Statements Concerning Akita

Statement of Yokohama (18 Aug- Aug 47). At Yamae, Lt. Gen. Inada was Chief of Staff, Akita was a member of the Staff.

In the latter part of February 1946, Sato asked to meet Yokoyama at Eriju Hotel, Futsukaichi, said that according to American custom, the CG of the Unit where the atrocities are committed, is executed, so if Yokoyama would commit suicide, it would save a lot of trouble. At this time Sato said he had given the orders for the executions of the flyers using Yokoyama^ name as having given permission. Akita was also w present, Yokoyama taking him as a witness. Sato resented Akita being there.

In middle May 1945, Akita said to Yokoyama, formerly all of the flyers captured were sent to GHQ in Tokyo, but now they want only those who have valuable information. Tokyo Hq. wants us to dispose of those captured airmen who are sent to Tokyo and to rush their trials by Courts Martial.” Yokoyama asked, "do you mean that the trials of the flyers by Courts Martial according to the Military Law pertaining to captured enemy airmen will be rushed?” Akita answered, "yes,they will be given trials by Courts Martial, according to Military Law." Yokoyama then gaye his approval.

Akita was with Sato and Yokoyama at the table at the Enju Hotel, when Sato told Yokoyama that he had ordered the executions using Yokoyama1s name, thinks he heard it. There were certain things that Sato didn't want Akita to hear, so he talked in a low tone, but Akita might have heard some of this. Yokoyama didn’t tell Akita about it.

Statement of Sato (Yoshinao) Atis translation of S/D. Until March, last year (?) Col. Akita (Sr. Staff Officer who supervised others) had. said that permission had been granted in early May to execute Prisoners without Courts Martial.

Statement of Fukushima (IS August-25 August 47). Chain of command at WA Hq, from April to August. Lt. Gen. Yokoyama, was the CG, Lt. Gen, Inada, C/S, Fukushima received his orders from Inada, had no one under him, Fukushima normally went thru Akita, Sr. Staff Officer of the 1st V Staff Section, but could go to the C/S without going thru Akita, sometimes did.

If papers pertained to the 1st Staff, Akita forwarded them, otherwise he directed them to the proper 2nd Staff Section Officer.

Orders regarding experiments and research would come from the Minstry of Education to the War Minstry, to the Staff Section concerned to the field units, would come thru Akita at WA.

If Sato had important information, needed something,or had an air tactical plan, he told Akita and either he or Akita we̶e̶t to see Inada,

Statemnt of Fukushima contd..». sometimes together. On the organization chart, Sato was a part of both staffs, but officially was on the 2nd Staff, and thus always went thru Akita.

From April 1942 to March 1945, Fukushima was Sr. Staff Officer WA Hq, directly under C / S ,Yoshinaka. Because of the threatened Kyushu invasion, WA Hq was being expanded. Akita a higher ranking officer, took Fukushima’s place, and about 6 weeks later Inada replaced Yoshinaka.

At a similar meeting in October, Inada asked Fukushima if the plan as to the Prisoners was safe, decided that Sato must have told him about the matter, Inada acted as if he didn’t like it. That day or a couple of days later, Sato and Inada began arguing in Inada’s office (with Fukushima present) about the June executions. Fukushima said he had Yokoyama’s permission to kill the Prisoners. Inada didn’t know how such orders could have gone from the CO down, without going thru him. Sato said that Akita knew about it. Inada called in Akita, who said he didn’t know about the order because he was not there, Sato said he had come in the Staff Office, and asked to see Inada, that Akita told him that he wasn’t in. Sato said Akita lied, asked him if he didn’t go into Yokoyama’s office and ask about the Prisoners, which Akita denied. Fukushima then left.

Inada, Akita and Oki were making the investigation and Fukushima thinks they made a report to the CIC before Suzuki’s visit in March 46. Fukushima having heard their talking, although they kept this secret from him.

In June 1945, the Hq was split and part went to Yamae, including Yokoyama, but he was still CGof WA Hg and Yamae. Akita spoke to Inada about the chain of command, who said it would remain as it was, thru telephone liaison. Inada and Akita were at Yamae.

Statement of Honio (25 June 47). Genzaburo Oki headed the Legal Dept from 1 December 1945, to 31 March 1946. In the General Affairs Section, were Akita, Kara, Jin, Kusumoto, Nakatani, Negoro, Yakumaru.

