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Statement of Aihara (420, 26 April 1947) Confined Sugamo. June 20 execution: About 8 or 9 Prisoners left after KIU - all executed after Fukuoka bombing. Sato told Aihara of execution on 20th, that Legal Section members to participate. Execution retaliation for bombing. Believes there was talk between Sato and Legal Section. Time about noon in headquarters compound, big crowd, Aihara watched. Unknown Officer, standing with Legal Section members, beheaded flyer. Later learned it was Toji. Second Prisoner beheaded, fell in pit, by second unknown executioner. Either this person or Toji executed 2 Prisoners. Aihara then back to office. Sato and Ito were standing together watching. Mur at a must have been there; believes Wako was there. Later heard 80̶9 executed. Of Prisoners brought in to headquarters between 1st of May and 20 June 1-2 sent to Tokyo, including Watkins, 7-8 died at University, rest executed 20 June. Roster burned with other papers, on Sato’s orders. Heard staff Officers contemplated reporting flyers killed in Fukuoka raid. Sato ordered Aihara to prepare roster of those sent to University, those executed 20 June, brought it to Yakumaru. Later came Hiroshima story. Believes 20-25 more Prisoners brought into headquarters from 20 June. 1 sent to Tokyo direct, 1 through Hiroshima. Heard rest executed, one group first part of July, 1 in August, First group before Hiroshima bombing. Heard July execution at Aburayama, about 10 Prisoners, that guards from . guerrilla welfare unit carried it out. Maj. Itezono in charge of unit. 15-16 August execution, at Aburayama. Members of Air Defense Operations Roan carried it out, Aihara heard. Sato in charge of said room, with 1st Lt. Akamine and Madea as subordinates. Heard 14-15 executed. Heard alibi to be that these Prisoners were sent to Tokyo (Hiroshima alibi before this one.) In last 10 days of August Sato ordered Aihara to go to Hiroshima to make arrangements about 9 Prisoners, Aihara refused, but Sato insisted. Kusumoto present. At Hiroshima Aihara talked to Maj. Yoshikawa at headquarters, gave him orders from Sato. 9 Prisoners were 8 of KIU and 1 of 20 June execution. Yoshikawa at first refused, then agreed since order of Sato. Yoshikawa then chose a suitable spot where it was supposed to have happened. Story: 9 to Hiroshima, 30 to Tokyo. |