical treatment for Prisoners. Adjutant Section could not release or intern Prisoners without orders from the staff section. (Jin) The Adjutant Section officer responsible for PWs and captured flyers (Goiyama, then Yukino) would receive orders regarding the Prisoners directly from the staff section, and he would then carry them out and then report this to the senior adjutant (Jin) or in his absence to Kusumoto,

Adjutant Section Officers prior to 26 June 1945:

Lt, Col. Jin: senior adjutant.

Kusumoto: junior adjutant.

Capt. Minami: 3rd in command, aide de camp to Yokoyama.

1st Lt. Nakamura: officer in charge of headquarters soldiers,

1st Lt. Goiyama: officer in charge of WA personnel records and Adjutant Sec­tion duties regarding PWs and captured flyers.

2nd Lt. Oguri: officer in charge of headquarters motor pool and aide-de-camp to Lt. Gen. Isa.

2-6 June 1945 part of headquarters went to Yamae, including Jin, Minami, Goiyama and an unknown captain. Kusumoto, Yukino, in charge of the Adjutant Section duties regarding PWs and captured flyers, Nakamura, Oguri, and

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1st Lt. Nishimi, who was there a short time and supervised the cleaning of headquarters, remained in Fukuoka.

In about February 1945 the headquarters was divided into a tactical faction, called the 16th Area army, and the non-tactical, or governmental faction called the Western Area Army. The 16th Area Army and part of the WA non- tactical faction moved to Yamae, leaving a small staff in Fukuoka to super­vise that area and to maintain dealings with the Fukuoka ken office and the internment of the headquarters Prisoners.

In about the last week of April 1945 Goiyama reported to Kusumoto that about 8 Prisoners, captured flyers, had been imprisoned at WAH, that one was wounded in the chest or shoulder and that Komori had gone in the truck to Hakata Sta­tion, where the Prisoners were to be picked up, to treat the Prisoners with about 3 Kempei Tai. Some time after mid May, Goiyama told Kusumoto that Komori, acting on Sato's orders, had injected ether to a flyer and had sent him to the University the day before.

2-3 days later Sato came to the adjutant section, said laughingly that a very good medicine appeared to have been made at the Officers Club Hospital. 2-3 days later Komori told Kusumoto that he was making a medicine which was very effective against bed bugs and one that was very good for humans, that he would like to try the bed bug medicine in the headquarters soldiers' barracks, that the medicine he was making for humans was one obtained from the liver of a captured flyer during experimental operations at KIU, that he used blood taken from a captured flyer to make the bed bug toxin, that the liver he had intended to use to make a medicine for humans had become rotten and he was unable to use it. Kusumoto asked him why he did such a thing; he laughed and left.

Oguri reported to Kusumoto in mid May 1945 that he had sent by order of Sato, a truck to KIU to take captured flyers there. As Kusumoto recalls, Oguri re­ported that flyers had been taken to the University twice after this. Kusu­moto never questioned him as to why they were so sent.

The security of the captured fliers was the responsibility of the senior adju­tant (Jin) although Kusumoto aided and advised him. Kusumoto doesn't know whether the flyers came back or not, doesn't think he carried out his respon­sibility to aid and advise as to the Prisoner's security. Kusumoto did re­port to Jin what Oguri had reported to him in mid May on the same day, re­ported the other two occasions, but perhaps not on the same day. Jin said, "That is all right," appeared to know that the fliers were taken to the University.

When Goiyama told Kusumoto that Komori had injected ether in the flyers and taken them to the University, Kusumoto realized they would not return. If the flyers were to have been given medical treatment, it would have been given at headquarters; Kusumoto decided something was going to happen at the University and that there was no intention for the flyers to return, having been given ether. [Marginal Note: no]

In an advisory and aiding capacity to Jin, it was Kusumoto's responsibility to see that the flyers were given proper medical treatment, Kusumoto didn't

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report the ether incident to Jin since it was a thing of the past, didn’t think he was interested, thought a report was made to him since Goiyama was directly under Jin and naturally would have reported this matter to him. Kusumoto doesn’t recall talking to Jin about experimental operations, but a day or so after Goiyama’s story, Kusumoto talked to Jin about the fact that something had happened to the flyers at the University, Jin said, "Is that so?" Kusumoto realised that experimental operations were conducted when Komori told him of the medicines he had gotten during experimental operations. Kusumoto didn’t ask Komori in detail about the operations. Kusumoto didn’t talk to Jin about this, believes Komori reported this to him, because of Jin’s responsibility regarding the captured flyers.  [Marginal Note: no ]

In mid May 1945 Kusumoto heard that a document or telegram had been received from Tokyo that it was no longer interested in captured flyers, and that dis­position of these persons would be conducted by the army headquarters. On 20 June, 8 captured B-29 members were executed on WAH grounds. Kusumoto knew nothing about them at the time.