Statement of Isa (30 Sept-2 Oct 47). Akita acting greatly on the advice of Staff Officer Haba, would construct the operational tactics, and aided by Haba would direct the Army Educational plans.

Major Haba acted in an advisory capacity to Akita, in matters pertaining to operational tactics and military eductation.

Statement of Kikkawa (l Nov-6 Nov 47) • Most of Kikkawa’s work was do: with Inenga, Intelligence Staff Officer. Kikkawa also met Yokoyama, Yoshinaka, C/S. (Inada became C/S the day Kikkawa left Hq)??, Akita, Maj Naba, 2nd Lt Yamanaka, and Nakao.

Statement of Oki (9-13 Nov 47). Yoshizumi said that W/A Hq had reported that no flyers were killed there, that this was false, that there must be an investigation. About 15 December 1945, Oyama told Oki that it appeared

Statement of Oki contd ... that Ito was mixed up in it, that Oki should go to Fukuoka and investigate. Oki replacing Ito as head of the Legal Section of Western Demobilization on 17 December. Before this, Ito came to Tokyo, said that Oki would find that he was not connected, contrary to rumor. Before Ito, Akita came to Tokyo, assured that they were making preparations for Oki's arrival in Fukuoka,

Oki arrived in Fukuoka 2 January 1946, conducted the investigations by order of Inada and Nishihara, not as Prosecution Officer, but Chief of Legal Section, investigated the case from 4 January to 15 January, with assistance of Maj Morio Tsukada of Legal Section. On 16 January, Oki ' prepared a report for the Ministry of the 1st Demobilization from chief of Demobilization Bureau, which Inada, Akita, and Nishihara saw, which stated that the report that 31 flyers were not killed at WA Hq, but were placed on a suicide plane disguised as a plane from General Staff Hq, was false, that about B of these were killed at WA Hq on 20 June, B on about 10 August and 15 on 15 August, that Sato, Ito Wako, Idezono, Tomomori, Fukushima and Kusumoto were related to this case. The notes taken while investigation on the case, by Igawa, Tsukada and Oki, were burned on Nishihara's suggestion.

Inada told Oki not to mention the KIU incident in his report, to which Akita agreed. The report was subject to the approval of Inada; Oki discovered that Wako, Toji, Onishi, Satano, Narasaki, Kuroki, Otosu, Capt. Yoshida, Munehiro Ono, Maeda, Akemine, Nakayama and Hashiyama, were executioners of flyers, but Inada would not permit Oki to name them in his report.

Oki then identifies a 16 January 1946 document, as a copy of the Demobilization Ministry report, containing the seals of Oki, Akita, Inada and Nishihara, it was sent out by Nishihara's order. Both Inada and Akita read the report.

This report states that Wako conveyed orders to Ito, who as Chief of Legal Section and Chief of Prosecution of the Tribunal, to try the 4 flyers should have known to be illegal, should have confirmed the intentions of higher authorities and corrected this action, bmt instead approved this measure on the assumption that there had been orders from higher headquarters, but this is enclosed in red parenthesis marks and appears slightly crossed out because Ito became angry when hearing of this told Oki he first knew of the executions on 20 June, when he went to the scene. In middle February 1946, Oki reported this matter the second time, stated the matter as Ito told him with the approval of Akita, Inada, and Nishihara. In this second report, the second execution was reported as 10 August rather than 12 August and it stated that Tomomori went to the scene only as an observer, not as in the first report, which states that Itezono reported the coming execution of 12 August to Tomomori. Tomomori had come to Oki, said he only observed, this in the presence of Idezono, who then said that if Tomomori says that he only came along to watch to state it that way, but after Tomomori left, the room, Idezono stated that Tomomori was the highest ranking Officer present, that this was his way of escaping responsibility.

Statement of Oki contd .... When Oki first arrived at Fukuoka, he suggested that Inada and Nishihara make him a Prosecuting Officer, so the investigation would be easier, and more accurate. But they decided he should do it as Chief of Legal Section, since the facts had not yet been made public. Inada said to hurry it, that he was to find out what he could, but that he, Inada would not ted him what he knows.

Akita was present at this time, Oki then told this to Ayao Oyama, of Legal Section cf 1st Demobilization in Tokyo, who was noncommittal.

Fukushima asked Oki that inasmuch as the case could be covered up why was it being investigated. Oki replied that even the typist at Western Demobilization knew of the affair, that it couldn1t be covered up. Fukushima disliked Inada and Akita (who were friends) said things opposed to Inada. Fukushima had already sent a report to CIC that 31 flyers had been put on a suicide plane, did not want the case investigated.

