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NODA, TOSHIO [Marginal Note: (KIU) ] Statement of Toshio [Marginal Note: NODA] (18 July - 4 August 1947) 22, student at Attached Medical College at KIU. Hired to work in Anatomy Section in June 1944, entered medical college in July 1945. A Japanese army guard told one of the professors that the Prisoners to be operated on were captured American B-29 flyers. Noda was on his way to the latrine, located next to the autopsy room, overheard this. Noda believes this professor was Makino; at that time the guard was taking the Prisoners to the Autopsy room. Noda attended 2 operations on Prisoners, the first in early afternoon in the middle of May. Noda saw 4 Japanese soldiers carrying 2 American Prisoners on a stretcher, entering the building near the sutopsy room. It seemed that the Prisoners were unconscious. In the autopsy room were Ishiyama, Hirao and Torisu. They were talking to each other; Noda continued to the latrine, saw the Prisoners on return. The Prisoners were not blindfolded, or tied, believe they had on green uniforms. Noda returned to his room. About a week later, about 1400, Noda was again going to the latrine, noticed a Japanese army truck parked at the rear of the anatomy section, saw 2 Japanese soldiers and Komori escort 2 American PWs into a room next to the autospy room. The Prisoners were blindfolded, guided by the Japanese soldiers, walked from the rear of the anatomy section to the autopsy room, did not appear to be ill, no wounds visible. Noda went to the latrine, then entered autopsy room. [Diagram depicting operating room at KIU, including two operating tables surrounded by Hirao, Ishiyama, Komori, Torisu, unnamed nurse, unnamed nurse holding operating lamp, Noda, Goshima, Tanaka, Makino, and two staff officers] NODA -2- Noda walked to the dissecting tables where the Prisoner was being operated on. An incision consisting of a'straight line over the nipple of the left breast to the 2nd rib, about 20 centimeters in length was held opened with a retractor by Komori. Ishiyama was tying some blood vessels near the heart. Torisu, Makino, and Goshima were watching. Ishiyama then began operating on the Prisoner's heart, removed pieces from the heart. The Prisoner was breathing, was under anesthesia. Ishiyama then started operating on the right lung of the same Prisoner, cut out the lower part of lobe, then cut the apex lobe of the right lung. The entire right lung was then cut out and removed, Komori helped him. If something had been wrong with the right lung it would have been customary to deflate the lung. 1st. time Noda saw an entire lung removed. There were 2 coffins in the autopsy room when the PWs were still alive. Noda then left, but just before he left noticed Hirako watching the operation. Komori assisted in operating on 1 Prisoner by checking the bleeding by applying hemostats, helped cut the lung and parts of the heart. Noda believes Torisu only watched the operation. Hirao assisted Ishiyama on one PW by helping him cut parts of the Prisoner’s heart. One nurse handed the instruements to Ishiyama, another held the operating lamp. 2 staff officers witnessed the operation, conversed with Ishiyama. Noda witnessed the operation. When Noda left, Ishiyama and Komori were still examining the area, the incision was still open, the patient alive. The 2nd Prisoner lay on the dissecting table in the autopsy room while the other Prisoner was being operated, appeared unconscious. Noda then went to his room, next to Hirako's. Later that day Makino ordered Noda to sweep the autopsy room floor. Present were Makino, Goshima, Tanaka, Komori, Torisu and Hirao on his return. The 2 Prisoners were lying on the dissecting table dead. Makino was working on the head of a Prisoner on the dissecting table in the far right side of the room. There was a cut across the forehead extending to each ear. Makino was sawing off the scalp just below the hairline. Tanaka was helping Makino cut the Prisoner!s scalp, held the head still while Makino sawed through the skull. Goshima was working around the chest of another Prisoner. There was a retracted incision on the Prisoner’s chest. Hirao and Torisu were there with Goshima. Goshima reached into the incision and cut out something that looked like a hose about 3" long, 1" in diameter. Hirao and Torisu seemed only to be watching, talking to each other. Komori was holdihg a square container containing a liver and blood. The doctors placed the organs removed in glass containers, took them to their rooms. Goshima took part of a large artery from the region of the heart. Tanaka took a human brain, (not the entire head?) When Noda left the room, the doctors were still cutting organs. One PW had an incision in his forehead, Noda believes, so that Makino and Tanaka could remove NODA -3- the brain. There was also an incision on the Prisoner’s chest, open. The 2nd Prisoner had an open incision from the base of the neck to the bottom of the abdomen. The next day, Noda noticed the bodies of the 2 American PWs in the coffins in the autopsy room near the entrance to the hallway. |