Statements Concerning Minoru Nakamura

Statement ofKoshi YUKINO (18 Jun 1946):

SATO told YUKINO to state that he vent alone to bury human ashes on Mt* Hirao, hut 1st Lt. NAKAMURA went with him. In July YUKINO got ashes from NAKAMURA and took them to the temple. Then, on being toldthis NAKAMURA states that he gave YUKINO the ashes of Americans in the Adj. Sec. Office on 16 August.

YUKINO admits NAKAMURA's story that at 1500 on 15 August, he, NAKAMURA, was called into KUSUMOTO's office, that YUKINO was there, heard the conversation, that KUSUMOTO told NAKAMURA that the Americans would he executed that day at Aburayama, that NAKAMURA was to get some coffins, after which he was to cremate them.

At about 1700 on 15 August KUSUMOTO ordered YUKINO to have Lt. MKAMURA bring the ashes of the Americans who were executed and cremated that day to his office. At 0900 on 16 August NAKAMURA came to YUKINO, told him the cremation was completed and that he had buried hones representing the Prisoners on 15 August in the military cemetery. YUKINO ordered him to dig up the bones, bring them to YUKINO. NAKAMURA brought the box of ashes hack about 1030. There were 16 separate envelopes in the box containing the ashes. NAKAMURA and YUKINO took the envelopes out, wrapped them in a large piece of paper and placed the one package in the box. About 26 August KUSUMOTO tola YUKINO to bring the ashes from the temple, then he and NAKAMURA took the packages containing the ashes of 16 flyers to Hirao and buried them, taking them out of the paper; the "box was left at the temple.

NAKAMURA told Yukino he had shown the burial spot to an OP member and bad helped recover the ashes.

Statement of Masahiko NARAZAKI (7. Oct 47):

At the 10 August execution NARAZAKI thinks he saw a LS Capt, Capt. NAKAMURA.

OKI Report - 1

Statement of Momoru NAKAMURA: NAKAMURA cremated the bodies after the execution of 15 August, including the remains of those previously killed which were brought by the Judicial Section. NAKAMURA was with MURATA when the one box was thrown inthe sea on order of SATO end YUKINO, who asked to go along when they buried the other box in Hirao.

Statement of Minehiro OHNO (23 Dec 47):

2nd L t . NAKAMURA directed 5 soldiers to dig a pit at the scene of the execution, and also dispersed soldiers to keep civilians away.

Statement of Kazuhiko ARAKI (26 Nov 47):

Among the 6 or 7 guards escorting the Ps were NAKAMURA and KUBO.

Statement of Yasuo MOTOMURA:

SATO and NAKAMURA told MOTOMURA not to permit anyone about the scene of the execution. 

Statement of Masahi YOSHIDA:

NAKAMURA of the service unit was present from the beginning.

Statement of Kunio OKADA;

About 1000 15 August NAKAMURA ordered OKADA to select about 20 soldiers from the cose section, assemble and board a truck in front of air defense administration building. OKADA did so, at which time NAKAMURA said it would be postponed until afternoon, as there was to be a broadcast at noon.

NAKAMURA - 2

Report on Tracing of the Ashes:

6 September 1946 NAKAMURA directed Tait, Sartiano and Lt. Robert J. Goode (Graves Registration to Hirao, pointed out burial spot of ashes of 16 American flyers, stated that he had assisted YUKINO in burying them, believed them to,be of American flyers.

30 Sept - 21 Oct. 1947 interrogation of NAKAMURA:

NAKAMURA states he received orders from KUSUMOTO to cremate the Prisoners executed 15 August at the Aburayama crematorium and to take ashes of each and bury them in the nearby hills. He then received approval from KUSUMOTO to cremate the bodies from the 20 June and 12 August executions also, they being brought to Aburayama for cremation.

32-33 corpses were cremated on the night of 15-16 August in one pile. MURATA joined NAKAMURA there about 0500 and the 2 of them took a piece of skull, hand, rib, pelvis, spine and leg to represent each of the Ps executed on 15 August. On the way back NAKAMURA and MURATA stopped at the Ropponmatsu Military Cemetery and buried the small box representing the Americans executed 15 August. The large box of ashes they later dumped into HAKATA Bay, which NAKAMURA reported to YUKINO. YUKINO ordered him to bring the ashes to him from the cemetery, and NAKAMURA and YUKINO then took the envelopes out of the box, wrapped them in one package, and placed the package back in the box.

Statement of ITEZONO (23 Oct. 46):

Sato explained to AIHARA on 7 or 8 August that NAKAMURA would handle the actual proceedings at the execution.

Either WAKO or NAKAMURA commended that the crematory was not available and cremation would have to be postponed. On the afternoon of 15 August SATO told ITEZONO that NAKAMURA reported to him that the cremation had taken place 2 or 3 days after the execution.

Statement of Kanji YOSHIDA (6-9 Feb. 48):

2nd L t . NAKAMURA ordered the pit dug.

Statement of Mitsushige INOUYE (24-27 August 48):

SATO cautioned everyone to keep the execution a secret. The service company person­nel then arrived, and 2nd Lt. NAKAMURA received instruction from SATO.

Statement of Tatsuo ITEZONO (1 Oct 45):

ITEZONO asked YAKUMARU if he weren't going to the execution, Yakumaru replied he was too busy. TOMOMORI said he was busy at the moment, would be along later. SATO stood near the cab of the truck talkkng to someone (probably NAKUMARA. SATO said to ITEZONO, "Thanks for coming.fl that he could not go because of an impending air­ raid. The preparations were by NAKAMURA. ITEZONO asked for volunteers, there were many; told about 5 to prepare. ITEZONO then asked 3-4 other superior and senior officers if they wished to do it, they said no, so he did not push them because he thought NAKAMURA's group would "do it". NAKAMURA disposed of the corpses after the execution.