On 17 August Captain Wako telephoned Kusumoto and asked for about 60 soldiers to destroy the jail in which the captured flyers had been held. Kusumoto asked him for what purpose; he replied that the building must not be allowed to stand as it was. Kusumoto gave him the men. Kusumoto heard that Wako and Murata directed the men in destroying the building.

In early September Sato called for Aihara and Kusumoto to appear before him, gave him orders regarding the plan of concealment. At this time Kusumoto heard about the execution of 8 flyers at the jail behind the LS, At this time Kusumoto also heard of the KIU affair, that the jail was destroyed to conceal the executions which had taken place in the jail. Sato told them that 8 flyers had been killed at KIU.

Kusumoto heard Sato tell Aihara that the KIU affair must be kept secret, that he should say if investigation that the 8 flyers killed at KIU had been sent to the 2nd army, that he would contact 2nd army (Hiroshima), as to the rest of the Prisoners he was to say that 2 heavy bombers had come to Mushiroda Airport, Fukuoka, on the evening of 17 August from the headquarters of the Tokyo Chief of Staff and picked up the Prisoners. [Marginal Note: no ]

Sato said that Kusumoto should assert that the Prisoners were taken by truck from WAH to Mushiroda Airport, that Kusumoto would be responsible for the details, that they should say that these 2 planes were suicide planes that crashed into the ocean. Aihara and Kusumoto told Sato they would not carry out these lies, but he said this plan of concealment had been decided upon by higher officers and was ordering them.

In November 1945 Ito told him 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.

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On the way to Sugamo in August 1946, Toji, a finance section captain, told Kusumoto that on 20 June he had executed 2 fliers on order of Sato at the flyers’ jail, that Wako had executed some of them, that there were 2-3 others that executed the flyers, that Murata and others were present, that he thot at that time that they had been tried by court martial but learned differently later, that before his arrest Sato told him to hide or be arrested and he answered he was not worried because he had only acted on Sato’s orders.

On 12 July (sic) the adjutant section was busy preparing to move headquarters from the Kaminohashi Headquarters to caves at Hirao on the .outskirts of Fukuoka. At 1600 Yukino told Kusumoto that Itezona ("Idezono") had given him orders from the Staff Section to give him 11-12 captured flyers. Yukino said he had given him the Prisoners 3-4 hours earlier, that it seemed they were being taken to Aburayama, presumably to be executed. (On 13-14 July the headquarters moved to the Hirao caves) On about 16 July Kusumoto reported to Jin, stating, "There were some executions of fliers at Aburayama on 12 July 1945." Jin answered, "Is that so?"

In February 1946, when Oki was investigating the case, Kusumoto heard from Oki that the authority for the executions had come from Tomomori,' that the directing officer at the scene was Maj. Itezona (Idezono), that he, Itezona, used NCOs of his unit to perform the executions, that they were performed by the sword, bow and arrow, karate, and other means, that Itezona had told him this.

About 10 days later Tomomori came down from Tokyo to the Fukuoka Demobiliza­tion Bureau. Yakumaru told Kusumoto he was being investigated by Oki regard­ing the 12 July executions, that Tomomori denied he ordered the executions, that he and Itezona were brought together and it was determined that Itezona had lied and that Sato had ordered Itezona to state this,and that it was further determined that Sato had ordered the executions on 12 July.

On 13 August Kusumoto heard the rumor of the end of the war; the staff section had been excited about something for 3 days prior. Kusumoto heard definitely about the end on 14 August, and on that afternoon was called into Hirao WAH by Fukushima, and he and Tomomori said that the occupation army would pro­bably soon be landing at Hakata, and that it would be necessary for the adjutant section to prepare to move the remainder of the headquarters at Hirao to Yamae. On the way to the original Kaminohashi Headquarters to hear the Emperor's speech at noon Yukino said there were 13-14 captured flyers left at the jail at Kaminohashi Headquarters, wondered where they would be sent, asked Kusumoto to ask Sato about this. Sato told Kusumoto he would take care of the disposition of captured flyers, but for Kusumoto to wait a moment.

Sato went upstairs to Fukushima's room. Fukushima was in it as Kusumoto went by to the staff room, which was used as an assembly to hear the Emperor. Sato then contacted Kusumoto, sent a messenger for 1st Lt. Hashiyama, the staff section document officer. They then went downstairs to Sato's office. Sato said to give the captured flyers from B-29s to Hashiyama, and Kusumoto left, passed the order to Yukino. Kusumoto then listened to the radio announce­ment, a speech by Isa, then met Sato, who said to tell Yukino to make coffins for the flyers and give them to Yukino, which Kusumoto passed on, then went to Hirao headquarters.

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On the evening of 15 August, Kusumoto heard from Yukino that the flyers had been executed at Aburayama, that the officers of the Staff Operations Section under Sato, were present, that the coffins had been made in the Finance Section room, that he had given them to Hashiyama. 2-3 days later Kusumoto reported to Jin that executions of flyers had taken place at the headquarters on 15 August. Jin only answered, "Is that so?"

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 attended 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.

