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SATANO, Osamu Fukuoka City, Miyake, % Fujina Former Rank: Probationary Officer, Guerilla Warfare Unit, Western Army Headquarters. Charges: Executing an American Fiver at Aburayama, Fukuoka-Ken, on or about 10 August 1945. Evidence: Takashi OHTSUKI, Former ?rob. Off., IJA, Testimony, PP-16, "Then I believe SATANO raised the sword over his right shoulder with both hands and swung the sword down with a loud cry. With one stroke he completely severed the prisoner's head." Tatsuo ITEZONO, Testimony PP-122, when questioned regarding the 10 August 1945 execution, "Then Probationary Officer SATANO went forward to the pit to become an executioner. While he was washing his sword another blindfolded prisoner, dressed only in shorts was led by a guard to the edge of the grave and made to sit on his haunches. The guard left and SATANO and the prisoner were alone by the side of the grave. SATANO raised the sword directly over the back of the flyer’s neck and with a single stroke, completely severed the flyer’s head." Takashi OHTSUKI, Former Prob. Off., IJA, testimony, PP-32, when questioned about the executioners of 10 August 1945 execution, states: "----- TOMOMORI said he will give whiskey to all of the executioners. I noticed that -----, SATANO, ----- were among the persons that went to where TOMOMORI, ---- were and received whiskey." "I saw for sure SATANO drinking out of a small glass cup." Takashi OHTSUKI, Former Prob. Off., IJA, testimony, PP-35, when questioned about the executioners of the American Prisoners on about 10 August 1945 executions, named, "probationary Officer SATANO". |
This book documents the legal proceedings of the December 1949 Khabarovsk trial in which twelve members of the Japanese Army's covert biological warfare Unit 731 were prosecuted for their war crimes. The trial sought to hold key leaders in Japan's bio-weapons program accountable for atrocities after WWII.