Partial Transcript: Hitoshi recalls going to Japan for occupation. On the way to Japan, there is a storm in Taiwan, and everyone is seasick. The ship stops at Tokyo Bay due to floating mines. The ship docks at Yokohama. Hitoshi describes what he sees in Japan. There is a food shortage, and some women wearing mompe (Japanese pants). Hitoshi boards a train to Tokyo, and he sees the city's destruction from the bombing.

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Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; occupation; post-war; travel

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Partial Transcript: Hitoshi boards a train to Tokyo, and he sees the city's destruction from the bombing. Hitoshi sees five living in shacks and other locals living at the training station. When Hitoshi arrives at the NYK Building, he receives his room assignment. The office rooms are remodeled into living quarters. In Hitoshi's room, there are eight bunk beds. The view from Hitoshi's room, you could see the imperial palace. Hitoshi's first assignment is to take a group to the Red Cross warehouse and guard the warehouse.

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Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; Japanese American soldiers; living conditions; marching; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; occupation

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Partial Transcript: Hitoshi's first assignment in Tokyo is to guard the Red Cross warehouse. Inside the warehouse, Hitoshi sees a lot of open crates already. Many of the K rations are gone except for the hard biscuits. The Lieutenant instructs Hitoshi to throw out the biscuits. However, Hitoshi suggests to the other soldiers to give the biscuits to the locals. Post-war, there is a food shortage in Japan. After a week, Hitoshi returns to the NYK Building to do translation work. In December 1945, Hitoshi and three others report to the Army Headquarters Judge Advocate in Yokohama for their new duties. Later, Hitoshi goes to the silk mill. Many of the troops are station at the silk mill. Therefore Hitoshi and the other three translators are moved to the silk mill warehouse for their living quarters. Hitoshi learns he will be working with war crimes as an interrogator.

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Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; candy; interrogate; Japanese American soldiers; living conditions; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; occupation; translation

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Partial Transcript: Hitoshi does not know what his purpose of going to Japan. Later, he is surprised to learn he will be working on war crimes, E Class. There are different classes. For example, A Class works on the tribunal (Tojo, Foreign Ministers, Admirals, etc.). B Class works on the chief of staff and down to the ranks. C Class works on the minor cases. There are at least over 100 cases, and Hitoshi works on one-third of them. Some cases are individual cases, and other cases are Naval.

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Keywords: interrogate; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; occupation

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Partial Transcript: At first, war crimes cases are managed by Army personals. In mid-1946, civilian lawyers come to Japan to help. The initial trials are by the lawyers' legal staff of the Judge Advocacy Section in Yokohama. The then prosecution comes to Tokyo. Hitoshi recalls there is only one Nisei lawyer that comes to Japan. However, other Nisei officers got involved with the war crimes because Hitoshi and a few others did not know how to swear the POWs in. Onodera and Tanaka help coordinate with the Tokyo Bar Association with an oath process for the war crimes. Later, the instructors from Snelling come to Japan to help with the investigative work.

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Keywords: Japanese American soldiers; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; occupation; Prisoners of War

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Partial Transcript: Hitoshi recalls his first interrogation is the accused themselves. The Prisoners of War (POWs) accused an Army personal abused them. After the interrogation, the prosecutors would investigate. Mainly the information comes from the POWs. Tatsuo Tsuchiya "Little Glass Eye" is the first to be convicted of war crimes and sentenced to 20 years for mistreatment of the POWs. The first trial is done by those who are in Yokohama. Others who participated in the war crime trial are the prosecution team (Tokyo) and the defense team from Judge Advocacy Section. Hitoshi's contribution to Tsuchiya's trial is interrogation and investigating. Later the instructor from Snelling takes over the investigation work.

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Keywords: interrogate; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; occupation; Prisoners of War

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Partial Transcript: The following case Hitoshi works on is Lieutenant Yuri, Camp Confidant, accused of beating POWs. Hitoshi recalls this case because his family pleads with Hitoshi to help. Hitoshi tells them all the orders come from the top and suggest they write a letter. He will help them present the letter to the Commission. However, the Lieutenant receives a life sentence. When Hitoshi is interrogating, he says he tries to get the information required from them. Hitoshi says some cases are interesting. For example, Lieutenant Asaka, Camp Confidant, is accused of mistreating the POWs. One of the POWs is a Marine Non-com. The Marine Non-com is a subpoena to appear in court. His testimony is for the defense. Later it is revealed that the Marine Non-com faked his illness and stole from other POWs and Red Cross items.

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Keywords: Japanese Americans; Nisei; occupation; POW; Prisoners of War

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Partial Transcript: The next war crime case Hitoshi works on is the Tokyo Imperial University of Medical School. He says this is a famous case. In the trial, there are nine accused. Out of the nine, two are women. The POW reported the school is going to operate on him and eat his liver. Hitoshi remembers the day in court the eighteen-year-old nurse is nervous. Oppositely the head nurse is a tough lady in court. The POW heard rumors about his surgery which is why he made the report against the school. The accused receives a light sentence.

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Keywords: Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; occupation

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Partial Transcript: Another case Hitoshi works on is a Lieutenant beheading a POW. However, the order to behead the POW is ordered by a Colonel. The case results in a not guilty verdict. Another case is a pilot in a PBY aircraft. The PBY is circling an island that is a training center for Japanese sailors. The PBY is shot down. The pilot is tied to a post and used as bayonet practice. There are thirty-six people involved, and they receive a hanging sentence.

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Keywords: Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; occupation; POW; Prisoners of War

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Partial Transcript: Another war crime case Hitoshi works on is a POW who misunderstands he is receiving treatment for his leg injury. Another war crime case is the Mabuchi case. Doolittle flyers who fly over Japan and drops bombs and flew to China. One of the flyers is shoot down, and the villagers attacked the pilot Mabuchi, and another guard comes and kills the pilot. The reasoning for killing the flyer is mercy killing. Mabuchi receives a life sentence.

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Keywords: Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; occupation; post-war

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