Statements Concerning Yoshinao Sato

SATO, Yoshinao

Incarcerated at Sugamo 20 July 46.

Statement of Sato (604 - 2 July). Col. Sato was at Western Army Hqs. from 12 July 1944 until 31 May 1946. He rose from Lt. Col. to full Colonel 1 March 1945 - was Chief of the Air Defense System. He was also responsible for the receipt and disposition of all POWs this being under the Superior Command of the Commanding Officer and Chief of Staff. He In turn Issued immediate orders to Capt. Aihara.

Sato admits that the report submitted as to aviators in reference to the 18th August entry is Incorrect, ie. that the 18 POWs "sent away" were actually beheaded. Further, that there were two POWs received In May who were not shown on the official report. That it is a lie that nine POWs were sent to Hiroshima under Capt. Aihara, as according to the 31 July 1945 entry. He states that eight of the nine therein shown were killed.

During May 1945 the accused was under the medical care of Medical Probationary Officer Komori; this being the result of an automobile accident. Komori commented to him that the POWs were sickly and he wanted to treat them. Sato became suspicious when Komori explained to him that Ishiyama was experimenting with a drug extracted from salt water. On 27 May Komori went to Sato, telling him that he was taking one POW to the hospital for treatment; since Sato was doing nothing he went along. Actually two POWs were sent by truck to Kyushu University. Komori and Sato went by auto. On this auto trip Komori told Sato they were going to operate and he then again became suspicious that the POWs were guinea pigs. Komori never professed to have any permission as to the POWs except that of Sato.

Sato and Komori arrived at the autopsy building at 1400 on 27 May. There were about ten persons present, including Ishiyama, Ishiyama's chief nurse,Tarisu and Hirako. He also believes that Hirao was there. Torisu and Komori were then assistants to Ishiyama.

As Sato entered Komori told him they would remove one lung, which would enable him to determine the effectiveness of the salt water drug. Sato was then Introduced to Hirao, Chief of the Autopsy Section, who observed but did not operate. An unconscious POW was wheeled in, and his lung was removed. All during this time Ishiyama's nurse was injecting what looked like salt water into the patient - the amount depending, the accused believed, on the pulse rate. Komori explained that as the POW recovered, tissue would fill in the space left by the removal of the 1 but that the POW would have to be killed since, if he returned to the U.S. the x-ray would show that the POW's lung was unnecessarily removed. Ishiyama stated also that the operation was a success and that it would be of great value to Japan and to the world.

[Several illegible marginal notes regarding medical specifics of Japanese hospitals]

Torisu, he believes, then reopened the incision. One of the surgeons (Torisu (?)) put his hand inside the P0W's chest, he believes, to stop the heart action. A coffin had been brought in and placed in the corner. Komori explained, just before Sato left, that in the second operation to be performed they would remove not only one lung, but half of the other lung; however, at that time Sato left and returned to Hqs.

8 POWs were sent to the hospital between 3 May and 17 June with intervals of four to five days between experiments. The first time two filers were sent, the second time three fliers, the third time one flier and the fourth time two fliers. Sato watched the other experiment. Col. Yakamaru went with Sato to the second and Capt. Aihara went with him to the third. In the second operation Yakamaru and Sato witnessed the first operation of the series which was on the left side of the patient, but the patient died before they could finish. They then left before the other two filers were brought in.

In the third operation series the POW died from loss of blood in a brain tumor operation,or experiment.

There were seven or ten people at these operations, all closely associated with Ishiyama.

In October 1945 the accused talked to Ishiyama as to the secrecy of the operation. Ishiyama requested Sato to hide the facts. In November or December Sato told Ishiyama that the Army would try to conceal the matter by stating the POWs were sent to Hiroshima and killed by the atomic bomb. Ishiyama was worried. In January 1946 he discussed that matter with Torisu who could think of no other plan but the Hiroshima alibi. In April Sato again talked about the matter of secrecy with Ishiyama and Hirako; Hirako having been called by Ishiyama. Ishiyama, Torisu and Hirako told Sato that If the matter was brought out into the open they had decided to blame Komori and that their story would be Komori had asked to use the operating room and had conducted the experiments by himself. They were worried and emphasized they should keep their stories straight.

Mori interview (399). The accused was present with three or four soldiers at one operation of two POWs.

Statement of Tsutsui (399). The accused was present at the chest (?) operation and all other operations. After the war Sato came to see Ishiyama concerning secrecy.

Statement of Hirako (399). Accused told Hirako to destroy all records and keep the operations secret - this taking place about March 1946.

Manuscript of Hirako (604). After the war the accused came to see Hirako with the purpose of keeping him quiet. In March 1946 Hirako was called to the room where Ishiyama and the accused were present, in which they discussed the secrecy of the experiments and went over their story that the POWs perished In the Hiroshima bombing. Sato was evidently present at the party given by the military to the surgeons.

Statement of Senba (399). The accused was present at the first brain operation. (Senba heard after the operation that one of the three soldiers was Sato). The accused also observed the gall bladder operation.

Statement of Torisu (399). The accused was present at the second lung operation. The accused told Ishiyama that it was the first time he had seen such a lung operation. Two or three days later Sato thanked Ishiyama, Hirako, Komori and Torisu and stated that the POWs used were the ones who were to be executed by the Army anyway.

Statement of Ishiyama. (604 - not in file). Accused a witness to experiments.

Statement of Yakumaru (604 - not in file). Sato attempted to conceal the experiments by reporting that the POWs were sent to Hiroshima.

Statement of Torisu (604). (Not in file). Yakumaru told Torisu that Sato had probably taken care of the matter of secrecy with regard to the experimental operations. (See statement of Torisu above).

Interrogation of Oki (604 - 2 July). Oki stated that Sato admitted to him that the POWs were sent to Kyushu University Hospital for experimental purposes.

Statement of Aihara (604 - 2 July). Aihara went with Sato to an operation on the back of the head of a POW at Kyushu University Hospital In late May or early June.