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ENATSU, Tokoji Statement of Jukiro NAKAO (10 September 1947): YAMANAKA would arrange for the interrogation, would notify Lt. Col. SUGINO of the plans and SATO of the intention. SUGINO had never attended interrogations, but sometimes SATOO AIHARA. a nd.ENATSU would. |
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Statement of Takashi OTSUKI (3-9 July 1947): ENATSU also demonstrated how to strike, but did not actually hit the Prisoner. |
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Statement of Kiyoharu TOMOMORI (20 Jan 1947 - 20 March 1947): In late July or early August 1945, TOMOMORI was told by ENATSU that PCS’ were being brought to headquarters; they saw about three Prisoners being escorted by KT members along the front road. ENATSU said they had brought the Prisoners to the front of the building. Tomomori told ENATSU it wasn’t necessary to bring the Prisoners back to the front of the building. The Prisoners were being returned to the front of the building because Tomomori has told him to show the prisoners' uniforms to the hq. personnel. When Tomomori looked out the Prisoners were already being taken away. Shortly ENATSU told TOMOMORI that someone was beating the Prisoners; Tomomori went to the window, saw an elderly woman hit a Prisoner twice with an umbrella. ENATSU asked if he wanted the beating stopped and TOMOMORI said yes, and ENATSU Vent out of the room, returned shortly and said the beating was stopped and the Prisoner taken awy. About 7 August TOMOMORI asked ENATSU if he wanted to attend an execution of PCS that morning; ENATSU said he would go along. They left about 1030 for Aburayama in a staff car. After the third execution TOMOMORI felt ill, walked away and returned, and asked ENATSU to leave with him, ENATSU saying he did not want to see any more, but Tomomori said they would stay until some high rankkng officer appeared. In the car ENATSU told TOMOMORI he had done a very good thing in observing the execution. TOMOMORI told INADA that on 9-10 August ENATSU brought Capt. YAMAGUCHI of the Fukuoka KT to WAH, who said that during the Nagasaki bombing all the Prisoners escaped. ENATSU said that according to a telephone call it was planned to dispose of all the Prisoners, that the Nagasaki PW camp had requested that Fukuoka KT notify WAH. On 2-1 August FUKUSHIMA called a meeting with ITO, ENATSU, SATO, MURATA and possibly WAKO, in which it was decided to make it appear that the Ps executed 20 June were killed in a bombing attack, but TOMOMORI disapproved, saying it was wrong and impossible. |
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OKI Report (ATIS TRANSLATION): |
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Statement of Tokuji ENATSU (About 11 Jan): ENATSU heard of the 20 June execution the following day. In July he heard a commotion at the HQ entrance, saw people beating flyers, some members of the HQ,, whereupon he ordered them to cease. About 12 August TOMOMORI told him there was to be an execution of flyers, asked ’’Shall we watch?” to which he agreed and they went to Aburayama, by automobile, whereat there were 6-7 flyers, but he felt sick after 3 decapitations. He saw someone practicing archery and karate, but since none died, TOMOMORI ordered a halt and had them decapitated. After the execution TOMOMORI addressed the personnel, stated that they were decapitated enemy, not PWs under international law. ENATSU could not believe that the decpitations were carried out as the result of a death sentence passed by a military commission or court martial. |
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Statement of Minehiro OHNO (23 Dec 47): 2nd Lt. NAKAMURA directed 5 soldiers to dig a pit where the Jap was shot at 1000, and soon after a truck arrived with 8 captured enemy flyers. During this time TOMOMORI and ENATSU arrived in a sedan. ITEZONO or ENATSU then wrote down the names of the participats to make a report. WAKO then explained how such an execution was performed and OHNO believes ENATSU then said "Wet the sword and cut the throat.” |
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Statement of Tamotsu ONISHI (24 Nov. 1947): When the Staff Section interrogated the flyers (thru SATO, AIHARA and sometimes YAKUMARU) ENATSU of the KT was present. |
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Statement of ONO, Teruo (II Dec. 47): ENATSU was present the entire time, and after the karate explained to the POs, how they did wrong, showed them how they should have done it. |
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Statement of Noribumi TAKAUA (8 Nov. 47): While TAKADA saw ENATSU once e week, he did not know of executions until the war was over. |
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OKI Report (ATIS Translation): According to the statements of ENATSU and Itaru MAJIRI, 2nd Lt. YAMAMOTO was present at a killing about 10 August 1945. |
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Statement of Itaru MAJIRI:(Taken by Oki 8 Oct. 1946) When the war ended KONDO told Majiri that ENATSU had ordered these weapons of the flyers taken out in a boat and sunk in the ocean. |
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Statement of Hidehiko NODA (5 Jan 1948): ENATSU then said NODA's style was not good, instructed M m verbally (karate). The flyer was held by the hand by an NCO and ITEZONO told him to try the stroke on the flyer, which he did and ENATSU then said his body was leaning too far forward at the shoulder. ITEZONO told him to stop and the flyer- was led to the pit and executed. |
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Statement of Kozo NISHIDA: Staff Officers TOMOMORI and ENATSU arrived; TOMOMORI approached ITEZONO and judicial capt. (WAKO?) and said light heartedly, ”1 came here to observe,’1 and stepped out to the front and observed the execution and spoke to ENATSU as to why a firing squad or the old method would be used. |
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Report (Jap.) as to Transfer of B-29 Pilots to Army (possibly written by Yanase) Execution of the Pilots and the part played by the KT: Twice in early May SATO, through ENATSU, KT man, attached to army Hq.., to Maj. YANASE, Kt. by telephone and personal visit of ENATSU, requested KT experts kendoists to execute airmen. YANASE refused: violation of international law; better to use for food production. At this time ENATSU also requested this of Col. TAKADA; was refused.for same reasons. Later ENATSU abandoned his search for expert kendoists. ENATSU was the only KT man a witness of the execution; was a member of the Army Information Department and not of Western Army Diet. KT- According to ENATSU, WAH received a telegram from 2nd Army GHQ, about 15 August saying, "It is desired that appropriate action be taken on the B29 airmen. Hearsay re Murder of Pilots on 20 June, 12 August and 15 August, ENATSU named with others as source of information. |
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Statement of ITEZONO (23 Oct. 1946): ENATSU, WAKO, KONO, NAKASHIMA, NISHIDA and FUKUSHIMA did not personally engage in the executions; R0M0M0RI, WAKO and ENATSU were there to give frequent and detailed instructions. TOMOMORI, ENATSU and the JA WAKO made no effort to explain the execution procedure or to prohibit to the use of karate end archry. |
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Statement of Michio.IKEDA (30 Jan. 1948): Before the execution at the scene were TOMOMORI, ENATSU, WAKO, YUKINO, YOSEIDA, ONO and several Officers, FOs, NCOs and soldiers. TOMOMORI did say to ENATSU that the first beheading was well done. ENATSU told TOMOMORI that these POs were no good in karate. |
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Statement of Takanobu KAKU (16 Sep 48): ENATSU and TOMOMORI arrived at scene of 10 August execution about 10 minutes after others |
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Statement of ENATSU: ENATSU was known as "Broadcasting Station." |
This book documents the legal proceedings of the December 1949 Khabarovsk trial in which twelve members of the Japanese Army's covert biological warfare Unit 731 were prosecuted for their war crimes. The trial sought to hold key leaders in Japan's bio-weapons program accountable for atrocities after WWII.