| Defendant:
Akamatsu, Toranoshim/Ternoshin, Civilian Guard, Yodogawa POW Camp,
Osaka, Honshu, Japan Docket Date: 40/ May 29 - June 19, 1946,
Yokohama, Japan Charge: Violation of the Laws and Customs of War:
1. Did willfully and unlawfully commit cruel, inhuman and brutal
acts, atrocities and other offenses against certain American PWs.
Specifications: Verdict: Life imprisonment Reviewing Authority
Recommendations: Record is legally sufficient to sustain the findings
and sentence of the commission. From the affidavits of prisoners
"who were in a position to know the facts of the matter," the
guilt of the accused is established. Reviewing Authority: Paul
E. Spurlock, Reviewer, Judge Advocate Section Prosecution Arguments:
Accused beat, slapped, kicked, and used various forms of torture
on prisoners for minor infractions of disciplinary rules. Defense
Arguments: 1. Admitted to using various methods of punishment
but not in the degree, scope or time period alleged. 2. Denied
or claimed to not recall most of the specifications. Judge Advocate's
Recommendations: Page 423 of the microfilm records: the reviewer
speaks about the different court systems and the norms. It is
interesting to note this discussion: "When one considers the many
systems employed throughout the world which peoples have created
to arrive at justice, it is not logical to conclude that, unless
an accused is tried by the rules followed in our country, he will
not receive a fair trial." |
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Child Testifying
in Court in Manila.
Photo: U.S. Army, courtesy of Bob Harmon
|
The
trial records of Japanese War Criminals Tried at Yokohama,
Japan, between 1946 and 1949 is broken
into 2 sets:
- 59
reels - Records of Trials and Clemency Petitions for Accused
Japanese War Criminals Tried at Yokohama, Japan (1946-1948)
- 5
reels - Reviews of the Yokohama Class B and C war crimes
Trials by the 8th Army judge Advocate (1946-1949)
The
following is a summary of the corresponding case found in
the latter group (5-reel set of Judge Advocate's Reviews).
Analysis Prepared by Stella Lee Researcher,
War Crimes Studies Center
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