Statements Concerning Soda

SOTA, RYUZO (could be Soda, Ryozo) (could be Hayada)

Statement of Sota (420, 15 May 47)

26, a government R.R. clerical worker. Joined army in 1943, went to China, Tokyo Military Legal School in 1944, then went to Western Army Headquarters as OC in LS, as prosecutor in cases assigned by Wado regarding Japanese soldiers.

LS personnel:

L t. Gen. Ito, chief

Capt. Wako

1st L t. Murata

1st L t. Yoshida

2nd Lt. Ono

OC Shimomitsu

OC Saito

OC Onishi

Sota, Ryuzo

Sgt. Maj. Sanui

Sgt. Kakitani (Nakitani (?))

Sgt. Oka

Sgt. Uemura

Sgt. Nakamura

Sgt. Managi

Sgt. Araki

Cpl. Muto

Cpl. Abiru

etc.

Studied international law in school and army, rules of land warfare in army, never proceeded vs. flyers. On capture of a fly e r, the KT would bring him to Headquarters Intelligence Section where interrogated. Prosecution would investigate and if sufficient evidence, report sub­mitted to Tokyo War Department (WD) LS for permission to try . The CG appointed prosecutor who was head of the Military Commission that conducted trial. Offense: indiscriminate bombing. Only one investi­gation was ever made— by Murata on a flyer, but WDLS never granted permission. Sota heard this flyer executed without trial, with 8 others, but did not witness it. Heard of it on return from 57th Army (gone 16 June to 12 July 1945) from Wako, Murata, and others.

Heard: 20 June 1945, 9 flyers executed in Western Army Headquarters compound. Sato, of Intelligence.Section in charge. Wako beheaded 3, Toji 3. Sgt, Ikeda of Headquarters Section executed one, doesn't know about other 2. Wako told Sota he executed 3. Heard flyers buried, later cremated about time war ended.

Present at 20 June execution:

Sato

Wako

Saito

Shimomitsu

Toji

Ikeda.

Sota (Hayada) - 2 -

There was a military commission appointed to try these flyers, but not brought to trial.

Ito told Sota that Sato executed these flyers on his own order. Yokoyama must have known about it. Heard from some that Ito was present, from others that he was not.

Before 16 June, when Sota left Western Army Headquarters for 57th Army, talked to Komori during a drinking party in May at Kaikosha Bldg., told him nothing as to KIU, but after war heard that experiments were conducted at KIU on flyers from Ito, resulting in the death of flyers, this told Ito by Komori.

About 40 flyers confined at Western Army.

Sota witnessed execution of American flyers at Aburayama in beginning of August. About 0900 Sota went there to witness execution of a Japanese corporal by firing squad. About 1000 the flyers brought from Western Army Headquarters by truck, accompanied by Col. Tomomori, Ma. Enatsu, Maj. Itezono, 2nd L t. Nakamura, all of Headquarters section, and 1st Lt. Yoshida, 2nd Lt. Ono, and OC Shimomitsu and Sota from LS. Also more than 10 young O fficers and OCs from Headquarters section, about 10 guards to prevent people watching execution.

Because of air raids, Sato stayed at headquarters and Tomomori was in charge. A hole was dug while flyers kept blindfolded 30-40-yards away. Sota about 20 yards away from execution. Flyers led one by one to hole, where made to assume a kneeling position, leaning forward and facing hole. Yoshida beheaded one, Ono two. Rest done by Officers and OCs from headquarters section.

Tomomori ordered one who was proficient in "karate" who only succeeded in rendering flyer unconscious, flyer was then beheaded. Col. Tomomori and Maj. Itezono ordered Otsuki from Headquarters Section to fix bow and arrow and h it flyer from a distance of about 5-6 yards. The 1st arrow scratched the flyer, 2nd missed, and flyer .beheaded by an OC. About 10 flyers executed, buried, party returning about 1200. During executions, Tomomori gave a drink of whisky to each of persons who participated in the executions.

Next execution on 15 August after Emperor*s speech. Sota didn't wit­ness it, having been moved to Hirao Mt. on 8-9 August with rest of LS. Heard these bodies cremated along with bodies previously executed.

After War ended, Wako told Sota not to say anything about executions.

Statement of Saito (420, 15 May 47) Soda, Ryozo (Sota, Ryuzo or Hayada) member of LS.

In early August an execution took place at Aburayama. On a return visit to former headquarters saw truck leave headquarters with about 10 flyers, 30-40 people on truck.

Persons present who went to execution: OC Hayada (Sota or Soda)

Sota (Hayada) - 3 -

Statement of Saito (420, 15 May 47) Cont’d ..Saito did not see this incident(execution in early August), heard that after the execution of some Japanese criminals, the flyers were beaten and shot at with bow and arrows and then beheaded. Hayada (Sota) and Otsuki told Saito of this.