Statement of Yamamoto (3 Oct 46). About 16 or 17 May 1946, Yamamoto heard from Major Harasaki, that Fukushima, Akita and Sato were Conferring regarding a report they were going to submit to SCAP.

Statement of Nishihara (14-19 July 1947). Inada, Nishihara's C/S, advised Nishihara in the last of November or 1st December, that Sato, Ito and Fukushima had something to do with atrocities, that between June and August 1945, 31 Prisoners were killed. Nishihara immediately sent to Akita, to Tokyo, to send down some investigators and they sent Col. Oki, who arrived about the end of December. Nishihara asked Oki and Inada to investigate this matter, then had the report sent to Tokyo, about the end of January 1946, and at the same time advised the CIC detachment in Fukuoka.

Statement of Tomomori (20 Jan-20 Mar 47). All persons involved in the WA atrocities, were called to dinner at Futsukaichi on 31 January, by Nishihara, which dinner included Nishihara, Yokoyama, Inada, Fukushima, Ito, Akita and Oki. After dinner Tomomori told Nishihara about the false report sent to the Ministry of War by Western Demobilization. Nishihara said he didn’t know, that it must have been sent by the C/S (Inada). Tomomori told him about Itezono's false statement.

On 5 or 6 February, Akita told Tomomori that the correction had teen made. Tomomori returned to Tokyo 3 February, was placed in custody by SCAP Legal Section, 7 January.

Statement of Oki. Atis translation of Oki Report. Inada stated that if the examinations are to be conducted as murder case's, Fukushima and Ito would not be permitted lawfully to be tried in the Western Demoblization District Court, because they are considered as connected, but placed under the jurisdiction of the Higher Demobilization Courts in Tokyo, and therefore Oki should conduct the investigation as Chief of Judicial Section. Nishihara's attitude suggested affirmance, but he said nothing. That evening Oki, at about 2100, called on Inada, and talked to him and

Statement of Oki contd ... Akita, at which Inada said that Akita and he had no connection with the executions, that he investigated the incidents as chairman of the Prisoner of War Investigation Committee and knew of them, but would not say anything to Oki, but would see what sort of investigation, he would make, that if the investigation went on Sato’s supposition that the flight personnel was not killed, there ought to have been 31 on 15 August remaining, that they were allegedly sent by air to Tokyo, but there was no record of the plane, that lies were sent to the CIC in Kurume and 1st Demobilization under the name of Fukushima, that they weren’t acceptable to give to the Allied Forces.

Statement of Fukushima, about 6 January. On 6 January Igawa and Dkii examined Fukushima, who stated that the dispositon of flight personnel was the task of the 16th Army, that he had nothing to do with it, but that disposition was affected thru the system of command involving Yokoyama, Inada, Akita, and Sato, that he heard of V the 20 June executions, after it happened, that Tomomori told him of the executions in early June on the day after.

Sato further relates that a cry for the lives of the flight personnel arose among some of the Officers after the 19 June raid, that Wako came to Sato in the morning of 20 June and said, "isn’t it better to execute the flight personnel?" to which Oki agreed. That Akita went to Yokoyama, returned and said he had given approval, which Oki told Wako, in the afternoon, told Sato that the executions would start, that he Sato said to go ahead with it, that he arrived shortly afterwards, following Ito, that about 4 flight personnel remained, who were then decapitated by 1st Lt. Toji of the Air Intelligence Unit.

19 February, the Western District Army was divided in the WA and 16th Discticts, but the personnel concerned served both Armies. Jin was Chief of the Adjutant Section, 25 June the 16th moved to Yamie. On that date, Yokoyama, Inada, Akita and Jin transferred to Yamae, and Kusumoto acted as Senior Adjutant and worked in Fukuoka, where Sato remained.

In May 1945, Sato told Akita he would like to dispose of the flight personnel in a manner similar to the Doolittle incident, asked Akita to get the approval of Yokoyama, who agreed with Oki that examinations by a military tribunal is supposed to be had, which he relayed to Sato. Akita had never heard of executions of flyers without trial, approval for such had never been granted by Yokoyama.

Akita was in South Kyushu from middle June to 23 June 1945, knew nothing of the 20 June executions.

