Statements Concerning Aihara

Statement of Yoshinao SATO (30 Oct - 8 Nov 1947): Ito got the idea of concealing the executions after the airraid by making a report to Tokyo that the 8 Prisoners had "been killed in the airraid. Murata came to get the names and Sato sent him to AIHARA, who had the list and gave them to Murata to put in the report. AIHARA had a separate list of his own that was not part of the official record, in a thick notebook. In September AIHARA brought the book to Sato and said, “I will burn this. Do you want the names?” Sato said he did not. Later, in Fukuoka Prison AIHARA told him he had burned it.

Sato and AIHARA went to Tokyo about 25 August, say Oya and Kikkawa again. Kikkawa said he was being transferred to Hiroshima, told Sato to stop by there, that he would help. Sato stayed in Tokyo a few days and saw Kikkawa at Hiroshima on way back, he being liaison Officer between the Japanese and Occupation Forces, who said that a report had been sent to the OF that about 10 Prisoners had been killed in the atomic bomb attack and that it would not be possible to report more than 9-10, that he had already told AIHARA about the plan, who had told Fukushima.

AIHARA was told to make the plans reporting that 9 Prisoners had been sent to Hiroshima, made the detailed plans that they had been sent by plane, and gave Sato a copy, which he threw away.

Statement of Masaharu KIKKAWA (l Nov - 6 Nov 1947): On 17 - 18 August Captain AIHARA came to Tokyo, asked Kikkawa what happened to Watkins. Kikkawa called the KT, learned he was at Omori PW camp. He said, Kikkawa believes, that the PWIB had refused him assistance; he was worried about the report Watkkns would give concerning the 6 men of his crew he had last seen at WAH. AIHARA said about 40 flyers had been executed (Kikkawa thought he meant after the war in the Kyushu confusion). Kikkawa stated that Gen. Staff Hq. had nothing to do with the executions, the entire responsibility was that of WA, told Kikkawa to report the executions to Lt. Col. Maki of 2nd Gen. Army Hq., and act under direction of 2nd Central Army.

On 25-26 August AIHARA returned, told him that 2nd Army had refused assistance to Sato, pleaded with Kikkawa to assist in a cover-up. Defendant had already received transfer orders to the Staff Section of the Chu-koku Area Army at Hiroshima, so he told AIHARA he would give some thought to this problem.

Between late December 1945 and 1 January 1946, W . Demob, sent 4 doc'ts to Hiroshima: the-first stated that AIHARA was to be reported with 4-5 KT men as having accompanied the 9 flyers to Hiroshima. This document was sent from the Head of Gen. Affairs Sec. of W. Demob Bureau to the similar head of the Chukoku Demob. The 2nd named 2 of the KT men on the trip. The third contained the names of 6 of the flyers; gave the details of capture (date and place). The 4th contained the names of the remaining 3 flyers with place and date of capture; stated these 3 flyers were "probably" the one.

Statement of Jukiro NAKAO (10 September 1947): Plane survivors were brought to WAH by the KT. Information re name, age, rank, unit and home address was always turned over to Capt. AIHARA of the Staff Sec.

When a flyer was captured AIHARA received notification by telephone and the Air Def. Opr. Sec. would receive notice of the crash and number of survivors; this information would be read by Sato and the Intelligence Section. Nakao would usually be called to the prison, would again ask names, age, rank, position to check the document received by AIHARA from the KT. This information would be used by the Adj. Sec. (JIN), AIHARA and the Intelligence Section, which could so judge who was most important in the crew.

Statement of Koshi YUKINO (18 June 1946): When the PWs arrived they were first registered with Capt. AIHARA, PW Administrator; then sent to Yukino for clothing, feeding and housing AIHARA kept the records concerning them.

In late July, Yukino received a telephone call, he believes from AIHARA, who stated that some Prisoners had arrived. Yukino saw 5 Prisoners in front of the building blindfolded, hands tied behind them, AIHARA in charge.

About 20 July 1945, 2 Prisoners were received; about the 23rd, 3 more; on the 25th 3 more, ail turned over to Yukino by AIHARA.

About 1 August Yukino received from AIHARA 5 Prisoners, about 3 August, 5; on 5 August, 5 more.

