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Ito heard a rumor that flyers were sent to the Autopsy Section of KIU two or three days after the war from either Murata or Wako. Either Murata or Wako told Ito that Toji had asked permission to be executioner in the 20 June incident. About 1500, 20 June, Ito returned to his office and saw Wako "in a hurry". He then saw Wako at the execution in the nearby Hqs. compound. He doesn't remember what accused did, but heard afterwards that he had that day beheaded some of the flyers. He heard that Sato told Wako to be at the execution. He heard from Wako or Maruta that Yokoyama gave permission for the execution. Wako and Murata told Ito that the Staff Section, with Sato in charge, had jurisdiction of the execution. Wako or Murata told Ito that the Staff Section intended to report to Tokyo that these prisoners had been killed in a fire during the 19 June air raid. Wako or Murata told Ito, after the 1st execution, that the Commanding General had given permission for it. |
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Wako was the senior member of the Western Army Legal Section and was Acting Chief when Ito was absent. About 1400, 20 June, Murata heard from Wako of the execution to be held that day. Wako stated that Sato had ordered him to prepare for the execution of all the Western Army Hqs prisoners. Wako gave the impression that he had talked to the Commanding General, who had given approval, but statement ambiguous as to whether Wako or Sato talked to the Commanding General. Wako said this execution included four flyers up for trial. He further said the execution was to be held in the compound and that it would be better if not too many people saw it; that he, Wako would have some guards dig a pit there. Wako said the Chief of the Legal Section did not know of it. Murata then saw Wako and two guards digging the pit. Wako, as senior member of the Legal Section was also responsible for handling the prisoners - as Chief of Detention Barracks; as agent of the War Dept. through the Commanding General, not Ito, and as such, but not as a member of the Legal Section, he was responsible for the welfare and guarding of the prisoners. After the war Wako burned the detention barracks since the flyers had written on its walls in English. On 20 June Wako had the prisoners lined up and went to his office and came back, said Sato said to take flyers to pit. Wako then ordered the guards to do so. Wako stood near the pit, told Sato he was ready and Wako decapitated the first prisoner and washed his sword - this happened about 1500 or 1530. Wako then decapitated the second prisoner and the last prisoner. At the termination of the 8 or 9 beheadings, Wako reported to Sato that the execution was finished and he ordered detention barracks guards to fill the pit. Ito later asked Wako if there was no mistake about the Commanding General's approval and Wako replied that there was no mistake in answer to Ito's question stated that the four flyers who were to be tried were in the group. Wako told Ito that Sato would report to the War Department that all were killed in the 19 June air raid. Wako claimed that about 24-25 June he heard of the vivisection four or five days earlier from Maegawa. About 10 August, at 1000, Murata heard of the Aburayama execution and he saw the prisoners 20 minutes later at the Air Defense Building (Hirao) leave by truck. About 1300 Ohno and Wako entered into the old Legal Section Office and Ohno related the story of the execution. Wako had been at Aburayama that morning as a witness of a Jap's execution. Ohno said Wako witnessed the execution of the flyers. Wako said Ohno was a very poor executioner. About 1500 or 1600 of 15 August, Wako told Murata the remaining prisoners were to be beheaded at Aburayama and requested Murata to go. Wako ordered the guards to dig up the bodies (of the 20 June execution) and went to Aburayama with the bodies of those executed on 12 August (7 or 8) and 15 of those executed on 15 August were dug up. Wako turned over the bodies to Nakamura at the crematorium (30 to 31 bodies) instructing him to gather some ashes of the 16 and bury at Rokuponmatsu at Fukuoka, since 16 were reported to the War Department as killed in the air raid. About 1900 the bodies were prepared for cremation and obviously burned and the 16 were buried at Rokuponmatsu. Wako said the members of the Staff approved the burning of the Detention Barracks on 18 August. |
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11 Aug 1947, Wako and 9 others were at Aburayama when the prisoners were brought there, being their prior for the execution of a Japanese. Wako said that he was finished with the execution of the Jap and said that the bodies of the prisoners would have to be buried since the crematorium was filled. Itezona believes that Wako followed Tomomori to the place where it was decided to bury the prisoners. When Ohno bungled the second prisoner, Wako showed him how to use the sword. Wako did not question Itezona at the 11 August execution as to the right to carry it out. |
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Captain Wako is mentioned in this ambiguous note of Otsuki and cross reference is made to it. |