OGAWA, YASU [Marginal Note: (KIU) ] Statement of Ogawa (27 June 1947) 64, female, is in charge of the University building where funeral services are held for those who die at the hospital and when the relatives want the services held there; cleans and makes arrangements for priests when desired. In April or early May 1945, (before 20 June) Ogawa saw American PWs brought to the University Anatomy Section. Her home is 40' from the back-end of the anatomy building at the University medical college. There is a little area just outside where cars can park, Ogawa saw a truck with about 4-5 Japanese soldiers near it, also a person she took for an American PW, quite tall and slender and, she believes, with red hair. He was blindfolded. A soldier was pushing the Prisoner from behind, taking him into the anatomy building; it looked as though he was being supported by the soldier. About 10 days later, Ogawa heard a truck stop by her house, saw an army truck and several Japanese soldiers leading 2 men she believes to be American PWs to the anatomy building. Both were quite tall, one heavier, blind folded. The soldiers seemed to be leading them into the building. The Prisoners' hair was reddish color. Within a week of the 2nd time, Ogawa again saw a truck stop outside her house on the road running past, saw several Japanese soldiers jump out of the truck. There were 2 Prisoner already on the ground, blindfolded, quite tall, their hair reddish or blond and long; they were led into the anatomy building. The last time Ogawa saw Prisoners was about a week after the 3rd time. 3 American Prisoners were lying down in the truck and as the truck stopped the soldiers had them jump off the truck, and they helped the Prisoners down and immediately led them toward the anatomy building. They were tall, blindfolded, did not seem to be drugged, thinks they could have walked by themselves if they were not blindfolded, as was true in the other 3 instances. Ogawa saw no Prisoners that looked as if they were wounded. Every time some of the soldiers came out after the Prisoners were led in, got in the truck and drove away, left within 10 minutes each time, and she doesn’t remember seeing any other cars come back later. A few weeks ago (June 1947 ?) Uriyu asked Ogawa if she had seen American PWs brought into the Anatomy Building during the war. She told him about seeing the Prisoners go in but hadn’t seen any come out. Uriyu said that was good information, that no one seemed to know anything about it, that if questioned by the occupation forces she should tell the truth. Ogawa works for the pathology section; Hanafusa, in the Medical College Administration Office, was her superior; only instructed her when to take charge of the house where funeral services were held. Ogawa doesn't really know that the persons were American PWs; they were tall, light haired, light complexioned, looked like Americans she had seen in Fukuoka before the war. They were not Japanese. Ogawa is certain of the 1, 2, 2, 3, order. |