About 18 August Kusumoto told Defendant to take the ashes to the Miyoko Temple behind Hakata Station, ordered Defendant to have a new box made since the old one was dirty from being buried, which Yukino did, destroying the old one, giving them to the head priest, telling him that the ashes were of American crew members. The names were written on the outside of the box in Japanese, which Yukino read, having got the list from AIHARA. AIHARA wrote the names of the 16 flyers executed on 15 August in Katakana characters.

Statement of Tokuji ENATSU (23 Sept. - 31 October 1947): Enatsu recalls a 3rd regulation issued by YOKOYAMA that PCS’ were to be confined in the LS detention barracks and guarded and fed by the Adj. Sec. (JIN), that the capturing unit was to make a brief outline of the information re name, rank, age, unit, base of operations, such records to be forwarded to WAH with the PCS’, that they were not to be treated as PWs until cleared. This regulation was slightly revised by AIHARA in March or April and Yakumaru then revised it, submitting it to Yokoyama.

Statement of Tamotsu ONISHI (24 Nov 1947): When the Staff Section interrogated the flyers (through Sato, AIHARA and sometimes Yakumaru) Enatsu of the KT was present.

Statement of Tokuta KONDO (25 November 1947): Yakumaru was in charge of the Staff Section; Kondo was his secretary, made copies of documents; wrote letters and kept files. AIHARA was the adjutant of Yakumaru.

On 16 August 1945, on orders of AIHARA, Kondo burned all that was combustible.

On 20 June 1945, Kondo saw 8-10 Prisoners sitting in the hall (of the main building?). Kondo saw them on the way from Staff Section to telephone communications room. When he returned 3-4 hours later, they were gone. Later that day AIHARA told him they had been executed.

About 10 August Kondo saw approximately 10 Prisoners standing by the LS Detention barracks. On two or three times, Kondo saw Prisoners brought in, 2-3 at a time. About 16-17 August AIHARA, who was at Hirao, told Kondo that all the Prisoners had been executed, to destroy the personal property and papers of the Prisoners, which they did.

Statement of Ikuo TANAKA (21 Nov 1947): In October Sato told Yamaguchi and Tanaka that Prisoners were sent to Hiroshima, thatit had been fixed so that Tanaka was one of the escrot who had gone with AIHARA. Sato told Yamaguchi and Tanaka to see AIHARA for details, who said that 9 Prisoners had been sent to Hiroshima, each with a Jap guard. AIHARA said that he was reported as the rankkng man on the trip and gave details. Pointed out a certain area on a Hiroshima map where the Prisoners died in the atomic bomb attack.

AIHARA explained that Tanaka was to give the prepared story if questioned by the Occupation Forces

Report oh Tracing of Ashes - 5 Nov 1947 (Tait): Yukino had a new box made and transferred the package of ashes to the new box, took to the temple after getting a list of the executed of 15 August from AIHARA.

Statement of Hyozo KITANO ( 21 Jan 1948): A captain from WAH (AIHARA) in late September or early October came to Hiroshima on request after it was heard that an OF investigating team might come to Hiroshima. Kikkawa sent for an Officer from WAH; he did visit Defendant's office, learned later from Kikkawa that this WAH Officer was supposed to have escorted the 9 flyers to Hiroshima. Kitano believes this Captain was taken by Kikkawa to the Americans at Kure re Prisoners of War.

Report from Western Demob to 1st Demob of Investigation of Allied Flyers (8 Apr 47): According to Western Demob, report of 15 December, 9 men were sent to 2nd Gen. Army Hq. under AIHARA, but never received at Hiroshima.

Report from Central Liaison to SCAP as to Officers who served, in Seibu A Dist Hq. (12 Jan. 1948): AIHARA, Kajuro,Capt: Operations Department, Seibu Army - 15 August to 8 September 1945.

Report (Japanese) as to Transfer of B-29 Pilots to Army (possibly written by Yanase) ATIS 36147): Sources of information: Entasu, Yanase,Sato, Yakumaru, AIHARA (who told Enatsu what he saw at the executions).

Statement of ITEZONO (25 Oct. 1946): Addition to Chain of Command and Transmission of Orders: When Sato gave Itezono the orders in the operations room present were Col. SHINOZUKA, SATO, Lt. Col YAKUMARU) Adjutant 1st Lt  HASHIYAMA, AIHARA.

