Statement, of Ono (11 Dec 47). 23, was assigned to WAH from 16 July 45 to Nov 45, was a 1st Lt in Staff Section, directly under Tomomori. Studied Guerilla warfare under Itezono, heard his job would be to check available male personnel in Kyushu factories. Ono reported to Itezono each morning as to training. On the morning of 12 August, Itezono said that executions would take place that day, that all Officers under his command and receiving instruction, would go. Ono was curious, had seen no prior executions, understood he was to observe. They left about 1000 by truck, thinks there were about 10 Prisoners, Itezono, PO Otsuki, 1st Lt Otosu, 1st Lt Kuroki, PC Satano, 1st Lt Eguchi, Capt Wako, 2nd Lt Ohno and about 10 or 15 others. Arrived about 1030. 5 or 6 walked out since no room in truck. PO Otsuki brought his bow and arrows. Itezono was teaching use of Lou and arrow in case of invasion. The place of execution was about 200 meters from the road in a little clearing. The Prisoners were tied to one rope, chain fashion, blindfolded, led to the resting place about 100 meters, from the place of execution. Everyone had to wait 10 mins for Tomomori and Enatsu to come, since Tomomori was the highest ranking Officer who was to attend. In the interval a hole was dug, and Itezono then came up to Tomomori and told him the hole was dug, that the executions could start. When they arrived, they were carrying away the body of a Jap executed prior. 2 or 3 Officers who had been there, he believes they wore air corps Staff Officers, stood close to Tomomori duting the executions of the Americans. Tomomori stood about 4 meters from the execution area. The executions lasted about 1100 to 1200. 2nd or 1st Lt Yamamoto from Staff Section watched, but during the karate, he held one hand of a Prisoner, on whom karate was tried, did not personally try an karate. Tomomori told Itezono that he should let the young men perform the executions, those in the Guerilla unit, not having had battle training. Itezono then announced that all volunteers should get together. There were about 10. Ono stood talking to Tomomori, After 10 mins the matter of who would execute was settled among the volunteers, and Ono reported them to Itezono and the Prisoners were brought up one by one and made to kneel at the pit, blindfolded, stripped to the waist, led by a guard. There was an interpreter who told each man as he was brought up, that he was to be executed. As the Prisoner kneeled at the pit, Wako-would come over and adjust the position of the Prisoner,so that he would be in the proper position for the swordsman. Wako did this several times, then the soldiers did it after that. Persons Ono remembers seeing execute Prisoners 12 August: Kuroki, Eguchi, Satano, Narasaki, Ohno, Otosu and a Capt from Legal Section. Otsuki shot arrows, did not kill him. Ohno executed 2. Kuroki stepped forward and said he would execute the first Prisoner, cut off his head with one stroke. Otosu and Eguchi did the second and third Statement of Ono contd ... executions, completely severed the heads with hard accurate strokes. Ono believes Satano executed the 4th, with one stroke, Ono left a short time after this (had a lot of work to do at WAH). talked down the road a short distance past the truck, then decided to stay to See the other executions and ride back on the truck, returned to find karate being practiced. Before the first execution, Itezono said karate would be practiced. Ono had been gone about 5 mins, 2nd Lt Yamamoto and some POs were holding the Prisoners arm apart, who was stripped to the waist, while 3 POs were taking turns using karate on him. They were just ready to start when Ono returned. The first PO jabbed him in the stomach 2 or.3 times, then stepped back, took off his coat, ran at him aid jabbed him in the stomach. The Prisoner sagged and the 2 soldiers held him up. This same PO then kicked him in the testicles several times with his foot. The next 2 men did the same as the first. The fist was used, in hitting the Prisoner. The Prisoner was still conscious, but suffering and groaning, could.not have stood up by himself. Itezono said that that was enough karate, and the Prisoner was helped to the pit, and knelt down, (the men who Performed the karate were from the group of Itezono, were all young). 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 wound but didn't die, and a second stroke had to be administered by him. Itezono then said there would be a bow and arrow execution, called Otsuki and the Prisoner was placed in a kneeling position about 2 meters from the pit, Otsuki about 10 meters away. The Prisoners's hands wore tied, still flipdfolded, a rag put in his-mouth. The first arrow went high, the second glanced off the right side of the forehead, and the Prisoner fell over, but put out his hand and supported himself and came back to a kneeling position. Otsuki shot more arrows, both over the head. He then tested his bow and, the 5th shot we hit over the Prisoner's head, whereupon Itezono said that was enough, and the Prisoner was executed at the,pit by either Ohno of the Legal Section Capt. Sometime during the karate and bow and arrow phase, Narasaki came running up, he must have been one of.those who walked out and hurried to get there before it was over. Ono saw Ohno behead, another flyer. After he did such a poor job on the first, ho asked Tomomori or Itezono to execute another to make up for his poor job, Ono believes he performed the next to 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 Itexono, said to kill 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. A soldier then yelled, there was one loft. Tomomori turned to Ono and asked him if he wanted to execute him, but before Ono could answer Itezono suggested that Narasaki do it because ho was-a better man in kendo. Ono didn’t draw his sword. Narasaki was standing about 2 meters away. Ono was about 5 motors from the pit. When Itezono told Narasaki, he performed the first execution, he went right to the pit without- saying anything Statement of Ono contd ... to anyone.. This Prisoner stood up facing the pit and Narasaki stood behind the' Prisoner and made a stroke on the back from the right shoulder diagonally to the left. Ono believes it was Wako who came up, inspected the wound, said it was a good cut, Ono-doesn’t recall whether this Prisoner was cut or stabbed again, before put in the pit. Just before the first decapitation, Tomomori gave Ono about a half pint of whiskey, bottle partly filled, told him to give a drink of it to each executioner. There was just enough for a cup full for each, was less than an ounce, Ono ran out of whiskey after about the 5th execution. Tomomori and Itezono showed no emotions as to the executions. Stayed about the same position during the executions, about 5 meters from the pit with a clear view. Ono mas with them. The bodies were then covered, Tomomori asked everyone to assemble, said they had executed Prisoners because they did a lot of damage to Japan, that they had to pay with their lives for killing innocent men and burning houses, that now they were dead.and without sin they would meditate. Then they entrucked, got back to WAH about 1500 or 1530. Enatsu was present the entire time, and after the karate, explained to the POs now they did wrong, showed them how they should have done it. Ono lent his sword to PO Yamamoto who was training under Itezono, for the 15 Aug execution, PO Yamamoto came to Ono about 1230 or 1300, asked to borrow it, brough it back in the evening, and it had been cleaned, told Ono it was very sharp, worked fine, that he had performed an execution. This is not the same Yamamoto of the 12 Aug executions. Ono is certain he saw 8 executions on about 12th, two Prisoners having bad legs and who limped. |