Yokohama Reviews

World War II Pacific Theater Case Synopses from Judge Advocate's Reviews Yokohama Class B and C War Crimes Trials

Defendant: Maekawa, Kazumasa, Sergeant

Docket No./ Date: 16/ Mar. 28 - April 29, 1946, Yokohama, Japan

Charge: 1. Committed cruel, inhuman and brutal atrocities and other offenses against POWs

Specifications:

Verdict: 16 years confinement at hard labor

Reviewing Authority's Recommendations:

Reviewing Authority: Cyril D. Hill, Lt. Colonel, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate

Prosecution Arguments:

Defense Arguments: 1. Denied scope of beatings and slappings in the alleged instances of violation 2. Denied participating in the slaping or beating of any other POW besides the ones mentioned in the testimony.

Judge Advocate's Recommendations:

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