2-3 days later Murata said he asked Tomomori what should be done with the ashes, and he ordered him to throw them into the ocean, and he had taken some headquarters soldiers in a truck and carried them to the ocean where he had thrown them out. Before Kusumoto heard this from Murata, 1st Lt. Nakamura had brought Kusumoto a box which he said contained the ashes which he had taken from a box of ashes he and Murata had brought back to the LS from Abura­yama, that he had been directed by Sato to bury these at Hirao. Kusumoto approved of this, sug ested that a cross be mounted over the spot where the bone ashes were buried. Nakamura said the ashes would soon be the same as earth , so it would not be worthwhile placing a cross over the grave.

About 20 August Yukino told Kusumoto that Sato had ordered him to go to Aburayama and collect the bone ashes of the 8 flyers cremated and to take them to a temple behind Hakata Station, (Sofukuji), that he knew that Murata and Naka­mura had already got all the ashes from the crematory, thought that Murata had thrown all into the ocean (Kusumoto doesn’t think that he knew that Nakamura had brought some of the ashes to Kusumoto.), that when Yukino informed Sato that all of the 'ashes of the flyers had been thrown in the sea by Murata, Sato told him to go to Aburayama anyway and get ashes amounting to 8 men, that he, Yukino, brought back a box of ashes he found at the crematory, left them at the temple as instructed, and a few days later Sato told him that the ashes should not be left at the temple, that he should go and get them.

This time Yukino brought the box of ashes from the temple to Kusumoto, said that he had been ordered to do so by Sato. Kusumoto said he didn’t know how they should be disposed of, ordered him to take them back to the temple, pre­sumes that he did, believes Yukino so informed Sato.

About a week after Yukino finally took the ashes back to the temple, Kusumoto told Jin that the bodies of the flyers had been cremated at Aburayama, that Murata had thrown most of the/ashes in the ocean, but that a small part had been taken to a temple, and another small part had been buried.

About 20 September WAH moved from Kaminohashi to the Kego National Primary Schoo. About 23 September Fukushima told Kusumoto he would have to assume responsibility for transporting the captured flyers at Kaminohashi to Mushiroda

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Airport, where it was to be stated that they had been placed on suicide planes. He then asked him detailed questions as to how many lunches he had giver the flyers, what they consisted of, where the truck had left from, etc. Kusumoto said this would be too difficult for him, asked him to pass the res­ponsibility to someone else, but Fukushima said that this was an order.

In November 1945, at headquarters, Fukushima ordered everyone with a part in the concealment plan to turn in a statement telling exactly what they would say they had done after the 2 heavy bombers had come from the Chief of Staff office in Tokyo to get the captured flyers. Fukushima turned back Kusumoto's, said it was not good enough, that he should rewrite it. Kusumoto tried 3 times, told Fukushima it was too difficult, requested that he report the truth, but he said the plan had been decided upon by higher Officers. Kusumoto asked him what would happen to Yukino, who had charge of the flyers, and Fuku­shima said that if he didn't agree, the plan would not be successful, that Kusumoto should go to .his house and ask him about it.

2-3 days later, Kusumoto went to the house of Yukino at Kumamoto, discussed the idea of telling the truth and they decided that, after discussing the matter with higher officers, they would ask them to tell the truth about the execu­tions and University operations. .. Kusumoto then went to Fukushima, told him this, and he became angered, that Kusumoto must abide by the plan ordered by higher officers, that even if the plan were discovered it would mean no trouble to Kusumoto.

Fukushima then went to see Yukino, told Kusumoto he was sick, that Yukino at 1st refused to comply, but that he said that if so acted, all the efforts of higher officers would be wasted and requested him to state that on 17 August he had, by order of Sato turned over all the flyers to Kusumoto.

In January 1946, Kusumoto was interrogated briefly by the CIC as to the Mushiro­da Airport story, which Kusumoto said was correct, stated he had been ordered to say this because he was close to the headquarters where the investigation would be conducted, realizing at the time that a report, had been made that the Mushiroda Airport story,was false.

In November 1945 Oguri said that the attempts of concealment of the staff sec­tion would mean trouble for the members of the adjutant section, Jin, who was working in the documents section of Western Demobilization Office, also disliked the idea of hiding the KIU operations and the executions, did not approve of the concealment plan.

About 2-3 days before the end of the war, after the bombing of Kurume, 4 cap­tured flyers were brought to WAH— at the time Yukino said he was instructed by staff section to prepare the jail for 5 more Prisoners, that he first went to the entrance of the headquarters building to see the 5 flyers, then went to prepare the jail. During his absence Yukino told Kusumoto that Tomomori had ordered some flyers standing near the entrance to beat the flyers, that they were beaten with closed fists, that they did not appear to have been beaten very severely. On his return, he saw all the Prisoners standing in the middle of a group of headquarters personnel. Yukino was told that Tomomori had ordered the flyers to be beaten, so each had been hit a few times. Yukino ordered the crowd away, received the flyers officially from the staff,section and put them in jail. Kusumoto reported this matter to Jin the next day.