Statements Concerning Komori

Statement of Okumura (3-15 Oct 1947) In late May, Nakao told Okumura he had some interpreting for him to do, that he v/as too busy, that he should go to the detention barracks, find PO Komori, who would instruct him. Komori told him that he was to keep the matter secret, that he should tell the Prisoners that the injections Komori was going to give them were for cholera.

They then entered the building: Komori ordered the guards to open a cell. The Prisoner stood up and Komori injected something in his arm through a syringe. They then did the same in a 2nd cell, but the 2nd Frisoner commented that a large .amount of fluid was being injected into him. A 3rd Prisoner in a 3rd cell was then injected. Komori then said he would use him that afternoon.

About 1400 Okumura was ordered to return to the detention rooms, noticed a truck parked alongside. Present was Capt. Goiyama, another officer and a few civilians. Komori ordered the guards to open the 3 cells on the south side of the building, told Okumura to tell the Prisoners that they were going to be moved, would have to be blindfolded. The Prisoners were put in the truck.

Komori got in the front with the driver. When they arrived at the Autopsy Section, Komori led the group to the hallway of a large wooden building, told 2 of the guards to take 2 Prisoners into the large room and let the other Prisoner wait in the hallway. There were 2 parallel tables about 5' apart. Either the short gowned person or Komori then told Okumura and the guard to lead the Prisoners to the tables, were made to lie down, with the 2 nurses assisting, strapping them down.

Komori and the short man exposed the chest of the 1st Prisoner, opening his shirt, and someone removed his shoes. Komori told Okumura to wait in another room, better that he not see it, went to a large vacant room with a concrete floor and radiators. Komori did not put a gown on in Okumura’s 20 minutes in the room.

About 1630 Komori came out dressed in uniform carrying a bucket in one hand, a pair of handcuffs in another. The bucket was about 10" in diameter, 12" deep; a scarf was placed over it, raised in the center, suggesting something was inside it, Komori and Okumura left the building by the front entrance, then Komori warned Okumura to secrecy.

While waiting for a street car part of the scarf was blown off, exposing a large glass flask, the bottom of which filled the bottom of the bucket. The flask was almost filled with a reddish liquid. Komori immediately recovered it, said it was blood, that he was going to make an insecticide to kill bed­ bugs.

Statement of Hirao (6 Nov 1947) Either at the farewell party for Mori and Hino or asimiliar one at that time - about a week before the 1st operation - at the doctors mess hall at 1st Surgery, Ishiyama said something about Komori bringing Prisoners and that "atemi" would be performed.

Statement of Kihara (17 June 1947) Kihara was an acquaintance of Ishiyama, a classmate of Komori, whom he last saw 19 June 1945, ate supper with him at a thankyou party of the chief of VIA Medical Section (Horiuchi) for the opera­tion on his wife, at which Kihara assisted. Komori1s home makes sake (?) and

Statement of Kihara Cont’d...... he brought some to the party. Kihara doesn’t know anything about Komori’s work or research. When the wife of Horiuchi was in the hospital Komori frequently came there and brought clothing, did everything for her, saw him there 2-3 times, and usually spoke to him, this in May or June 1945.

Statement of Nakao (10 Sept 1947) In mid May 1945 Komori asked Nakao to accompany him and 2 PWs to the KIU Hospital where the Prisoners were to be vaccinated. Nakao went along, left immediately after the 2 PWs were given injections. It was not until after 25 June 1945 that Nakao heard that these men were killed in experimental operations.

Statement of Nakao (28 Oct - 5 Nov 1947) In mid May PO Komori came to see Nakao, led him out into the hall, said, "We are going to take the flyer who is wounded in the leg to the University Hospital to perform an experimental operation and would like your help in interpreting," then led Nakao to a neighboring room where Sato, Aihara and Entasu were talking. It was then decided - Nakao believes it was Komori’s idea - that Nakao should tell the flyer that he was to have an operation performed on his injured leg at the hospital. Nakao thinks it was at this time that Komori told Nakao that the experiments were going to be performed at the University by Ishiyama, who, Nakao thinks, he said was a former teacher of his.

Nakao went with Komori to the prison, went to the cell of the flyer with the wounded leg; Nakao told him he was being taken to a hospital for treatment, according to Komori’s instructions. They then took the flyer to a sedan, he and Komori got in the back seat, believes the guards on duty helped the flyer in.

2- 3 days later Komori called Nakao from the Intelligence Room, told him that he was going to try a newly developed sleeping powder, said more flyers were to be taken to the University for experiments, that if the powder worked the flyers would be -drowsy' by the time they reached the University, that he was going to give the powder to Goiyama or perhaps Aihara, that he wanted Nakao to help give the powder to the flyers, that Goiyama would get Nakao later in the afternoon.

3- 4 days after Nakao went to the University, Komori again approached him, said he would try the sleeping medicine again, suggesting that it might not have been strong enough the first time, said that he would give the medicine to Goiyama and that they should give the medicine as they did the first time, before mealtime. The following morning Nakao heard from either Goiyama or Komori that some of the flyers got sleepy or went to sleep.

Statement of Yamanaka (18-27 Sept 1946) In mid May Komori came to intelligence section to talk to Nakao, who explained that Komori was a doctor of WAH and in charge of the Officers Hospital with’ many friends at KIU Hospital; because of this Yamanaka assumed Komori was responsible for taking the PWs to the hospital.