OHNO, YUKIZO [Marginal Note: (KIU) ] Statement of OHNO (420, 9 June 47) 63 yrs., retired from KIU 29 September 1945. Director of Medical College from 10 November 1943 to retirement. (Check statement for faculty roster) No one professor was in charge of anatomy department, but three equally. Each anatomy professor had his own laboratory, but class rooms and autopsy rooms were for common use. The three professors are: Shindo - oldest of three, retired September 1944. Hirako - looked upon as senior of Ishizawa, of higher position; older but not as to service in May and June 1945. Ishizawa - was senior in length of service in 1945, but evidently Hirako enjoyed more prestige. Professors of other departments could use rooms and equipment of another department if they first consulted with any given professor of such department, except as to Internal Medical and Surgery,' where each professor has his own facilities within the department and in that case, that particular professor would be consulted. The dean handles the academic administration of student education and jurisdiction over professors acting as instructors. However, when professors conduct operations in Surgery Clinics and Orthopedy, or connected with treatment of patients, they come under jurisdiction of Hospital. Nakashima was head of the hospital from 15 June 1944 to June 1946, retired March 1947. The medical college dean responsible to president of the University, Bunroku Arakawa until March 1945, and then Gengo Hyakutake, until Ohno retired. The professors vote in a president for 4 years, and Hyakutake was elected since he had been an admiral and could thus get funds and supplies and prevent army and navy from taking faculty members. Hyakutake was over 60, was in the reserve at time of his election. Medical College members of election committee of 25, which submitted 4 names; Shimoda, Ishiyama, Fukuda, Nakashima, and Ohno. The Industrial Department party submitted Hyakutake’s name. System of draft deferment as agreed between Ministry of War and Ministry of Education: Those conducting experiments not to be drafted for two years if approved by Ministry of Education, which here would consult with Lt. Gen. Kambayashi, head of Medical Bureau of War Ministry. Among those conducting such approved experiments were Ohno - tropical diseases I"c"hiyama - brain abscess and epilepsy resulting from external injuries. Tomoda - influence of high external temperatures on the body. Ohno -2- Ohno recalls that Tomoda was working on a blood substitute, but doesn’t recall Ishiyama's work, except that he "heard" of sea water experiments in connexion with Ishiyama, that he was experimenting with animals as to sea water as a blood substitute-- this came to his ears toward the end of the war. Also recalls that Ishiyama had experimented on complication of surgery to the lungs, gall stones, stomach, cancer and effect of total removal of stomach, began before Ohno became dean. The Ministry of Education did subsidize some medical experiments. Some experiments were conducted on orders from the military. After March 1945 Ohno recalls a'letter from the army requesting the cooperation of 5-6 medical professors including Ishiyama. Ohno understands his position to have been that of liaison between the army and the professors. 10 August 1945 Captain (?) Tsurumaru of Western Army Medical Section came to Ohno with message from Horiuchi that Ohno was to go to Hiroshima to investigate effect of atomic bomb on humans. Took assistant Mitsui Takashi with him. On 7 August 1945 Major General Horiuchi cabled a meeting at Western Army Headquarters of 12-13 professors. Only one Ohno knew from medical college was Toda. Horiuchi asked for their cooperation. Lt. Col. Sumi on July 14, 1944 came to Medical College and talked to professors and students on air raid defense. Ohno knew Komori, who graduated from KIU as a surgeon before the war and worked for Ishiyama in his clinic. Ohno did not see him at the University during the war, at which time Ohno believes he, was with some other hospital, but heard from Ishiyama, his teacher, that he was drafted and served at Western Army Headquarters. Ohno considers Ishiyama a very conscientious research man, one of foremost of Japanese surgeons, very interested in his pupils, a good teacher, and very valuable to the University. Ohno knew him about 5 years, while he had charge of Surgical Clinic #1. He was a graduate then a sub-professor of KIU, became a medical professor in Taiwan, came back to KIU in 1940. If a patient dies at the hospital, the body is either taken home or brought to Ohno’s section (pathology), at which time it can only be touched on permission of Ohno or Ono. Autopsies were usually performed in the autopsy room of the Pathological Section. Hirako and Ishizawa had joint jurisdiction over their autopsy room in the Anatomy Section and would have to give permission to use it. Anatomy autopsy cadavers were obtained from the Fukuoka city prison and other prisons. During the war there were more stiffs than the University could use because of the shortage of preservation supplies. The autopsy rooms in Pathology and Anatomy were never used for operations on live patients. If Ishiyama wanted to bring Prisoners to University for treatment, he would have to check Nakajima; if for experiment the professor would not consult custody. Ohno knows naught of the experiments on Prisoners Ohno -3- Ohno knew nothing until middle September 1945, when he heard rumors at the University that Ishiyama had operated on some American flyers, that patients died. Ohno then immediately called on Ishiyama and Ishizawa (a good friend of Ishiyama of same medical class who Ohno knew had heard these rumors.)- Ohno asked if these rumors were true. Ishiyama replied: "I have operated on the brain of an American prisoner(s) who was (were) in a somewhat of a mad and disquieted state. These operations were performed with the knowledge that for many years I have performed brain operations on Epileptic patients with success and that as a doctor I believed that it was nothing to dishonor my conscience. The reason why I did not perform the operation in an ordinary operating room was that it was the idea of the army that they did not want it to be revealed to the outside and known by the general public. Since for this reason I have only performed my duties as a doctor. I believe that this would not cause the University any inconvenience. I do not want you to worry about the rumors. The army did not state their names, age or anything else but simply stated their present state of illness and that they were suited for operation and all I did was operate." Ohno then asked him if he couldn’t find the names and Ishiyama answered that it was impossible to find out anything since Komori died. Ishizawa told Ohno first, these rumors in mid September and this conference was a day or two later. Ishizawa claimed that he heard rumors in the city that Ishiyama had operated on some American Prisoners and that they had died. Ishiyama said that army would accept the full responsibility. Illegal treatment of Prisoners, using them in experimental operation, would bring dishonor upon the University, Ohno states, but didn’t ask whether Prisoners died. Ohno did not report these facts to higher authority. Treatment of Prisoners would be under jurisdiction of Nakashima. Ishiyama didn't say how many Prisoners there were. Ohno doesn’t believe anyone in Western Army Headquarters could influence or order Ishiyama to perform such operations. Even if Ministry of Education had said OK to perform experimental- operations on Prisoners, doesn’t think Ishiyama would do it, unless Emperor ordered it. Ohno states that if Ishiyama had used his own room, probably too many people around. Jinnaka took Ohno's place 29 September 1945. For army to deal with University, first the matter would be discussed with professor involved, and then a formal letter sent to the president for his approval. However, it is not necessary for a doctor to get permission from the President to treat patients unless it would mean taking him from the University. If Ishiyama had stated it was justifiable treatment, he could have used Prisoners and no one would have said anything about it. Ohno cannot understand arrangements being made to use the autopsy room of the Pathological Department without his knowing about it. (??)
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