Statements Concerning Fukushima

FUKUSHIMA, KYUSAKU

Statement of Akita (21-22 August 1947) In the latter part of October 1945 Inada was investigating the 20 June execution, and Ito, Sato, Inada (and Fukushima ?) were at the Futsukaichi dormitory.

Akita heard from Sato or Fukushima that they were going to say that 21 flyers had been sent to Tokyo by plane, but that the plane crashed.

Statement of Wako (25 Aug - 5 Sept 1947) On 15 August 1945 Sato or Fukushima ordered Wako to have the remains of the executed flyers dug up, and he supervised the digging up of the S bodies behind WAH and 7-8 at Aburayama. They were wrapped in blankets, and Wako believes he turned them over to someone from the staff section for identification.

Between 16-18 August Wako believes that a guard of the detention barracks told him that there was some English writing on the walls of the rooms he lent to Sato. Wako examined it, didn’t have it translated, reported it to Ito, Sato, and Fukushima, told Sato and Ito that the writing would have to be taken off the walls; they both agreed. They tried to erase the writing by planing the walls, were unsuccessful, and Sato and Ito agreed that the building should be burned down; also Fukushima. Wako then ordered the guards to tear it down and burn part of it.

The stockade was also torn down on Wako5 s recommendation with the approval of Sato, Ito, and perhaps Fukushima.

About 22-23 August, Wako heard from Sato that he and Fukushima had decided to say that all of the flyers had been sent to Tokyo by air and they were going to drop the false story that about 10 had been killed in the bombing attack on Fukuoka.

Statement of Ohtsuki (24 Mar - 8 April 1947) Ohtsuki believes that the plans for these bows and arrows used in the executions, were drawn up by Fukushima.

Statement of Yakumaru (18 Aug 1947) Fukushima was the assistant Chief of Staff at WA, also the liaison officer between the civil governments in the various prefectures in Kyushu and WA, was in charge of civilian air defense and forming plans for the number, type, and origin of manufacture of material for the Civilian National Defense Corps.

Fukushima did not have any responsibility regarding handling of PCS, but was responsible for supervising his subordinates regarding treatment of PWs and to see that they were not mistreated.

Aihara wrote the false report regarding the executions. It was sent to Yakumaru, who approved it, Fukushima then placed his approval stamp on it, sent it back to Yakumaru, who passed it to Aihara, who sent it to the Message Center where the report was sent to Tokyo. The han of Yakumaru and Fukushima was upon it, Yokoyama did not check the written report before it v/as sent to Tokyo because he was not at WAH, so Fukushima made the final approval. [Marginal Note: -Jin-?]

WAH had been split up into 2 separate headquarters. Fukushima was in command of Fukuoka Headquarters, the highest ranking officer present. However, it is Yakumaru's opinion that he would be required to advise Inada or Yokoyama of this report since he was under their command.

Statement of Yakumaru (18 Aug 1947 ) Cont'd ...... After the termination of the war, about 15 August, 1st Lt. Hashiyama of the Air Defense Unit of Operations went to Maj. Kusumoto and asked him whether it would be permissible to execute the PWs in WAH. Since Kusumoto was not in position to answer, he told him to see Sato, who in turn went to see Fukushima, and on returning fro m Fukushima's office told Kusumoto and Hashiyama that it was alright. On the same day 15 more PWs were executed at Aburayama because Japan lost the war.

Yokoyama made a directive instructing all staff officers to destroy all important papers, records, and all evidence that would reveal any reflections on the treatment of PWs. This was about 15 August. The directive was sent to Fukushima, who instructed Yakumaru, Fukushima said to get rid of the articles immediately, and Yakumaru thought about throwing them in the sea.

In the middle of September 1945, Fukushima, Sato, Akita and Yakumaru met at the Keigo School and agreed on a plan to keep the atrocities on WA PWs secret. It was discussed that a false report would be made to the Hiroshima MG, stating that the WA PWs had been sent to Hiroshima, there struck by the atomic bomb and killed, thus covering the illegal execution of 39 PWs.

However, Fukushima decided that the Allied Forces would become suspicious so it was decided, by all present, to state that 9-10 were so sent to Hiroshima, and Fukushima stated that he would think of another plan by which they could deceive the Allied Forces as to the remaining 31.

Fukushima told Yakumaru that if he were questioned by the Allied Forces regarding the remaining 30 PWs, he was to state that the 30 had been taken to Tokyo by 2 planes, both lost enroute. This plan was agreed to by Sato, Aihara Oguri, Yukino and Kusumoto. Fukushima instructed Akita at the Keigo School in the latter part of September to tell the Allied Forces that 31 had been sent to Tokyo by plane.

Torisu told Yakumaru in early part of November 1945 that a note had been sent to a newspaper in Fukuoka relating the operations on American PWs, asked Yakumaru what he should do if questioned. Yakumaru advised him to wait for Sato. Yakumaru told Fukushima about this the next day, and Fukushima said he would, go to KIU and talk to the doctors who had participated in the operations on American PWs.