In the afternoon of 7 or 8 August, AIHARA, who was in charge of American airmen, came to Itezono's working place, said there was to be an execution of 8 American airmen at Aburayama the next day and said, "I wonder if you could attend?" Itezono asked Sato in AIHARA's presence if it weretrue that there would be an execution at 0900 the next day, to which Sato replied, “Yes, we will do it. There are many Officers from the raiding force, so why don't you attend?” Itezono said "Indeed then I shall go." AIHARA showed Itezono where Aburayama was and that there was a truck going and they could all ride on it.

Statement of Hyozo KITANO (23 Jan 1948): Telegraphic messages and documentswere exchanged between the two Headquarters and. Kikkawa was dispatched to WAH to deliberate, whereupon it was decided to allege that 9 PWs were sent to the 2nd Gren Army r~Q. in early August, escorted by AIHARA, an NCO, and several soldiers. AIHARA visited the Chugoku Hq. during this period.

Statement of Yoshinao SATO ( 2 February 1948): After the surrender Yokoyama established the WA policy to make every effort to conceal the facts re flyers executed "by WA. Fukushima. was placed in command and Yakumaru, AIHARA and Sato worked under his orders.

AIHARA (Aibara) had accompanied Sato to Tokyo, and Sato had him stop over at Hiroshima on the way home, and Sato went there after a couple of days at home. It seems that KIKKAWA (Yoshikawa) exerted his utmost at Hiroshima to take over the flyers who died at WA. The Central District Army had already reported to the Occupation Forces Investigation Corps the number of flyers who died in the Hiroshima area before KIKKAWA's arrival, something less than one score, so it was impossible for Hiroshima to take care of all the flyers. KIKKAWA and SATO then agreed to make it 9 persons (which would be under 10), and Sato returned to Fukuoka, sent AIHARA to Hiroshima for further detailed instructions. Sato did speak to KIKKAWA about the flyers who had been killed at KIU, probably around September.

Statement of Katsuya YAKUMARU (.2 February 1948): The drafting of the false report on the air crew members deaths by bombing was discussed by SATO and WAKO after the 20 June execution. SATO ordered AIHARA to be responsible for the drafting of the plan; showed YAKUMARU the original copy and explained the situation, and YAKUMARU bad no alternative but to take it to FUKUSHIMA for approval and then take steps to forward it.

YAKUMARU first became aware of it through AIHARA, reported it then to FUKUSHIMA.

Statement of Masaharu KIKKAWA (YOSHIKAWA) (so Feb 1948): KIKKAWA first learned about the execution of airmen about 16 August when AIHARA first asked for aid at the PWIB and the 6th Sec., where KIKKAWA saw him in HIGASHI's office, asked him what he wanted, Whereupon he said that WAH killed about 40 Prisoners and would like to know what happened to WATKKNS. AIHARA then asked if KIKKAWA would help him conceal the WA executions. KIKKAWA refused the request of AIHARA.

About 25 August AIHARA returned , said that SATO had been to 2nd Army, that SATO and MAKI went to the Hiroshima KT, saw Col. KAGAHAMA, who refused to take responsibility, SATO then returning to WAH informed AIHARA.

Statement of Masaharu KIKKAWA (17 Feb 48): AIHARA first came to Sec 6 of Gen Staff 16-17 August; formerly went to FWIB. AIHARA told KIKKAWA approximately 40 PWs were killed at WAH at termination of war; that 1 of 7 taken at Kumamoto was sent to Gen Staff (WAtkins); afriad he would talk so asked KIKKAWA to investigate whether alive or not. AIHARA asked Gen Staff to help, said he had not reported to Army.

About mid-Feb 46 KIKKAWA was ordered by 1st Demob to report names of escort,based it on WAH document naming AIHARA and 10 others.

Statement of Tokuji ENATSU (31 Mar 48): About Mar 45 flyers were sent directly to Tokyo without investigation; this regulation prepared by AIHARA and corrected by YAKUMARU.

Interview with SATO 20 Sep 48: AIHARA was under YAKUMARU's command and never under SATO's.

Statement of Tatsuo ITEZONO (1 Oct 45? )i On 7-8 Aug AIHARA came to ITEZONO, said tomorrow at 0900 8 prisoners would be executed at Aburayama; "please attend the execution"; ITEZONO asked permission of SATO, who agreed. AIHARA said. "We will be expecting you there."