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Statement of Semba (31 Oct - 8 Nov 1947) Semba first knew of experimental operations on Prisoners on 16 May, the day before he first attended such operations. The operations on 17 May were the first performed; there were 4. On 16 May Hirao told Semba that Ishiyama was going to perform operations on Prisoners that Komori would bring in the Autopsy Training Hoorn the next day, told Semba to bring sea water. A short time before, however, there was a notice on the bulletin board that all members of 1st Surgery would attend a farewell party for someone— this was around 10 May. This banquet was held in the Doctors' Mess Hall at 1st Surgery after work in the afternoon. Ishiyama came in, made a farewell speech, and everyone then began eating and drinking. About 1/2 hour later Ishiyama leaned forward and said "Komori is going to bring several Prisoners to the University and I am thinking of performing experimental operations on them." While he said this to the higher ranking doctors near him, it carried so that everyone present could hear it; no one was drunk at the time; everyone became quiet for a minute or so. Ishiyama seemed very serious but Semba thought he was joking. Everyone appeared dumbfounded at first, then seemed to pass it off as a joke. Ishiyama continued talking, said he wanted to practice "atemi" on some of the Prisoners, a form of jiu jitsu using the hands to hit persons in vital spots, to render them unconscious, or even kill them. Ishiyama said he was an expert in jiu jitsu, that he would perform experimental operations on some and use atemi on others to see whether or not they would died. He used a word that meant "PW". Everyone then got drunk, and the party broke up about 2130. Present at the party were Hirao, Mori, Tomoki Tashiro, Jiro Tashiro, and Nogawa; Nogawa doesn't think Morimoto was there. Torisu and Kubo may have been there; Nogawa is not certain. Hirao and Mori, being the highest rank, sat next to Ishiyama. Semba sat next to Mori. Also present were Shiozu, Hino and Mukai, research doctors. Hino left 1st Surgery at that time. On the day before the 1st operation, Semba remembered Ishiyama's speech at the party and realized that he had not been joking. |