When Oki was about to write the report, Inada and Col. Takahashi of the Prisoner of War Investigation Section, 1st Demobilization Ministry, came to see Oki. Inada stated thmt Takahashi told him to submit the WA report, to Tokyo at once, wanted to know how it was proceeding. Oki read him the draft whereupon he said that it was not true that Sato got approval from Yokoyama thru Akita, that Akita was on detached service at

Statement of Oki contd... that time, not present, that he related this to Sato who realized his mistake, that this was the first time Inada heard about any discussion at quarters between Ito, Yokoyama and another on the evening of 20 June. That Ito never mentioned this to him, that the other person was probably Isa, that on the night of 19 June when Inada was in the Air Defense Operations Room, with Yokoyama and Fukushima, Fukushima said that some of the young Officers wanted permission to decapitate the flyers whereupon Inada said it should not be allowed.

Inada stated the arrangements had been made with 2A to fabricate a report which would state that the flyers had been sent to Hiroshima about July, killed in early August by the'atom bomb, that they had already shown an American Officer the spot, that if disclosed it would implicate the medical Dept and 2A, that it would be a disgrace to the Array and therefore, Oki should not refer to it in his report. Akita agreed with Inada that every attempt should be made to conceal it.

Inada and Akita then agreed that they hadn’t heard of executions before the surrender, and Inada stated that heard Yokoyama were prepared to take responsibility as CG and C/S, for men under their command, but not directly connected.

On 20 June, Ito expressed a desire to execute them when he came to the Air Defense Operations Room. Wako followed and expressed the same opinion, and Sato told him to prepare. Sato then states that the information that permission as obtained from Yokoyama then Akita on the 20th a mistake, that after the surrender Yokoyama told him that it would reflect on the prestige of the Armyif it were said that the CG gave permission and not to tell anyone that permission was given.

On showing the draft of Oki’s report, on 14 January, to the 1st Demobilization Ministry, Inada said,to make it short and simple, change “decapitate" to "execute", said it was unnecessary to include tie names of the executioners. Said not to mention karate and bow and arrow used.

On revising it, he shov/ed it to Akita and Inada, then to Nishihara, who placed his seal of approval on it.

Inada told Oki that as a result of talks at the Tokyo Demobilization . . Ministry, it was said that the Minister would order the Higher Courts to investigate the matter, that he brought back the copy of the report to be submitted to GHQ of the OF, which he gave to Akita.

In the first part of February, Akita said to Oki that the document he had was a copy of the Demobilization Ministry, Prisoner of War Investigation Section, report for submittance to the OF, that on its being submitted Tokyo will apprise Fukuoka by telegram, whereupon Nishihara and Inada would submit a report in person to the Fukuoka CIC.

Statement of Oki contd... About 5 March, there was a dinner of Nishihara, Oki, Inada, Akita, Ito, Suzuki, at Futsukaichi, and with Inada and Akita in Inada*s quarters. Oki said he didn’t know the particulars of the KIU case, but thought with the Suzuki investigation it would be disclosed. Inada said he wanted no volunatary exposition of KIU, although nothing could be done if the facts were disclosed,to which Akita greed.

Inada then suggested that the OF might arrest them suddenly, so told Oki to dispose of the documents he accumulated and write summaries of the statements of each individual, to be submitted when requested by the OF, to show them to Akita.

Oki then burned part of his notes, made revisions, and wrote the summaries. Instructions given by Inada and Akita were to not:

1. Enter Ito’s name.

2. Name the executioners.

3. Mention karate and archery incidents.

4. Enter names having no connection.

5. Enter the Kill incident or the connections of 2A.

6. Mention letter which Sato said was sent by a high ranking Officer to MP Hq. Oki complied.

In late March, Akita asked Oki to list the executioners, he saying that the young Officers wanted to take all responsibility, including that for the NCOs, and therefore the names of the NCOs should be withheld.

Oki named the following for Akita: (executioners of the 1st,2nd and 3rd executions).

Statement of Sato,Yoshinao (8 Oct 47). As to the flyers being taken to the University, the Adjutant Section received authority from Sato after he got authorization from Horiuchi and Yokoyama. Sato presumes Capt. Aihara authorized Capt. Goiyama of the Adjutant Section to release the flyers by Sato's order. Goiyama would have gone to Jin to receive orders to release the flyers by Sato’s order. A report to this effect would go to Jin, Yokoyama, Inada and the Sr. Staff Officer (Akita). Goiyama would then report the fact of hospitalization to Sato.