|
Statonent of (8 July 1947 - taken by Pons) 33, college education, an architect. On 15 Aug 1945 was stationed at WAH, heard that the Japanese were to surrender, then went to the office of the adjutant, Kusumoto, who with Sato were discussing the execution of American PWs. The Emperor's speech began at 1215? at its termination 1st Lt. Akamine, 1st Lt. Maida, 1st Lt. Hoshiyama and Nakayama were ordered to remain by Kusumoto who stated that American PWs were to be executed, that they were not ordinary Prisoners but enemies of Japan, that Akamine, Maida and Hoshiyama would be notified later as to the time and place of execution, that Kusumoto would arrange for the transportation, that it was to be done in secrecy, that these men were not to tell any civilians. Nakayama later learned that Akamine, Maida, and Hoshiyama left Headquarters at 1400. About 1430 Sato ordered Wakayama to accompany him to the place of execution, where he saw 2 PWs lying in tall grass, dead, beheaded, with 3-4 alive. Nakayama personally saw Akamine and Hoshiyama behead 2 PWs. Sato ordered the corpses to be buried and he and Nakayama left for WAH. Wakayama believes that 15-16 were executed. |