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OTSUKI, TAKASHI [Marginal Note: see "Ohtsuki" ] [Marginal Note: Sugamo 24 Apr 47 ] Statement of Otsuki (2-9 July 1947) Born in 1921, in 1944 was sent to Futamata as a Candidate Officer at a guerrilla warfare school, studying infiltration and camouflage and karate about once a week. In April 1945 he was transferred to Kumamoto Defense Headquarters, then studied Kyushu defense plans, and about end of May taught a small company of soldiers guerrilla warfare for about a month. In June Otsuki was sent to WAH and worked on guerrilla warfare and tactics under Capt. Iwao Kishimoto and Maj. Tatsuo Itezono until 12 August, then worked on civilian defense 2 days, and on 15 August his work consisted of moving supplies until discharged as a 2nd Lt. on 27 August. On the morning of 9 August 1945 Itezono ordered Otsuki to quickly carry cross-bow equipment from his office to Aburayama. Otsuki got in a truck with 8 blindfolded American Prisoners under Japanese guards. 30-40 minutes later, on arrival, Itezono ordered the Prisoners unloaded, taken to the place of execution - about a 5 minutes walk. There were several soldiers from Headquarters Co. under a 2nd Lt. who dug the grave, about 10 Candidate officers, 4-5 1st Lts., about 2 2nd Lts., Otsuki, and Itezono, who had ridden up front in the truck. Aburayama is the spot where Japanese criminals are usually shot at the foot of Aburayama (Mt. Abura). The Prisoners sat down while the grave was being dug. Capt. Wako, 2nd Lt. Ono, and a few NCO's were waiting when they arrived, Itezono talked to them. After the grave was dug, Itezono told Otsuki to prepare the bow and arrow. Otsuki got a soldier to sharpen the arrow. Itezono tested by firing an arrow at a tree, then had Otsuki practice on the tree. Otsuki believes Itezono ordered a 2nd Lt. to cut the head of the first Prisoner. These parties cut off heads. 2nd Lt. Ono (Judiciary) killed 2 Candidate Officer Sadano " 1 1st Lt. Kuroki " 1 Candidate Officer Narasaki " 1 (the 7th one) 1st Lt. Eguchi " 1 1st Lt. (unknown) - of Judiciary " 1 1st Lt. (unknown) " 1 8 8 Prisoners were killed. Probably Ono was the one who stabbed one Prisoner after his neck was cut; Ono had blood on his boots. Everyone commented on Sadano's swordsmanship when fee cut off one head. Itezono ordered Otsuki to shoot the 7th Prisoner with bow and arrow. Otsuki heard that this was to be a demonstration after modern weapons had been used up. Otsuki had been given the custody of about 800 bows and not so many arrows from 2nd Lt. Yamamoto in June 1945. Otsuki never had used a bow before the execution. Itezono said to get up 8-9 meters in front of the Prisoner who was seated on the edge of the grave, to take a sitting position, Otsuki aimed at the Prisoner's head, shot 5 arrows, was tense. After the 2nd arrow either OTSUKI - 2 - Tomomori or Itezono told Otsuki to move 2-3 meters closer. The 4th arrow glanced off the right forehead of the Prisoner to the ground beside him. The 5th missed. The Prisoner sat quietly bleeding a little from the scratch on the head. Tomomori then said to stop. Otsuki then went out to look for the arrows and Itezono said to Candidate Officer Narasaki to "cut off the neck" or "finish it up". Narasaki cut off the Prisoner’s head while he faced the grave. The 8th and last Prisoner was tall, heavily built, was brought out to the center of the area on Itezono's order, who then asked who was the strongest man in the group (the Nakano Military Intelligence School Group from Tokyo). Otsuki believes Candidate Officer Noda then stepped out and began punching left and right blows to the Prisoner's stomach and then kicked him several times in the groin. Then either Candidate Officer Yamagami or Yamanaka also used his fists on the Prisoner a few times. Itezono was coaching in the proper method of striking the Prisoners and told various Candidate Officers to step forward and try karate. Then each of the 6 Candidate Officers took turns punching the Prisoners. Enatsu also demonstrated how to strike, but did not actually hit the prisoner. Maj. Itezono then ordered the Futamata Guerrilla Warfare School group to step forward; Otsuki was the only one present, and he stepped out and struck the Prisoner in the hip with his fist once. At the same time someone else hit the Prisoner, who then became shaky. Otsuki then took the Prisoner’s left arm and helped him up until another took the right side and held him up. Itezono then said to stop. 2nd Lt. Yamamoto then stepped forward and grabbed the Prisoner and kicked him in his testicles several times. Otsuki thinks Tomomori then said stop. After the Prisoner had been led up to the grave and had sat down, Legal Officer, 2nd Lt. Ono, chopped off his head. Someone said the prize would be whisky for all who cut off the heads and Tomomori gave them the whisky, then told them after they had lined up that the men just.killed were not PWs but enemy fighters, were then dismissed. Otsuki then collected 3 arrows, noticed that the grave was covered up, ran to catch up to the truck, returned shortly after noon. On 15 August Otsuki had all the bows and arrows burned under Itezono's orders. |