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

Defendant: Tsuchiya, Tatsuo: civilian guard, retired corporal of the Japanese Army

Docket No./ Date: 1/ Dec. 18 - Dec. 27, 1945, Yokohama, Japan

Charge: 1. Violation of Laws and Customs of War - at Mitsuchima Prisoner of War camp between Nov. 1942 and Sept. 1945, committed atrocities against prisoners.

Specifications:

Verdict: Guilty verdict upheld/ Life imprisonment at hard labor

Reviewing Authority's Recommendations: The accsued was found "wantonly derelict" in his duties despect having been aware of his duty to protect and treat prisoers fairly.

Reviewing Authority: Willis Reichmann, Judge Advocate

Prosecution Arguments:

Defense Arguments: 1. Denied committing various forms of abuse and mistreatment of prisoners "with which he was charged" 2. Did not know the particular defendants

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:

  1. 59 reels - Records of Trials and Clemency Petitions for Accused Japanese War Criminals Tried at Yokohama, Japan (1946-1948)
  2. 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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