Statements Concerning Miki

Statement, of Suvama (Shimada) 20 July - 1 August 1947) Akiye Miki was nurse in charge of the operation room of Ishiyama Surgery.

In early May, after finishing ah operation in Ishiyama Surgery, Tsutsui came in, told Miki and Suyama to help that afternoon in an operation to be held at the Anatomy Section Autopsy Room, that they should bring the instruments and equip­ment at about 1300. Miki prepared the instruments.

Suyama supposes that Miki sterilized the instruments as she usually did— placed in a sterilizer where they were put under steam heat for quite a while, then placed in sterile cloths.

About 1300 Miki, Suyama, and Suyama believes, Tsutsui put the instruments in a basket and took them to the first floor of Ishiyama Surgery, then put them on a car with other equipment to be taken, including sterile gauze, antiseptic, cloths to be placed over the patiehts, gloves, pans for the doctors tot;Wash their hands in before the operation. Miki and Suyama brought all these things.

Miki, Tsutsui and Suyama went together to the Anatomy Building.

Miki and Suyama did not know how the room was to be arranged, but picked up the stools and put them in one corner near the windows, set up stands and pans of disinfectant for the doctors to use when the scrubbed.

(After hearing a car or truck in back) Miki and Suyama finished preparing the solution for the doctors to use in scrubbing their hands.

1st operation - Lung - Miki passed instruments to Ishiyama, and Ishiyama did the main part of the operation, with Komori as his main assistant, being directly across the table from Ishiyama.

Immediately after Ishiyama had sewed the incision, he took off his gown and started washing his hands. The nurses were washing instruments. Komori talked to Ishiyama, then went over to the Prisoner and started to scoop blood, put it in a glass jar, and Suyama imagines that he took it home with him. Ishiyama, not Komori, cut the stitches and Komori took out the blood. Miki saw this. Miki and Suyama were the last left in the room, were ready to leave when Makino and another person stooped in the shoulders (Suyama then identifies picture of Goshima) came in.

Makino and Goshima (?) worked on the body. The skin on the neck had been cut, and it looked as though they were going to cut off the head. Suyama was very frightened, put gauze over her face. Miki and Suyama then brought the instru­ments, gowns and other equipment out to the cart in front of the Anatomy Bldg, and went back to Ishiyama Surgery.

When they returned Miki said she would clean the instruments, Ishiyama called Suyama to ask if his bath was ready, mentioned that the Prisoner had been a B-29 flyer, asked Suyama if she had been afraid..

About 3 days after the 1st operation, about 1000, Tsutsui told Suyama that there was to be another operation like the former one, and Suyama got the gauze and gowns ready, checked the lamp; Miki prepared the instruments. About 1300 Miki

Statement of Suyama Cont'd . ... and Suyama went to the 1st floor, put their equipment on a cart and went to the Anatomy Bldg, directly to the dissecting Room. Someone must have told Miki what kind of an operations since otherwise she would not have known what instruments to bring. Manabe went with Suyama and Miki.

They took in the instruments. Senba was setting up his stand and jar with liquid in it by the window so it would not be in the way. Miki and Suyama went back to the front of the anatomy building to bring in the rest of the equipment; on return, Ishiyama, Tsutsui, Hirao, Mori, Torisu, and Senba were in the room. Miki and Suyama began setting out the instruments.

Ishiyama performed the brain operation (2 PW in 2nd series), assisted by either Torisu or Morimoto. Komori performed the other operation (stomach). Miki passed the instruments to Ishiyama and his assistants. Suyama stood in back of the instrument table, saw there were sufficient instruments and sometimes passed them to Miki....... (previously) Miki set up pans of Lysol as a disinfectant.

Either Miki or Manabe told Suyama they were short of thread for the 2nd operation, so Suyama telephoned Ishiyama Surgery, waited outside for someone to bring it over, then went for it herself, being gone 15-20 minutes.

After operations - Manabe, Miki and herself, Suyama believes, were the last poeple in the room. The Prisoners were left on the operating tables just as they had been during the operations.

3rd series - about 3-4 days later Tsutsui told Suyama to help again, Suyama knowing what it was though she wasn’t told. About 1300 Miki, Yayama, Manabe, and Suyama took the supplies and equipment down to a cart in front of Ishiyama Surgery, and went over to the Anatomy Bldg.

After everything was set up, the doctors were walking in and out of the room, waiting for the Prisoners to come. In a little while 2 army sedans drove up, and 3 Prisoners, some soldiers, and Officers got out, came in the building.

They (nurses and Senba) went back to the Dissecting Room to make final preparations. The doctors scrubbed their hands, as well as Miki and Manabe.

1st PW - Liver - 3rd series - Mori stood on Ishiyama’s left, Miki was on his right, passing him instruments.

2nd PW - stomach and heart - 3rd series - Ishiyama performed this operation, Komori was his assistant. Hirao was on Ishiyama's left, Miki on his right, Komori was across the table.

Suyama, Miki, Manabe, Yayama, Komori, Ishiyama, Hirao, and the person with the watch watched the heart incision.

4the series - Suyama doesn’t know whether Manabe, Yayama and Miki were there. Suyama did not see them arrive.

After the war, Suyama came back to the University, saw Tsutsui, who told her that the Americans were investigating, that Suyama, Miki, Manabe and Yayama would not have to worry, that she would take the responsibility, and that they had just acted on the orders of the doctors.

Statement of Morimoto (22 August 1947) In preparation for the (3rd series)??) operations; Perhaps Miki placed the surgical instruments on the small tables next to one of the dissecting tables.

Persons operating or assisting on 1st PW; Ishiyama, Komori, Miki, Morimoto.

2nd PW - Ishiyama, Komori, Miki, and Morimoto began the operations. Miki passed the instruments to Ishiyama when requested.

Persons attending these operations: Ishiyama, Komori, Torisu, Hirao, Mori, Senba, Tsutsui, Nogawa, Tashiro and Miki.