|
Statement of Ohtsuki (24 Mar-8 Apr 47). At the 9 or 10 August execution, Ohtsuki arrived at Aburayama ab out 1015. Ohtsuki noticed Wako and Ohno, of the Legal Section and several Officers nearby. When the second Prisoner was brought forward, to the edge of the pit by the same NCO, also stripped to the shorts and barefooted. Ohtsuki believes Itezono issued an order, and Ohno of Legal Section stepped to the edge of the pit, the Prisoner sitting on his haunches, and beheaded him. Then Ohtsuki recalls someone yelling "stab him in the heart", and Ohno did so. 6 or 7 persons were standing in front of Ohstuki, so he saw Ohno raise the sword and the downward stroke, but he didn’t see the sword hit. The head was 1/2 severed, and Ohtsuki saw Ohno stab him in the heart. Ohno with drew the sword, washed it and the blood of his pant leg. The Prisoner gave a loud cry, moaned as he lay in the pit, face downward, until stabbed in the heart. Blood spurted from the sword wound. After the executions were finished, Tomomori said, "I will give whiskey to all of the executioners." Tomomori poured whiskey into a small glass cup and was giving it to all the executioners, including Satano, Eguchi, Narazaki, and Itezono was standing next to Tomomori. When the last Prisoner was brought out, the 8th, Itezono said in a loud voice that karate would be practiced. After karate, the Prisoner was led to the pit either by Yamamoto or one of the ECOs, walked in a crouched position. Ohno then severed his head. In the conversation back, it was remarked that Ohno was unable to kill the Prisoner with his sword, hitting the Prisoner1s neck without severing it, and having to stab the Prisoner’s heart. Ohno used terrific force in hitting the second Prisoner’s neck, but didn't kill him because he didn't use the proper technique, the Prisoner falling into the pit, Ohno stabbing his heart from the back. In October 1946, Ohtsuki met Ohno in Osaka, who said he was quite worried because he had beheaded 2 Prisoners, but thought that the superior Officers that attended the execution would be held responsible. Ohno had read about Yokoyama and his staff sent to Sugamo. Ohtsuki was called to Fukuoka by Oki. |
||||||||
|
Statement of ONO, Teruo (11 Dec 47). Persons ONO, Teruo, remembers seeing execute Prisoners, on 12 August: Kuroki, Eguchi, Satano, Narazaki, Ohno, Otosu and a Capt. from Legal Section. Otsuki shot arrows at one Prisoners, did not kill him. Ohno executed 2. After karate was used on the Prisoner, either Ohno or the unknown Capt. from Legal Section beheaded this man. If it were Ohno, it was a poor job of cutting, since the first stroke was high and the Prisoner had a serious Statement of Ono contd.... wound but did not die, and a second stroke had to be administered by him. Ohtsuki shot a-prows at the next Prisoner, and after wounding him, but not killing him, the Prisoner was executed at the pit by either Ohno or the - Legal Section Capt. (?) Ono saw OHNO behead another flyer. After he did such a poor job on the first, he asked Tomomori or Itezono to execute another to make up for his poor job. Ono believes he performed the last, again did a bad job, the head not severed and the flyer not dead. He fell in the pit and Tomomori, Wako or Itezono said to ill this Prisoner, and Ohno went to the edge of the pit and jabbed the Prisoner with his sword, the Prisoner groaned a little before he was killed. |